National Division 1

9th September 2006

Butts Park Arena

2.30pm

Coventry 15

Titans 22

Earth Titans:

15 Brendan Burke, 14 Tom Allen, 13 Brian Touhy, 12 Bernard Hennessey, 11 Showan Smith, 10 Mike Whitehead (Gareth Steenson 72), 9 Joe Bedford (Jamie Blackwood 84), 1 Jarleth Carey, 2 Neil Hannah (Nigel Conroy 73), 3 Adam Hopcroft, 4 Jannie Bornman, 5 Henry Head (Louis McGowan 65), 6 Hendre Fourie, 7 Neil Cochrane (Capt) (Mike McComish 11), 8 Barry Jacobsz.

Replacements

16 Steve Croall, 17 Louis McGowan, 18 Jon Buchanan, 19 Gareth Steenson, 20 Mike McComish, 21 Nigel Conroy, 22 Jamie Blackwood.

COVENTRY: 15 A Stewart, 14 B Toft, 13 G Dixon, 12 K Geraghty, 11 K Johnson , 10 B Russell, 9 M Walls, 1 C Rimmer, 2 S Friswell, 3 N Treston, 4 L Tonkin, 5 H Rheeders, 6 T Johnson, 7 J O’Connor, W Johnson (Capt).

Replacements: 16 R Brits, 17 R Siveter, 18 D Campton, 19  H Venter, 20 D James, 21 M Dorrian, 22 S Montague.

Post match an unhappy Andre Bester commented, “We made it tough for ourselves; we threw tries away and messed it up the whole time! We played all the rugby which was brilliant in the first half, but we kept on making it tough for ourselves.

“In the second half we kept on making silly one man errors. We kept kicking the ball away and trying little off loads in the middle, it’s just not on. The problem is when it becomes too easy you try to be fancy.

“I’ve told the players, you can make these mistakes once but if you make them a second time, I’ve got question marks about your ability and temperament to play at a high level. I don’t want to see those mistakes again.

“It’s great to come to Coventry and get the win, that’s what we came here to do, but in our books we played badly. Our pack didn’t play well, our backs didn’t play as well as they should have, it was a poor performance. I’m not happy with the performance, but I am happy with the result.”

On a lazy late summers afternoon the conditions were perfect for an entertaining game of rugby and that’s what was dished up. Roth started much the brighter and were awarded a penalty try after just 3 minutes when the hosts pack continually collapsed the Roth maul near the line. Mike Whitehead converted.

Coventry bounced back within 2 minutes. Cov were awarded a penalty and when the referee move it on 10 metres for a Roth player speaking out of turn, a quick tap resulted in Hendry Rheeders crashing over for an unconverted try.

In a ferociously contested opening quarter which consisted of some sparkling rugby, Roth began to take the initiative. Another power drive by the Roth pack saw them held up just short of the Cov line, the ball was recycled and Michael McComish – on for the injured Neil Cochrane – boomed over near the corner for an unconverted try.

As the half progressed Roth dominated and should have had at least another two tries, but desperate Cov defending and poor decision making ensured the teams went in at the break with no further scores on the board.

Half Time: Coventry 5-12 Titans

The second half began in a frenetic and messy fashion. However within 7 minutes Roth scored the try of the game. Bernard Hennessey made a bustling break through the centre and made 30 metres before finding Michael McComish and Showan Smith. The latter drew a tackle and off loaded to Barry Jacobsz who rounded the defence to score under the posts for Mike Whitehead to convert.

This should have been the catalyst for Roth to push on and secure the bonus point; however it was Cov that bounced back once again. Two unconverted tries on 71 and 79 minutes by Michael Walls and Will Johnson ensured a tense finish.

In the final quarter, man of the match Brendan Burke made two unbelievable try-saving tackles, showing tremendous strength and a brilliant reading of the game. Six minutes into stoppage time Gareth Steenson displayed nerves of steel to convert a penalty, thirty metres from goal. With that the referee blew to end an afternoon of tough, pulsating rugby, played between two extremely competitive teams.

Final Score: Coventry 15-22 Titans

Roth certainly deserved the win and possibly could have scored six tries in the game, however they didn’t take those opportunities and Cov gave them a fright. But most will be pleased with two away wins from two starts.

Although Andre Bester was not pleased with the performance there was still plenty of positives to build on. Brendan Burke for a wee man certainly punched his weight in the tackle, Mike Whitehead, particularly in the first half tackled like a flanker and there’s a growing partnership developing in the centres.

Joe Bedford gets better it seems with each game, Michael McComish did well when he came on early doors and the pack as ever always leave their mark on the opposition.

It’s back to Clifton Lane next week for the visit of Otley and a chance for the home supporters to get a glimpse of this emerging Roth outfit. Let’s hope they turn out in their numbers – this squad certainly deserves that much.

Attendance:  2000

Other Weekend Results

Saturday, 9 September 2006

Moseley 44 - 37 Bedford

Newbury 10 - 24 Leeds

Otley 37 - 27 Nottingham

Pertemps Bees 35 - 17 Exeter

Plymouth Albion 20 - 12 London Welsh

Sedgley Park 6 - 48 Doncaster

Waterloo 19 - 16 Cornish Pirates

National Division 1

Rotherham v Otley 16 September at the Earth Arena.

kick off 3.00pm