Check out some photos by clicking here - Pasmaglas cooked up a storm - no Hooded Poet but I can't remember a day/night as good as that in a long time.

Click this link to hear commentary on the match clinching try from some hysterical fool's dictaphone http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wintswebsite/3rdtry.wav


Dragons Slayed as Covents Sparkle in the Sunshine

Coventrians 21 - 9 Cov Welsh

Covents turned up the heat and treated their large band of supporters to some scintillating rugby against Coventry Welsh to secure the inaugural Jon Roden Memorial Trophy on Saturday. The second team won their game away and to end a perfect day, Pasmaglas blew the clubhouse roof off with their first performance at Covents in 30 years.

Before the game, both sides observed a minute’s silence in memory of Jonny Roden and as the sun had its hat on so did Covents signal their intent to shine in a frenetic first 5 minutes with Phil Jones bursting through three or four red defenders from the centre and ‘Why-aye ya Bugger (Nick) passing inside to Carl Thornton only to see him stopped in the Welsh 22.

After 10 minutes the two sides were still trading metaphoric blows, battling for supremacy, trying to find a break while Jones the boot was trying to lose the Toblerone on the end of his right leg. After 15 minutes, Covents were back in the Welsh 22 and as a defender cleared and missed touch Rowan caught and counter-attacked using John Field and Paul Brindley. From this move, Carl Thornton touched down in the corner but the referee brought the blue and whites back for a penalty which ‘Howay Man’ sent straight but unfortunately under the bar.

So 20 minutes gone and Covents were looking sharp; any ball secured was used well through scrum-half ‘Why-aye man’ and Dazzler at fly-half and the three quarters seemed to be relishing the good weather. This was illustrated in the 24th minute when Rowan gathered a ball behind his own line and instead of touching down for the drop out caused about 50 collective heart attacks by twisting mercurially out of three tackles, kicking down the middle, chasing and catching. As we were all attempting to breathe again we realised that incredibly, the ref had blown for a penalty to Welsh which they duly slotted. 0 – 3 then but Rowan was only warming up . . .

2 minutes later, from a deft Dazzler chip, Phil Jones surged forward, gathered and put Paul Brindley in before he was tackled solidly a few metres short. This pressure continued in the 29th minute when after driving Welsh off their ball, Covents attacked with intent through Carl, Dazzler, Paul Brindley and John Field. From the second phase, D J drove forward powerfully and won a penalty which Cozzy took with a quick tap and passed to Rowan on the burst who sliced rapier like through the Welsh defence, finishing with a swallow dive to dot down at the bottom end. Nobody would deny Rowan this moment of glory – the showboat finish borne out of frustration from a freezing, fruitless Copsewood two weeks earlier. ‘Canny lad’ duly converted and Covents were looking good for their 7 – 3 lead.

In the 35th minute, from a lineout, Kieran fed a hungry Rowan more quality ball and he set off on a trademark, mazy run beating several defenders before second phase in the Welsh 22 saw Vallis try a crash move which, errr, crashed and burned as he dropped the ball proving that his wonderful take of two weeks ago was merely a fluke. Welsh then counter attacked and establishing a foot hold in our 22, won a penalty in front which they slotted easily for a half-time score of 7 – 6.


The Welsh lads took back the lead on 42 minutes with a penalty for 7 – 9 but this only served to galvanise the blue boys as Carl (who else?) started an attack from the base on halfway. Phil Jones passed to Chris Potter (back after 17 weeks) who fumbled and with right boot almost on the touch-line, blazed up the railway line wing, drawing three Welsh defenders before putting a sublime pass inside to the eager Rowan who swallow dived in again for 12 – 6. They say one swallow doesn’t make a summer and they’re right because it’s February and this was the second swallow. As the Grecian 2000 stand were still applauding, ‘Gan Doon the Toon’ sent a beauty over for 14 – 9.

In the 50th minute with the pack working furiously, the old warhorse Woz decided to try a bit of running rugby of his own and gathering the pill, thundered up field like a wounded buffalo, smiting a Welsh centre foolish enough to stand in his way. Not to be outdone by Shrek, Rowan went on another dreamy run 4 minutes later which featured a pirouette, double pike and corkscrew as he danced out of tackles a la Rudolf Nureyev before finally being bundled into touch.

To be fair to the Welsh boys, they never gave up and the middle of the second period was quite a tense affair as they attacked and we repelled, even needing Danny’s obligatory kick up field to clear our lines. Is there a hooker in the history of the game who has kicked more ball than ‘Ernie Wise’ Pearson? (Answers on a postcard please) Our resolute defence was illustrated perfectly in the 57th minute by a massive hit from winger John Field that stopped a dangerous looking Welsh attack while the rest of Covents were sleeping soundly. The game had now reached its zenith and apart from some poor kicking from both sides had become a very watchable, end to end spectacle. The tension was maintained when in the 59th minute, ‘Howay and Shite’ kicked a penalty that came back off a post and the score remained 14 – 9.

In the 64th minute Covents stretched their lead when amazingly they scored an almost carbon copy of their second try. Carl from the base of the scrum to ‘Canny Boiler’ who passing to Chris Potter, watched with the rest of us as he followed his previous footsteps before passing again inside to Rowan who dotted down with a third swallow dive. No jug avoidance from this dude, just a wonderful hat-trick which said a lot about how the lads played their rugby on Saturday. ‘When the Boat Comes in’ slotted and we suddenly looked comfortable at 21 – 9.

This, as usual served to fire up the opposition and Welsh spent a lengthy period camped on our line. On 67 minutes Steve Vallis and James Brindley went off for the Walters bros and it was good to see Nelly back after 9 months out with a bad shoulder. While Welsh attacked and we defended a moment of humour surfaced as a Welsh attacker knocked on whilst in the middle of a complicated looking penalty move, crying out in his defence, “I did not know what the f * * * was going on!” In fairness though, Welsh were soon back, running at our defence and only solid hits from John Field and Kev Walters saved us from conceding. John Field it was again in the 73rd minute who nearly cut his man in half with his third monster hit of the half. Mind you, this tackle was eclipsed by Phil Jones two minutes later when he hit his man like a runaway freight train. In the 76th minute, after good work from Kieran Martin who caught and drove through two tackles Covents had a couple of scrums in the Welsh 22 which they hit and pushed like rampaging wildebeest, twice driving Welsh backwards 4 or 5 yards.

In the last three minutes Welsh were once again attacking in our 22 when again, teak tough tackles from Kev Walters and John Field stopped them in their tracks. Just before the whistle a bout of fisticuffs broke out that left a couple of noses bloodied and amazingly the referee only talked to Cozzy and Danny when it seemed that about five players from each side were involved. So from the resulting Welsh penalty, which they tapped, there was just time for one more massive hit, this time from Cozzy before the ref called time on a wonderful Covents win.

So what do I say about that? Seventeen heroes who wore flames in their hair, the pack hunting as a unit, flexing their muscles, putting bodies on the line time and time again. The backs moving at pace, marshalled incisively by 9 and 10, showing steel in the tackle when called upon, fluid and gelling together as a team and sending most of the large crowd of 100 or so into the clubhouse happy as Larry (who is he anyway?) Well done to the Welsh lads who never gave up and played their part in a thoroughly entertaining game. Last time out we conceded 55 to them, Saturday though was a completely different story and few would say that the boys in blue didn’t deserve their win and be first to host the Jon Roden Memorial Trophy in their cabinet. After all, to the victor the spoils.

Cov Welsh 2nds 14 - 17 Coventrians 2nds

The lads kept the blue and white flag flying with a great win at The Welsh in Warks 3. The tries were scored by Sam Montague, Adam Page and Joe Swaffield (after a Monty break of 60 metres - who writes his script, Ryan?) Ben Davies added one conversion. Skipper Dave Baily didn't single anyone out for a special mention but instead praised the whole team for their determination and effort especially when soaking up pressure in defence. Tom Halliday came on as a sub in the centre after a long lay off sue to knee surgery - so welcome back to the game Tom.

VP's Old Farts & Pasmaglas

Another good turn out with over 30 ex players present at the club. What a day, what a night! After the heroics from both sides on the pitch thoughts turned to Jonny Roden as his son Nathan presented Danny with the cup. Fair play and thanks to all the Welsh boys who stayed on afterwards.

Pasmaglas were brilliant! We were a bit worried when Frank McCullough turned up in a cheese cloth grandad shirt and love beads but apparently that's what he always wears when performing at Drury Lane or when on tour with the Yetties. Stevie Allen and Graham Bisley Hayes it was like you'd never been away - what a homecoming, forget Wembley and Woodstock, this was the place to be - Ronnie Drew was smiling in his grave as the lads took us up into 'Ribil Country' and then back out for a banging version of Sweet Chariot. Then Emily, Bisley's daughter wowed the place with 3 or 4 songs that rocked the rafters - she has some voice. Respect to Tatey too who stood up and did a couple of songs - the club was packed, thronging with Covents, reverberating with noise and flowing with beer - one of the great nights! Oh nearly forgot, someone take Tom's Smarties & Red Bull off him and hide the pool balls please . . .

Old Boy's Role of Honour - Steve Allen, Bob Banks, Glyn Barrett, Geoff Benney, Nick Castle, Andy Gillespie, Giz, Dick Griffiths, Mick Groves, Bob Hallam, Gra Hancock, John Harkin, Bisley Hayes, Spanner, Trevor Lyon, Brian Manley, Golly, Archie, Bob & Steve Platt, Rocket Ron Randle, Phil Rowles, Swaff, Tatey, Pete Tierney, Stu Whitehead, John Wilson, Jon Woodward, Seano, Trendy, Simon, John Kenny, Fishy, Deano, Trevor Roberts, Rich Walters, Sasha Stanton and Jim McDonnell