By Epigone
March 13 2011

With 17 tries leaked in 3 games, Coventry have become an easy target for opposing sides, who know they can run from deep. An out of sorts Coventry side, for whatever reason, not helped by somewhat bizarre refereeing decisions, which gave 18 penalties against Launceston, mainly for scrum offences, including 5 consecutive ones from  Cov scrums on the Launceston line, with no fear of yellow cards or penalty tries.

Yet overall it was a lacklustre and flat performance, whether Coventry underestimated the Launceston side, or their 1^st minute try seemed too easy, one can only surmise. 

Coventry made the best possible start running it deep from the kick off, an excellent Brett Daynes break eventually fed Sam Herrington who surged 30m to the line for his 15^th try. Danny Richards converted making it 7 nil after 1 minute.

That was as good as it got, as Launceston were allowed straight back, a spilt mid field pass  was picked up allowing winger Ben Turner to score, Ryan Westren converted making it equal on 3mins.

On 7min Tommy Harris was adjudged to have knocked it forward over the line, but more Coventry scrum pressure led to a Richards penalty making it Coventry 10 Launceston 7 on 9 mins.

Launceston starting seeing more ball and continual pressure saw lock Ben Hilton go over for the 1^st of his 3 tries.  5mins later a series of missed tackles on Westren allowed him to score in the corner, despite him seemingly in touch. Nat McDonald received a suspected broken wrist in trying to stop the try. Score Coventry 10 Launceston 17.

On 27 mins another effective maul led to Launceston’s 4^th and bonus point try again by Hilton. Score now Coventry 10 Launceston 22.

A series of 5m scrums and penalties gave Coventry a platform and eventually on 36mins a Lee Audis pass fed Seb Pearson who scored, making H/T score Coventry 15 Launceston 22.

A bright start to the 2^nd half saw Coventry more determined and on 48mins a Richards penalty brought Coventry back to 18-22 after Josh Lord was yellow carded for use of a boot. A continual series of Coventry 5 m scrum came to nothing despite 5 consecutive penalties against Launceston, the smiles on the Launceston players faces said it all, they got away with it.

Eventually the pressure told a Nick Southern break on 52mins, from the scrum fed Richards who went over near the posts for him to convert. At last Coventry were back in lead at 25-22.

Yet Launceston never gave up and when Alex Nash was yellow carded on 67mins another effective maul saw Darren Semmens go over, score now Coventry 25 Launceston 29.

As Coventry went for the BP win a lost lineout on the Launceston line allowed them to counter attack The ball eventually found Hilton who went over  for his 3^rd try  leaving Coventry well beaten and bemused, with not even a bonus point to grab.

Coventry have now slipped to 10^th place, and are looking over their shoulder  as 5 teams below them all picked up points. Coventry need to regroup quickly and get there defensive frailties sorted out. Coventry now have the worst defensive record in the league and have shipped 81 tries whilst scoring 81.

Coventry 25 Launceston 34 a spectators view.

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 13/03/2011 11:52

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
13/03/2011 11:52

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