By Alan Poole, Coventry Telegraph.
September 25 2012

A NEAR-PERFECT first-half performance set up Coventry’s second successive five-point maximum to lift them to sixth place in the National League One table.

But after leading 35-10 at the break and seemingly in cruise control, it was Cov who were happiest to hear the final whistle as Loughborough’s never-say-die attitude and willingness to run the ball from all over the field made it far too close for comfort.

In the end, Cov were indebted to the boot of Cliffie Hodgson, whose 16 points – five conversions, a penalty and a drop goal – proved decisive with both sides finishing on five tries apiece.

From Cov’s point of view, this really was a game of contrasting halves.

The Loughborough pack – led by England Saxons prop Kieran Brookes – proved a real handful both in the set scrum and around the field but whereas Cov made the most of pretty well all their scoring chances in the opening 40 minutes, the ball just wouldn’t go to hand at the crucial moment in the second period as further opportunities went begging.

It put them under pressure and as Cov drifted off a game plan that had worked well in the first half, Hodgson’s positional kicking which had earlier been so effective just seemed to feed the Loughborough runners who needed no second bidding to show their pace and handling skills.

It underlined that Cov are still a work in progress but they can draw from the positives shown in the first half and in particular the performance of the three-quarters where Tom Harris, with two tries on his full debut, and Greg Evans proved their worth.

Cov scarcely put a hand on the ball in the first 15 minutes but play went mainly from one side of the pitch to the other rather than forward as the home defence organised itself well to restrict Loughborough’s forward progress.

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First-half display gives Cov the edge against Loughborough.

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 25/09/2012 16:52

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
25/09/2012 16:52

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bigm/ mark harrison.
26/09/2012 06:21

sorry mr poole...totally disagree with near perfect performance in the first half. If thats the heights cov are setting to attain then im totally flumaxed.

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