By Brian Dick, Coventry Telegraph
April 6 2010

PHIL Maynard has revealed the secret behind his team’s vital relegation play-off victory over Moseley – the weather forecast. The Coventry rugby director was due to start Tommy Hayes in Saturday’s Championship local derby but made a switch just a couple of hours before kick off . Instead of going with his veteran player coach, the impending downpour convinced Maynard to hand the more defensively solid Fangatapu Apikotoa his first start in a month.

And even though he was not 100 per cent fit the Tongan responded with a courageous performance that saw him require several bouts of on-field treatment.

But in what was his first match since the defeat at Neath on March 8, he also kicked the two penalties that gave Coventry a crucial 6-3 victory and lifted them off the bottom of the relegation group.

That prompted Maynard to praise the 26-year-old’s commitment. “It was a calculated risk putting him in,” he admitted.

“We checked the weather conditions and changed the ten having taken a late forecast at about 1 o’clock.

“We knew it was going to be difficult in the second half. We made a tactical decision there and sometimes they come off.

“For a lad that has been out for four weeks I thought he showed a lot of determination and some nice touches.

“It is nice to have him there to select, it’s nice to have a player like that coming back in so late in the day.

“He has had a mixed season by his own admission but two out of three kicks at goal have proved crucial in the end so it was good to have him there.”

And Maynard said the fly half led by example in what was a heroic display by a team determined not to be beaten by their oldest foes for a third time this season.

“He was not completely fit, you can tell that, he is holding his ribs all the time.

“But I would argue with anybody who said those 22 lads out there are not committed to the cause. With the conditions and what the game was all about that was total commitment and on the day they were as committed as any side I have ever worked with.”Cov now have a week off although it will not be long enough for flankers Richie Bignell and Ben Pons to recover. Both are out for around eight weeks following respective finger and elbow fractures.

Weather came to Cov's rescue, says Maynard

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 06/04/2010 15:50

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
06/04/2010 15:50

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Latham
06/04/2010 16:35

I sincerely wish all three players a speedy recovery and thank them for their efforts.

Apikotoa, despite his injuries went the extra mile for coventry last weekend. He was clearly in pain, and everyone put in a full shift, but this chap for me was the head warrior. His passion for cov rugby was evident, and thankfully matched by his comrades.

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rustyroof
06/04/2010 16:55

that's bad news about Bignell and Pons. where does that leave us re opensides - just Askew ?

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Mikey C
06/04/2010 21:21

or possibly herrington?

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