Coventrians Lions roar at Wyken Croft!

(click here for results & table & here for Pinley photos)


Pinley 3 – 5 Coventrians


They say a week is a long time in politics but it is even longer in rugby union. Today, the Coventrians’ faithful witnessed a comeback of Lazarus-esque proportion as fifteen blue and white lions roared defiantly. Kick starting their season with an Herculean effort they chiselled out a hard fought WIN from Pinley granite.

After last week’s meek surrender to Copsewood, we travelled in trepidation to fortress Wyken Croft. The fact that water bottles, balls, kit and physio Lauren were left behind was not the greatest start to the day but as Springy (transporting all of the above and myself to Pinley) said (and I quote) “I’ve got a feeling in my water that we’ll win today,” we dissolved in hysterical laughter.

If only we’d listened to the wise old sage . . .

Covents, welcoming prodigal son Carl Thornton back into the fold kicked off into a strong wind at a gloomy and muddy Wyken Croft and signalled their intent in the sixth minute by turning over ball with flanker Ben Dover surging forward to win a scrum in Pinley’s 22. The boys in blue were scrummaging well and playing with a new found confidence but a Pinley foray won them a penalty in our half and opting to run (against the league’s bottom club) they dropped the ball and Covents broke out. In the 17th minute Pinley were back in our 22 but solid Covents defence led to another turnover and the put in on our try line.

A powerful run after 23 minutes by lock Kieran Martin led to a Covents penalty but Pinley broke the deadlock after 27 minutes by slotting with the wind to make the score 3-0. After half an hour, Covents won a penalty in their own half and Pinley “yap” led to the referee moving it forward ten yards indicating that the home side weren’t happy at not having it all their own way.

After 32 minutes Pun was deemed to have held on (for a nano second) and a pedantic penalty awarded to Pinley sparked howls of protest from the small band of travelling Coventrians’ supporters. Justice was seen to be done though as Pinley missed their kick at goal and from the kick off, teak tough tackling kept the opposition marauders at bay. In the 37th minute the Covents’ pack got low and drove Pinley back 6 or 7 yards to send shock waves through the home side and their support. The lads were up for it and competing well as the referee blew for half time.

From the kick off, with the wind, Rowan sent Coventrians into raptures by dipping into last season’s album of delicious tries. Catching the ball, he set off on one of his trademark mazy runs and with afterburners glowing, beat four defenders before swallow diving in under the posts. Few would begrudge us this moment of showboating as it secured Covents a second half lead for the first time this season. Scrappy’s kick was decent but didn’t secure the extra points. 5-3 to Covents.

This score galvanised Pinley and stung by Rowan’s temerity, they came back at us and only stout Covents’ defending prevented a score. No wait, stout defence doesn’t quite do the boys justice – they were tackling with fire, passion and spirit – a truly heartening sight for followers of the blue who have lived on slim pickings these last six weeks or so. This was underlined in the 51st minute by a gargantuan hit from Carl Thornton who bulldozed his opponent up and backwards a la Mick Skinner in Paris, 1991. On the touchline we could sense new and vibrant blood coursing through Covents’ veins and in the 53rd minute, a Pinley penalty, held up in the wind was caught and kicked long into touch by Phil (Covent’s centre).

From the resulting lineout, Covents secured possession and Carl Thornton powering 20 yards and bursting through three tackles, passed to fly half and debutant Ben Connell who showed great skill with a miss move to release the three quarters who won a lineout in the corner, after great support play from Kieran Martin, feet from Pinley’s line.

After a long injury break for a Pinley player, Covents secured possession and a good run in the opposite corner was held up by solid Pinley tackling. An hour gone and the boys in blue had the upper hand, they were outplaying Pinley and the disbelief in their eyes was mirrored in our own. This was cemented by two more turnovers in the next 3 minutes which included a long kick into Pinley’s half which they returned only for Rowan to be caught trying to run out and transfer pressure back on to Covents.

The pressure was relieved by a strong kick from fly-half Ben Connell in the 66th minute to put us back in Pinley’s half and this he repeated in the 70th minute as Pinley turned up the heat as they sought to defend their good home record. However, Covents responded magnificently and bellowing like wildebeest drove Pinley backwards at a scrum. Unfortunately, as props are wont to do, Woz (yes WOZ) gave away (THAT PENALTY) by coming in at the side like Shrek on acid.

The desperation was apparent as Pinley opted to kick for goal from just inside Covents’ half into the wind. As the kicker lined up, the wind dropped and only concerted blowing from us hoarse and nail bitten supporters coaxed it back again as the ball was struck. Thankfully (for us) the kick was low and bounced over the dead ball line. In the 78th minute Covents were awarded a penalty in Pinley’s half and with Mitch roaring “take the points” Springy screaming “find touch” and me shouting, “chill out will ya” the ball was punted long for a lineout.

The throw was deemed not straight (what else in that wind?) and from the resulting Pinley scrum Covents’ produced another MASSIVE shove to drive them backwards only to be penalized. A Covents’ player kicked the ball away and Pinley were moved forward 10 yards.

At this point eyes were covered and kittens given birth to on the Covents’ touchline as Pinley attempted to run from the half way line on 80 minutes and from a maul, Covents got the ball, Scrappy kicked into touch and my God it was all over as a shrill blast from the man in green brought the curtain down on a brave and passionate performance.

As we walked round in a glorious daze, the magnitude of our victory started to sink in as the coach, the president and other supporters hugged the players and each other in delirium. WE WERE LOVING IT! Fair play to Pinley – it was a hard and very clean game and for once this season, we were deserved winners. Boy did that beer back at the club taste good as everyone sat and smiled and re-lived the day’s events and THAT PENALTY (cheers Wozza).

Man of the match. There were fifteen out there, everyone putting their bodies on the line in what was the very epitome of a team effort and I for one was bloody over the moon for them all. If pushed I would say Carl put in a huge performance and long may it continue.

Injuries. Strangely, the curse of the groin strain struck again but luckily Lauren and Megan were on hand, with baby oil, to administer much needed relief. There may also be 15 or 20 bad heads on Sunday morning which will be something of a novelty this season and long may that continue too.