Saturday 15th November 2008

Coventrians Stung by Wasps Draw

Coventrians 9 – 9 Dudley Wasps


On a day when England rugby teams lost at both codes, Covents could only manage another draw at home, this time against Midlands 5 West (South) opponents Dudley Wasps. In a fixture reversed due to building work at Dudley, Covents were hoping to build on their recent improvement in form with a win but ended up stretching their unbeaten run to three games with a 9 – 9 draw - (in their 22nd season of league rugby, Covents have drawn 6 games in total - 2 in the last 2 games)

Wasps drew first blood by slotting for 3-0 only for Covents to draw level with a penalty of their own, sent over by Phil Jones. In a stop start game, Covents were dominating in the scrums but Wasps potted one more penalty to go in 6 - 3 up at the break.

Without injured powerhouse prop Wozza (bad back), the scrums were evened up slightly in the second half as drizzle swirled round the Black Pad (yes, it was fine rain that soaks you) and again the two teams swapped penalties with Phil Jones nailing two more successful kicks. With five minutes to go and the scores level, Jones the boot lined up another attempt at goal. With the pressure on and the rain falling he unfortunately sent his kick just wide to leave Covents and Wasps to share the spoils.

Man of the Match - Taff Grainger for having a barnstormer from the back row and not mentioning last year’s Grand Slam.

Tit of the Match - Kieran Martin for yapping at a Covents’ penalty only for the referee to reverse his decision.




Coventrians 2nds 0 – 9 Spartans 3rds

On the bottom pitch Covents 2nd team put in another sterling performance and came away with no reward for their efforts. Spartans sent three successful penalties over and when Covents thought they had scored a perfectly good try under the posts, the man from Del Monte said, “No.”

Apparently the referee was unsighted and therefore ruled no try. This incensed skipper Dick Potter to such a degree that he was yellow carded for his passionate but ultimately futile disagreement.

Once again “the lads” were left to rue their wretched luck but with the spirit that’s on display week in week out surely it’s only a matter of time before they come up trumps again in what is a very tough league.