Saturday 26th September 2009

Coventrians 21 - 31 Trinity Guild

Second-half Courage Not Enough to Prevent Defeat

In similar circumstances to last season (i.e. leaving themselves a first half mountain to climb and then heroically nearly reaching the summit) the first team lads played the proverbial game of two halves against Trinity Guild at a sun baked, rock hard beast of a Black Pad yesterday.

From the kick off it was apparent the Guild were up for it and sprinting out of the blocks went 7-0 up in the 3rd minute with some incisive running supported by sloppy tackling (by us). Covents, stung by the score, brought the game back into Guilds half with good drives from Danny Pearson and Tom Carter resulting in a couple of scrummages in Guilds 22. Nothing was going right though and everything we tried seemed disjointed and clumsy. This was music to Guilds ears and in the 19th minute, despite a solid tackle from Steve Vallis, they scored and converted again to make it 14-0 on 20 minutes. So with sound kicking, powerful running and bullying us round the fringes (No 8, No 20) it was going very well for the Bagington men.

Looking increasingly disorganised we conceded a penalty in front on 25 mins which Guild missed but after good work from Simon Needles in our 22 we were penalised again and this time it sailed over, 17-0. This was improved by a Midas touch Guild and they went into a 24-0 lead with their third try on 33 minutes. During this move, prop Steve Vallis sustained a nasty back injury from a sickening fall in which he also cracked his head on the iron hard ground. After a lengthy delay, he bravely / foolishly attempted to play on and collapsed in a heap again and was helped off the park while an ambulance was summoned. During the injury time, green shoots of recovery started to appear from amongst the boys in blue and a blockbusting tackle from Jon Field was followed by a similar big hit by Keiran Martin. This set the tone and just as I was directing said ambulance into the club, Rohan went over with Simon converting for a half-time score, 7-24.

I do not know what was said at half time but the 14 remaining men were galvanised by coach Huw Duggan and while Rich Walters, Giz, Lee and myself were drawing straws to see who got to help lift the beached whale with a bad back into the meat wagon, Rohan broke again and put Paul Brindley in for a score on 44 minutes which Chris Potter slotted for 14-24. More good work from Brinders 3 minutes later as our line was breached and collecting behind the posts he charged up field only to be heroically scragged by bigger men. Although never really a dirty game, both skippers were spoken to by the man in green (no, not Robin Hood) after a Guild high tackle. This was indicative of Guilds frustration at a resurgent Coventrians. Showing greater energy, fitness and resolve the 14 blue boys piled pressure on the away team and at times, their ranks now silenced, they looked out on their feet. Unfortunately as is always the case when a team is chasing a game, we left ourselves open once too often and Guild capitalized with a score on 67 minutes much to the relief of their players and supporters for 14-31.

Covents came again though and collecting in his own 22, ball in one palm, big rangy fullback Simon Needles counter attacked only to be bundled roughly into Rich Walters, sleeping on the touchline. So baby giraffe hitting thousand year oak at 90 mph; no wonder Simon needed treatment. On 75 mins, perhaps the most baffling decision of the match occurred when go-faster hooker Danny Pearson emerged from a ruck and sprinted in from 40 yards only for the ref to bring it back for OUR penalty . . . Answers on a postcard please. Still we came and with Guild looking to the whistler (to whistle) Alan Hawthorn put Jon Field in at the bowling green corner (and I do mean corner) in a real gnats cock of a try. Chris Potter, having burnt his daisy cutters and wearing a pair of Dead Shot Keen boots sent a beauty over for a final score of 21-31.

So bruised, battered and baked players limped from the concrete field to congratulate each other but it was Trinity Guild who belted out the theme to Rugby Special in the changing rooms (and overall, deserved to do so) and our boys who looked despondent.

There are lessons to be learned here, mainly of a defensive nature and one day, hopefully soon, we can click into our second half high gear with only a few points in it. For my money, the boys should be proud of the rugby they played in the last 45 to 50 minutes of the match yesterday and it is still very early doors. To quote Churchill (greatest ever Briton, not insurance dog) Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Touchline Quotes

Steve Vallis being rolled onto board; owww, ouch, ooooh, owwww, arghhhhhh

Guild supporters between 45th and 67th minute;


Leamington 3rds 36 - 13 Coventrians 2nds

Another brave performance saw the 2nds go down 36 - 13 in an enjoyable game with tries from Trevor Roberts (behind enemy lines again) Scrappy and a penalty from Ben Davies.