By John Wilkinson, Coventry Telegraph
October 23 2010

COVENTRY are determined to improve on last week’s bonus point defeat at Barking when they make their second trip of the season to the north-east tomorrow to take on Blaydon.The 21-15 loss in Essex to the unbeaten National Division One leaders gave Cov their first point from four matches on the road, but left them with the feeling that it should have been more after taking a 12-6 lead into the second half.

“We should really have won the game,” said rugby director Phil Maynard. “We were a bit unlucky, but we made mistakes at critical stages and one or two things of our own making cost us the game.”

Which is why Maynard is stressing the need for his side to focus on their own game and not think too much about the opposition in front of them on their first visit to Swalwell.

“The key thing is to concentrate on our own performance – it’s more about us than them this week,” he said.

“We have to be all tuned in to what we are doing and not give anything away.”

The two sides go into the game with identical records of two wins and five defeats, although Blaydon have garnered two more bonus points to sit one place above Cov in the table.

They have lost to both the sides Cov have beaten, Stourbridge and Cinderford, and went down 33-0 at Macclesfield last week.

“Those results don’t matter,” said Maynard. “We’ve already learnt in this league that positions are no real indicator of what sides can do.

“The two teams we have beaten are both above us now, and we went very close to beating Barking who haven’t lost and are at the top.

“It just brings it home all the more that we have to get all the elements to our game right and the rest will follow.”

Cov are delaying their final selection, but fly-half Elliott Read is almost certainly ruled out with a facial injury and will pass over the No.10 shirt to Danny Richards.

Centre Nat McDonald is the only other fitness doubt, but Maynard is optimistic that he will be declared fit to continue his promising midfield partnership with Heath Stevens.

Kick-off is 3pm.

Phil Maynard demands as Coventry hunt points

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 23/10/2010 06:44

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
23/10/2010 06:44

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