By Nick M
September 30 2022

Week four of the season already, and a big test at the BPA as Ealing Trailfinderscome to visit in the Championship. With three matches played already, how are Coventry looking so far? Is this our biggest home match of the season?

Last season Ealing Trailfinders won the English Championship, and were only denied promotion by their curious naivety with regard to the regulations.  This season they appear to have recruited strongly again. Although they are only sitting in second place, below Jersey Reds, they have a 100% 5-0 league point record, and are only second on points difference, +69 points, against Jersey's +75. Clearly this puts them as favourites, and Coventry as the underdogs for Saturday's match.

However, Coventry with two wins from three have not made a bad start to the season. The young squad, probably half the numerical strength of Ealing's, and lacking several very experienced players from last season, is beginning to gel together well. For me the pack has been the good surprise. It is where a lot of experience has gone from, and where most significant early injuries have occurred, and it was expected to have the greatest difficulties in coping with the larger, heavier, more streetwise packs of other Championship teams. Instead with two of our three opponents so far being heavily forward-driven teams, it has competed well even with the captain's armband being passed around nearly as fast as the compression bandages. The backs too are performing well together, with losses less caused by recent injuries, and here the comparative youth of the team is leading to sparkling moments of excitement that for me have more than made up for the lack of experience.

So, Coventry, as underdogs, have nothing to lose, but the opportunity of gaining pride in the shirt, and in the city, if they put on a quality performance. They need to start better than of late, and to stick to the game plan - it is their plan, at their ground, and in front of their crowd. Although the crowd versus Ampthill was smaller than would have been hoped for, ist was a noisy proud crowd, giving plenty of support to the Coventry team.

Ealing does not travel with many supporters, despite the easy run up the M40. They do not even play in front of many home supporters. But, even with this the noise should not affect them with the wealth of experience in their squad, both in the premiership and in better-supported clubs in the Championship. The volume of support is not about showing their players anything; it is telling our players how much support they have, as they attempt to get their best result. It seems that The Rugby Paper has chosen this match as the Championship featured match of the week. OK - the other most interesting matches are on Friday night but even so, of the four Saturday games it is not just Ealing's presence that makes our match the most interesting and significant game. This is the significant game for this weekend.

By the end of the season this match may be long forgotten. I have every confidence that with how Coventry are playing the final month of the season will be about pride and position, not promotion or relegation. We have critical matches early in the season, and in the For this depth of winter. Tomorrow is a chance for an amazing result, but if it is not to be, it is another chance for our team to develop.

Come along, and do what you can to make the day special.

The Update - Trailfinders come to play

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 30/09/2022 17:08

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
30/09/2022 17:08

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:10:13:18:51:45 by Kimbo.

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Colin61
30/09/2022 19:35

Yes an interesting game awaits tomorrow. Our young guns against Ealing's experienced and money bags team whose owner has a reported wealth of around the 300 million pounds mark. But we are at home and with the crowd behind them and perhaps a lot of rain and wind maybe Ealing won't have it all their own way . Best of luck tomorrow Cov us fans will be with you all the way. Cheers Colin

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Straightout
01/10/2022 08:03

Realistically we must brace ourselves for a fairly hefty loss today I feel.Ealing have a huge budget at this level so something would be amiss if they can’t brush aside what is very much a developing young Cov squad compounded by injuries to poole, peters, Bainbridge plus we have rested the new scrum half Lane and the new tight head to give game time and experience two novices at this level.. the fast pitch which Ealing are used to makes it easier for them too, a heavy muddy pitch would be a leveller., I love our young side and with Trinder at the helm who is really developing into a Cov stalwart like Phil Boulton we will give it everything but if Ealing don’t score 50 I will be shocked.. if we get 2 or 3 tries that’s a bonus.. brown at fullback is so great to watch but we are playing a fully premiership ready squad today whereas we are nearer the lower end of budgets in league.. have bumped into a few Cov fans and we are all up for it but recognise the task. Ealing put 70 on us two years ago at the BPA when we had a better team but our spirit is better now and we are all In together

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poplarside
01/10/2022 19:21

A predictably one-sided affair. However, can't fault the effort of the young Cov team. Some fine ex-Premiership players in that Ealing side. Nice to chat to some former Cov players who were there for the lunch. Good weather, few beers, good day all round.

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HoboAl
01/10/2022 20:28

Quote:

Straightout
Realistically we must brace ourselves for a fairly hefty loss today I feel.Ealing have a huge budget at this level so something would be amiss if they can’t brush aside what is very much a developing young Cov squad compounded by injuries to poole, peters, Bainbridge plus we have rested the new scrum half Lane and the new tight head to give game time and experience two novices at this level.. the fast pitch which Ealing are used to makes it easier for them too, a heavy muddy pitch would be a leveller., I love our young side and with Trinder at the helm who is really developing into a Cov stalwart like Phil Boulton we will give it everything but if Ealing don’t score 50 I will be shocked.. if we get 2 or 3 tries that’s a bonus.. brown at fullback is so great to watch but we are playing a fully premiership ready squad today whereas we are nearer the lower end of budgets in league.. have bumped into a few Cov fans and we are all up for it but recognise the task. Ealing put 70 on us two years ago at the BPA when we had a better team but our spirit is better now and we are all In together

I cannot fault any of that post. Spot on. Ealing have been the benchmark in this league for many years and play some great rugby.

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MJ70
01/10/2022 20:34

On another note , huge win for Ampthill today, Mr Peter White played 9.. no more needs to be said

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Colin61
02/10/2022 11:46

The result we all expected hope our young team learnt several lessons on where you need to be to be an almost Premiership team. The speed of ball the game management and the amount of support runners in every attack was a massive difference. Credit to them for never giving up and nice to see a crowd of 2000 + Very concerned about the injurys they are really mounting up now especially in the forwards. Onwards and Upwards cheers Colin.

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covkid53
02/10/2022 15:16

Tonked by a money bags team without a fan base.
Man utd know how that feels today v Man City.
I have no respect for teams who buy success.
Worcester and Exeter two prime examples, no matter how well they built their clubs afterwards.
Foundations of straw.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:10:02:15:17:44 by covkid53.

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OldNick
02/10/2022 16:05

This would be the Exeter whose sandy foundations would be the Sandy Park conference and banqueting centre? The centre they built as an income source as part of their move from their old ground?


Probably the worst example you could have found in the Premiership.

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Egg Timer
02/10/2022 17:53

Worcester too, but for the greed of two individuals. And we know, because we've been there with Andrew Green.

Sadly, rugby clubs will always need benefactors because the game will never make profit, much like association football can't because of their incredible and ridiculous wages.

I know which one I prefer, but then again, I'm singing to the choir on that one.

Sorry, but Ealing may have the money, but they also have the cinicism of the premiership teams. I lost count and patience with the hits off the ball, the tug backs and the killing of the ball on the floor which wasn't penalised by the premiership referee and AR's.

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diverkevod
02/10/2022 19:01

To COV's credit they kept playing and tackling and never gave up. Men vs Boys..... but the youngsters need to take heart from their efforts but must try to score when they are camped on the opposition lines.... Ealing were really up for this game, and I reckon would give some Premiership teams a good fight! The sunny weather, kicking into the wind in the first half, did not help our cause. Keep the spirit COV.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:10:02:19:02:06 by diverkevod.

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