By Alan Poole, Coventry Telegraph.
February 18 2015

...a shock victory

Barkers’ Butts remain bottom of Midlands One West but their display in a heart-breaking 11-10 defeat at second-placed Hereford suggested that they have got what it takes to pull clear of relegation.

Despite being short of several regulars, Barkers made an excellent start at Wyeside – the pack eager to exploit ground won by Jack Howland’s tactical kicks, and it was very much against the run of play when Matt Milsom crossed in the corner to give the home side a 5-0 lead.

The Coventry men responded boldly, back-row trio Sam McNulty, Calum Lines and Jared Whitburn proving ultra-competitive around the breakdowns, and they hauled themselves level with a training-pich routine – full-back Josh Knight sprinting through a gap to lay off to young prop Harry Smith who in turn found Louis Smith for a run from the 22-metre line.

The game remained fiercely competitive on a fast-deteriorating pitch and although Morgan Goodall’s penalty nudged Hereford ahead the visitors’ enterprise was rewarded when a quickly-taken penalty saw scrum-half Jamie Barnes squirm his way through.

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