By John Wilkinson, Coventry Telegraph
January 25 2011

COVENTRY’S battlers trod the thin dividing line between success and failure in a monumental scrap at the Butts Park Arena but sadly ended up on the wrong side.In a game where skill levels were hampered by a greasy, muddy top surface, the outcome came down to cool heads and finishing power – and, crucially, that was where Cambridge had the edge.

Cov should have started the second half at least on level terms but missed three good chances to turn round 12-7 adrift and then 19-14 down and pressing on the Cambridge line with five minutes of normal time to go, they took the wrong option and again came up short.

By contrast, the visitors – third in the National League One table and harbouring title hopes despite financial concerns – made the most of their opportunities, down to securing a four-try bonus point in the second minute of added time.

Those last two incidents were essentially the difference for Cov between anything from one to five points and another zero from an energy-sapping game in which they gave their all, and the fact that they fully redeemed themselves after the capitulation at Cinderford a week earlier, will be scant consolation.

Cov had scarcely laid a hand on the ball when Cambridge opened the scoring, sucking in the home defence before moving the ball wide to unmarked full-back Billy Robinson who strolled over in the right corner.

Stung into action, Cov laid siege to the Cambridge line and acting captain Sam Herrington dived over for an equalising try from a quickly taken penalty by Lee Audis, who tagged on the conversion to edge the hosts in front.

Cov continued to press and winger Tom Harris was stopped a stride short from the left corner but the visitors were prepared to run from any position on the field and dangerous winger Jaco Dutoit twice stretched the home cover before sloppy defence let in second row Ian Ashcroft-Leigh for a try, converted by Ben Spencer.

Back came Cov but Matt Tibbatts was judged to be held up over the line in the left corner before No.8 Seb Pearson broke from a scrum 30 metres out but failed to spot the support on his left before it was too late.

Cambridge had most of the possession in a blank third quarter before Darren Fox finished off behind a scrum with Spencer converting to stretch the gap to 19-7.

Two minutes later Cov were back in the game, Jon Lowdon crashing over between the posts from another tap penalty with Ben Russell converting.

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Coventry 14 Cambridge 26

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 25/01/2011 06:32

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
25/01/2011 06:32

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