By AdminBTCov
November 4 2019

One down and one to go. Obviously that's the two 'Toughies' that we're in the middle of.

Ealing Trailfinders, one of the erstwhile favourites to prevail at the end of the season's battle for the one spare seat at the top table.

OK, I say 'erstwhile', but that may be doing Ealing a disservice, and who knows what may happen in the intervening months. However, they've not started too well, and now lie in fourth place, a full six points behind leaders Newcastle, and a couple below Coventry and Pirates in joint second place.* And that after only four rounds of the season.

This is not in the script. No sir.

Cov certainly travelled in hope on Saturday. There were no real pressures given that last season's result could surely not be repeated, and given the form that both sides were currently demonstrating, there was some confidence of some kind of points return.

And so it turned out.

Someone on Rolling Maul forecast that Ealing would have won it by half-time, and if they had been that far ahead at that point, who would have bet on anything but another mauling in the second stanza, with Cov facing the elements.

The record shows, though, that Cov were still very much in contention at half-time. 14-14 in contention in fact.

Yes, it got sticky during the second period as Ealing used the wind and built a 14-point bonus point lead.

But, and again I say 'Woof', that ole Cov Dog stirred itself again and delighted the away following by metaphorically peeing up the home side's goal posts.

Two converted tries later, and Cov were on level terms, Ealing faces were less than cheery, and for them, the final whistle probably couldn't come early enough.

Part One down then, with Cov players slightly miffed that two points had been dropped, and one more of the Toughy pair to go.

Dare to dream?

Cov Scorers:

Tries; Darren Dawidiuk, Rory Jennings, Max Trimble, David Halaifonua. Cons; Will Maisey (4)

*Odd rules prevail in the minds of the RFU Championship's leadership cabal. Penzance & Newlyn lie second on wins according to them, but Cov's points-for, and points-difference outdoes theirs. I'll call it a draw to be fair on both.

One Down

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 04/11/2019 10:49

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
04/11/2019 10:49

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:11:10:12:20:23 by AdminBTCov.

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covkid53
05/11/2019 08:59

From the highlights I saw on YouTube, the packs were very evenly matched. Cov backs seemed more dynamic and willing to spin the ball out along the line. Ealing's tries were scruffy affairs, grubbing around in rucks and mauls on the line. They obviously have a powerful pack and play a game to grind the results out. Cov on the other hand grew in confidence because the pitch no longer gave Ealing an advantage, Cov now having a 3g pitch and getting used to playing on it. Looked like a good game of rugby, played by two committed teams on a surface that suited them both. Honours even, but bragging rights to Cov being the away team who finished the stronger unit.

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