Saturday 25th October 2008

Coventrians 3 – 9 Copsewood

Perhaps the baddest day at Blackrock so far this season as Covents finished second best in the so called “Basement Battle.” Covents and Copsewood (GEC to you old farts) the two teams without a win in Midlands 5 West (South) served up grim and turgid fare not helped by strong wind and a rather pedantic referee. Fair play to Copsewood though, they left with the all important points.

On Friday night the place was rocking as a diamond geezer and ex matelot with “Bitter and Mild” tattooed respectively under each tit (and they are these days!) reached his diamond anniversary (Bob Platt’s 60) but unfortunately the celebrations stopped on Saturday as we struggled in what the Observer's Book of Clichés might call, “a must win game.”

The importance of the result loomed large over the players and the game started as it meant to go on, scrappy, bad tempered and niggly. After 10 minutes Copsewood came close to scoring in the corner while some of each team’s forwards engaged in a dust up some thirty yards away. On 14 minutes Copeswood, kicking against the wind, went 3-0 up after slotting a penalty and five minutes later had a chance to increase their lead after Kev Walters was trapped on the wrong side causing another bout of handbags and bitter complaining from Copsewood. Rather curious this as their scrum half set up a tent offside at the scrum and lived in it (Ranj would’ve been proud!) From the resulting penalty, they opted for a lineout in the corner but the kick was a shocker and knocked a fox senseless in the bushes behind the posts.

This seemed to galvanise Covents and they enjoyed a good 20 minutes up to half time by playing in Copsewood’s half and drawing level 3-3 with a Chris Potter penalty after 28 minutes. There were also several lineouts close to the opposition’s line but for some reason, when today we needed it most, our ability to secure good possession deserted us at both lineout and in the loose at crucial times.

Covents started the second half with Dave Sexton on for Dave Bailey and after good work in the 47th minute, won a penalty in front of the posts. Inexplicably someone allegedly mouthed off and the referee reversed it denying a certain 3 points and the lead. On 51 minutes the ref finally produced yellow for Copsewood infringing (apparently someone had glued the card to his pocket in the first half). Unfortunately Covents played no better against fourteen and in the 55th minute our injury jinx struck again as captain and goal kicker Chris Potter limped off with a bad ankle and Copsewood slotted to make the score 3-6.

In the 66th minute, the Covents three quarters (enjoying a much better tackling game) set up an attack and a surging run and kick by Paul Brindley was only stopped by the most blatant obstruction from Copsewood’s fly-half which resulted in their second yellow card. Once again, we could not make the advantage tell although we were awarded a kick at goal in the 77th minute. With Chris off the field, Scrappy bravely volunteered but his kick was poor and off target. Maybe a kick in the corner was the better option but it’s an easy game from the sidelines and the fox in the bushes was still groggy.

In the 81st minute with time slipping away Covents were awarded a penalty in their own half and as Joe Swaffield tried to wrestle the ball from Copsewood’s petulant, peroxide prop a minor altercation broke out. Swaff was yellowed and the penalty reversed handing the match to Copsewood 3-9.

Highlights (???) of the match – Mikey Kiburi came on for the last 20 wearing more strapping than an Egyptian Mummy but showed us what we’ve missed with some intelligent and brave play on the flank.

Woz telling his own supporters to "Shut the flip up" as he couldn't hear Danny's lineout call. Woz, have you seen your lugholes lately mate, they're down to pin pricks. Peace and love brother!

Injuries - amazingly today, no groin strains but then again Lauren was off sick . . . Is there a correlation here?

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