By John Wilkinson, Coventry Telegraph
April 19 2010

RUGBY director Phil Maynard hailed Coventry’s sheer will-to-win after yesterday’s 38-35 victory at Birmingham & Solihull which hauled them off the bottom of the Championship relegation group table. Cov trained 28-10 near half-time and, bouncing back to lead 31-28, fell behind again in the final quarter before prop Dai Maddocks claimed a late winner in a determined team display by Tongan fly-half Fangatapu Apikotoa who, playing with injured ribs, contributed 16 points and posed a constant threat.

“To come back from 28-10 showed remarkable commitment from the lads, and to then win the game after going behind again just underlined what it means to them to play for Cov, for the shirt and for each other,” said Maynard.

“We worked so hard just to get over the line but these guys are giving their all and there is nobody out there who isn’t playing to their best.

“Tapu is just a very brave player. He made a huge commitment coming over here, leaving his wife and children behind and he so wants to make a success of it. He has taken time to settle but now he is showing us what he can really do.

“He’s playing damaged and it’s just about his total commitment to the cause.”

The result lifted Cov into second place in the pool, a point above Moseley with Bees a further point behind.

Cov travel to Moseley on Saturday and are then at home to Rotherham, whose safety is already assured, on May 1 when Moseley are home to Bees.

“We still have two big games to come, but it would probably have been curtains for us had we lost today and now what happens is back in our own hands,” added Maynard.

Maynard delighted as win lifts Cov off bottom

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 19/04/2010 19:59

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
19/04/2010 19:59

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