Saturday 22nd November 2008

Ships Sunk on Covents’ Rock

Coventrians 20 – 19 Shipston on Stour

Coventrians progressed to the next round of the Warwickshire Shield today by beating Shipston (one league higher) in a hard fought victory at home to set up an encounter with either Rugby St Andrews or Manor Park.

From the onset, Shipston showed their intent with slick, pacy running that had Covents supporters worried at a breezy, “brass monkeys” Black Pad but in the second minute, the Anorexic Ayatollah (Scholesy) showed Fabregas-esque skill by hoofing the ball back into Shipston’s 22 which they ran back, only to be stopped by a solid Tom Carter tackle.

Three minutes later, Covents surged forward and made 30 yards through Carl Thornton, Carter the farter and Kieran Martin. This set the tone for the first half as both teams took on a pugilist role, trading metaphoric blows although Covents were warming to their task as a third Rowan Aitkin break was halted on the halfway touchline and underlined by the blue and white pack turning over in the middle of the park a minute later.

A big hit from Paul Brindley in the 16h minute could not deny Shipston though as they scored in the bowling green corner after several phases by their forwards to lead 5-0, the try unconverted. This only served to rouse the blue boys as in the 19th minute, Chris Simons broke through two tackles and the ball sped through the hands of Carl Thornton and John Field only to be dropped, unluckily, by Kev Walters on the crash in Shipston’s 22.

Make no mistake, Covents were up for this cup clash and this was borne out by a big hit from Chris Simons on the Shipston fly-half which left them both needing treatment from the lovely Lauren. Thankfully, Chris’s groin was intact. In the 26th minute, Shipston attempted a quick throw from a lineout but unfortunately (for them) Carl Thornton intercepted and sprinted in 30 yards to touch down under the uprights. This was a try for the whole back row as Carl, Swaff and Kieran were all looking alert and dangerous.

Deadeye Doug potted the extras and all was right in the Covents’ world as we went into a 7-5 lead. On 29 minutes, although second rows, Dave Bailey and Last of the Mohicans Dave Sexton (love the new haircut . . . ) were doing good, unsung work in the boiler room, Mitch (our beloved coach) wasn’t happy as we missed 4 tackles trying to halt a resurgent Shipston as they powered forward.

The game ebbed and flowed though and a big Carl Thornton hit made the ball available for prop Haydon (WITH AN “O”) Clarke to set off on a thundering charge downfield which led to Dougie putting in a cute touchline kick to leave Covents, “line-sniffing.” Unfortunately the game was halted temporarily in the 40th minute as Rowan, standing a good fifty yards away, was violently sick and went down, spewing but clutching his groin like a good ‘un as Lauren ran on. Finally the lineout was taken and from the resulting possession, hooker Danny Pearson set off like Ernie Wise on speed, handed off two Shipston tacklers, put in a cheeky chip over the defence and ran round, only to miss grounding the ball by millimetres. If only he’d scored, he wouldn’t have been fined for kicking it. In first half injury time, Dougie sent a penalty just wide to send Covents in at the break 7-5 up and looking good value for their lead.


In the 2nd minute of the second half, good Covents’ possession saw Kieran Martin break from a ruck and producing a deft pass inside sent Paul Brindley in under the posts at the clubhouse end to warm the very cockles of the home fans’ hearts. Deadeye added the extras and suddenly Covents were 14-5 up and looking good for a cup upset until that is, in the 45th minute, they tried to run ball out on their own line, dropped it and allowed Shipston to score a converted try, 14-12.

In the 51st minute, Covents set up camp in the bowling green corner with a series of scrums (and I mean about 7 or 8) in which they repeatedly had Shipston back-pedalling, driving them up and backwards with Carl only just failing to ground for a try. This pressure finally resulted in a yellow card for Shipston’s No 8 and a penalty in front which Deadeye gobbled up in the 58th minute to make the score, 17-12.

Covents were fired up now and in the 62nd minute, Brum-half Tom Carter put in perhaps the biggest hit of the day to send his opponent up and over the train lines from the middle of the park. Just about now, Swaff and Dave Bailey came off to good applause for Harry (Wasps socks) and the now legendary, 39 year old Wayne (6 brandies) Brandfour and they soon made their presence felt as in the 64th minute, Deadeye sent over a lovely penalty kick which Mick Winterton, rolling back the years, caught in textbook fashion; 20-12 now with Covents in the ascendancy and dreaming of Twickers.

In the 70th minute, great driving play and big hits from Mohican Dave and 6 Brandies Wayne produced a penalty which Deadeye opted to kick from just over halfway. It was a good attempt which had length but unfortunately sailed wide. Covents stayed dominant until the 79th minute and had the game in their pocket but Shipston refused to lie down and launched a ferocious series of attacks in the dying moments when it was their turn to camp on Covents’ line. Time and time again they tapped and surged only to be heroically repelled by stout Covents defence. One such attack led to John Field being asked to leave, err, the field as the ref waved yellow. Finally, in the 84th minute, Shipston broke through and dotted in the corner. Alas, the conversion, which was the last play of the match, proved to be in vain as the whistle blew and the curtain came down on another display of heart, passion and spirit from Covents.

Reports of their demise seemed greatly exaggerated today as the Covents renaissance continued and they stretched their unbeaten run to 4 games. Well done to the lads, Shipston and the referee who all contributed to a clean, hard and very enjoyable game of rugby.

No one really deserves special mention as there were heroes all over the park but if pushed, the second team props, Haydon (WITH AN “O”) and Ayatollah Scholesy (only in because Woz was menopausal and Vallis on a religious retreat) staked their claim as “Top of the fat boys pops!” For photos - click here



Coventrians 2nds 45 – 17 Birmingham Exiles 2nds

On the bottom pitch, Covents lent The Exiles “Eddie” at the start to make it 14 against 13 and after 35 minutes Kyle Bonsor to make it 13 a side. Leading 28 – 0 at half time, the lads carried on where they’d left off by scoring another 17 points although The Exiles could quite rightly argue that they drew the second half 17 all as they matched Covents’ points tally.

Covents’ try scorers were Zippy (over the rainbow?), R.Eels (too slippery?), Ben Davies 2, D.Cowell and Sam Collinson 2. Sam converted one and Ben converted 4 to take his personal total to 18 points in the match.

The game was played in very good spirit and praise to the referee who had a stormer too. Physio Megan was kept busy as a succession of Exiles players succumbed to mysterious groin strains and you never know, Dicky P might even think this a pleasure - for photos, click here