Coventry 39 Fylde 26 by John Wilkinson.


By John Wilkinson, Coventry Telegraph.
March 12 2012

WELCOME home Coventry!

Starved of action for the best part of two months, the Butts Park Arena faithful enjoyed a rip-roaring return as Cov shrugged off any thoughts of being dragged into a National League One relegation fight with a superb win over, until Saturday, the division’s top scorers.

Fylde played their full part in a magnificent contest, refusing to kick for touch and running the ball from all over the field – a tactic that brought them two tries from their own 22 but also cost them as turnovers allowed Cov to seal their victory in the final quarter when things were getting tight.

But it was intensity of Cov’s first-half performance – their best 40 of the season – which impressed as they took the game to the opposition from the start to open up a 22-0 lead in just 17 minutes and leave Fylde with a mountain to climb.

Cov’s press defence denied Fylde any platform from which to exploit their undoubted pace, and with their own back division looking more assured under the control of Ben Russell at fly-half and the back row outstanding as a unit, the home side were value for every point.

The visitors did respond, and for half an hour after the break Cov had their backs to the wall as their scrum suddenly looked vulnerable and, with Sam Herrington in the sin bin, Fylde pulled back to within a score at 25-19.

Some strong defence quelled the storm, however, and Cov regained the initiative to add two more tries in a five-minute burst, securing a bonus point, before Fylde had the last word in injury-time to make sure they too went away with something.

With the breeze behind them, Cov made a flying start and were almost out of sight before Fylde even got close to their 22.

The forwards accounted for the first score after nine minutes, prop Ethan Waller finishing off after two close-in line-outs and Mark O’Connor converting from a wide angle.

It was Groundhog Day as Fylde restarted by kicking the ball to Cov’s forwards, who drove back towards midfield and released the runners to secure three more scores in quick succession.


Click here for more on this article.

 

 

Bookmark or share this story with:

Coventry 39 Fylde 26 by John Wilkinson.
Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 12/03/2012 17:41
Unofficial Coventry Rugby
Unofficial Coventry Rugby
12/03/2012 17:41
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report
Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net