By Steve Kimberley
April 25 2022

THE 'second half' came and went on Saturday in reasonably predictable fashion, with a home win, and Cov progressing to the next round of the Championship Cup.

But how hard do they really have to make it for themselves?

Twelve-nil down on the day in not quite the blink of an eye, and the home side were looking at something of a mountain to climb at 18 points in arrears, while outscored by six tries to three. Playing against a strong and gusting wind, the Blue & Whites were looking all at sea, and I must admit to being resigned to watching no more rugby this side of the August Friendlies.

However, things eventually clicked somewhat, with a period of sustained pragmatic pressure, and converted tries from the returning Rhys Thomas, and then Freddie Betteridge taking the scoreline at the break to 14-12 and slimming the deficit to just four.

As much as the weather had hampered Cov, though, it has to be mentioned that Ampthill were equally at odds with the referee's pocket card collection, so when Cov took the option to tap in the dying seconds, and failed to accrue that vital third try, they probably reflected on having spurned the set-piece opportunity, or at the very least, going for the corner.

With the visitors down to thirteen for the first few minutes of the second period, Cov should have been set fair, with the wind at their backs, to capitalize and draw away, but, as so often this season, the dog laboured and the opponents rallied. Even the injection of Burrows, Bainbridge, James, and Owen early on did little to up the tempo. Indeed, with the usually immaculate Buzz making a couple of very uncharacteristic slips things appeared to be deteriorating rather than improving. I'll put it down to inactivity and over-enthusiasm to get stuck in, and leave it at that.

Cov continued to huff and puff, and save for a maul with Ma'asi on the end of it, and a very exuberant touchdown under the sticks by Bainbridge (very ably assisted by Man of the Match Fenner), appeared to be in trouble, and possibly heading for extra time as Amps had matched everything that the home side could throw at them.

However, and fittingly, Fenner was able to crown his superb display with a well-struck penalty to edge Cov into a three-point lead, which turned out to be the final margin of victory in front of a surprisingly high announced audience just shy of 2000.

Cov, therefore, progress to a very tricky two-legger with the season's runners-up Doncaster, with Ampthill, as 'plucky losers' heading to seeded Champions Ealing. Neither tie will need to do much to improve on this one, to be frank.

During that second half, I was chatting to a chap about various things Cov-related, one of those being the career of Rob Knox, and what a lovely guy he is, yet is such an imposing – not to say frightening – presence, ball-in-hand. It was interesting, therefore, to read James Stokes' description of him in yesterday's Rugby Paper, and I quote:

“Rob Knox – Another former Cov team-mate and the nicest man in rugby. He's the heartbeat of a social and has Cheslin Kolbe's feet on Luke McAlister's body: Simply terrifying in full flight. A Prem club should've picked him up long ago”.

And Stokes picked Knocker to play at thirteen in his Dream Team. Knows a thing or two about rugby, does Jimmy...

Still with the Rugby Paper, I found James Haskell's front page article somewhat illuminating as to his attitudes and maybe that of many other players at the elite end.

The former Wasps man was trying gamely to support PRL's stance of promoting only their elite level baby, and pretty much abandoning the grass roots of the sport as an irrelevance.

Quote: “Rugby in Britain should adopt the NFL model. Grassroots rugby is important, but you do not need a good amateur league to have a strong professional league”.

Important, yet unnecessary. Just consider that for a moment.

He also goes on to argue that the game is dangerous, and that there are too many 'tinpot' tournaments (well, yes, no arguments there from me) but then somewhat dismissively points out that 'someone has to draw a line and say that rugby is dangerous and manage it. People will get hurt”.

I thought that was what 'someone' is trying to do.

As he then went on to say that his mother would not let him play polo at school as she was worried he might get hit on the head or fall off a horse, I think we can see how the thinking brought about by such privileged upbringings as Haskell's in the game can have an impact at the highest levels. Rugby in Coventry used to be a sport as much for the underprivileged secondary modern and comprehensive school attendee (or absconder...) as much as for those at the 'posh' fee-paying schools. How times have changed - for the much, much worse.

So Caldy prevailed. Sale FC failed. Good luck to Caldy, for all their faux 'Pot Noodle, and shack-on-a-hill' rhetoric. They've done extremely well to prevail in a tough league, as we know to our own cost for so many fallow years.

I, however, would love to be a fly on the wall at the next gathering of the 57 Farts. I wonder how they'll take Sale's failure to step up and theoretically become the next 'buddy' Champ club? Will that now be Caldy? Seems a stretch, but, if Ampthill can be Wasp's best friends, who knows?

One of Cov's former favourites, Latu Makaafi, has cause to celebrate. His move to Hull RUFC has brought him a second National League promotion party, with Hull's confirmation of the NL2 (North) championship with a narrow win over neighbours Hull Ionians. Suffice to say it hasn't gone down well among some at Ionians though.

Anyway, well done Latu. Always good to see one of 'ours' adding to their medal haul.

On to Donny then.

(Pics: Nick Meredith)

The Update (25/4/22)

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 25/04/2022 11:39

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
25/04/2022 11:39

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:08:19:54:44 by Kimbo.

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