By Brian Dick, Coventry Telegraph.
January 8 2013

COVENTRY fly-half Will Maisey believes he is better placed to make an impact at Butts Park than he was when he first broke into the side last season.

The 20-year-old has started the last two matches in which Coventry have plundered 70 points, a total it took them six games to reach before his introduction.

And while he is not solely responsible for the improved output, his coaches are delighted with the options the creative play-maker has given them and the balance playing both him and Cliffie Hodgson has brought.

Consecutive wins, the most recent a 41-21 victory at Cambridge last weekend, have re-ignited the club’s season – and also given Maisey the opportunity to stake a claim for a regular starting berth.

The youngster made his Cov debut against Sedgley Park 12 months ago but slipped down the pecking order as they searched for the right man to dig them out of trouble.

And when Phil Maynard brought South African stand-off Hodgson to the club in the off-season and retained Luke Myring, once again it looked as though Maisey would be frustrated.

Indeed Hodgson started the first 15 games until Cov needed a change of direction – and this time, having been on loan at Nuneaton, Maisey was better prepared to answer the call.

“With all the signings we’d made in the summer I came into the season not too sure about my chances and when I went out on loan I wondered if I would get my chance at all,” the Nottingham Trent student admitted.

“But going to Nuneaton has really helped because when I came into the side last season it was without any match practice or fitness so I was never really ready. But this time I am match fit and I am really enjoying it.

“It’s much more physical and I tend to stay away from that if I can but obviously I’ll make the tackles I have to.

“I just want to keep playing well week in, week out. There has been a lot of positive feedback although there are still areas of my game I need to improve, like kicking out of hand to put us in the right areas.

“But I grew up wanting to play for Coventry, I was born here, my father’s cousin and my brother both played for the club so it means a lot for me to do it.

“When my brother Chris played they were in the Championship so there’s been a bit of banter about the standard but I’m just happy to get my chance.”

Maisey’s inclusion combined with Hodgson’s vision at full back has allowed Coventry to play a much more expansive style and they have been rewarded with wins at Volac Park and at home to Cinderford before Christmas.

Indeed Saturday’s triumph was arguably the best they have played in the current campaign and is viewed by some as a sign that, finally, Cov are beginning to amount to the sum of their assembled parts.

“In the first half we dominated them, we were playing into the wind so we knew kicking would be hard so we kept to the patterns and it seemed to come off,” said maisey.

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Will Maisey better placed to take his Coventry chance.

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 08/01/2013 20:20

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
08/01/2013 20:20

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