Cov Tech 8 - 25 Coventrians (Mids West SE)

Sparkling Scores Light up the Gloom

Covents and Tech served up turgid fare at a cold and swampy Mitchell Avenue yesterday but two solo tries from the boys in blue shone out like shafts of golden light to pierce the muddy, murky mediocrity.

Covents, unusually, grabbed an immediate advantage as from the kick off; fly-half Phil Watsons kick was dropped by a Tech player collected by Phil himself and shipped out to Danny Pearson who put Rohan in behind the posts. Simon Needle (BA) converted and all was well at 7-0. Alan Bedford kept the early tempo going with a 6th minute dump tackle and so did the back row, led by new granddad Dick Potter (congratulations mate) with Trevor Roberts and new to the flank Kev Walters hunting as a triumvirate.

In the 11th minute Covents, awarded a penalty and about to kick for touch received orders from touch judge, fitness consultant, chief of visualisation and Director of Rugby Coach Mosey to tap it so they did. 2 minutes later the tap bug had spread as far as second row Deej Sexton as even he tapped and went. Eventually the tap and go novelty wore off and in the 14th minute Simon Needle (BA) sent one over for 10-0. This of course prompted the compulsory galvanised comeback and Cov Tech surged towards our line and looked in at the corner until caped crusader Rohan flew in and smothered their attacking intent with a superb tackle. Tech then tapped and went (surprise, surprise) and chipped over but Tom Gough dropped on in our in goal area.

Moments later Rohan, catching one covered in snow went on a mazy run beat four and passed to Ryan Gilbert who thundered like a wounded rhino but the move broke down. Rohan was surely in minutes later when screaming for the ball in space did not receive it from Alan Bedford who was scragged before he could offload. In the 21st minute Lawrence had treatment for a cut head and BA Needle missed with the penalty but by now our bright start had faded and the game started to resemble a partially sighted dentist pulling teeth with blunt pliers.

In the 25th minute however a powerful Covents scrum pushed Tech back and Phil Watson picked up a Trevor Roberts hack on and beat several defenders before passing to Ryan Gilbert who surged again before being held up 5 metres short. We recycled and thought D J was over but he was held up. From the resulting penalty when perhaps we should have tapped (for once) we opted to kick and BA Needle missed again. So perhaps hold that knighthood for Coach Mosey then . . .

On 30 minutes Kev Walters cut a Tech player in half and Lawrence made good ground before passing to Rohan who sprinkled his magic dust and beat five defenders until a Cov Tech clothes line cut him down in his prime. The blue and whites saw red and the black hearted number one in green got yellow from the man in orange (I hope no one is colour blind) Five minutes later Tech were awarded a penalty and a very decent kick soared over for 10-3.

At this point prop forward Steve Vallis, struggling with an ankle injury caught a high kick just outside our 22 with the green winger bearing down on him. So, with BA Needle outside him it was just a case of pass the pill and watch as he kicked away . . . You must be having a laugh! Vallis suddenly thought he was Phil Bennett and with feet stuck in thick treacle and the cameras switched to super slow mo attempted his best Fred Flintstone twinkle toed sidestep. Obviously confused as a small snail overtook Vallis, the winger still enveloped him and ball while BA Needle selected a large Cuban cigar to light. To be fair though, miraculously we managed to retain possession and at half time still led 10-3.


The first 10 minutes of the second half saw Covents fired up and obviously trying to move it through the backs. On 55 minutes Cov Tech had a penalty in our 22 in the corner and caught us freezing cold and more comatose than napping with a glorious kick that resembled a football cross into the opposite corner for their winger to run in and score for 10-8. On the hour, BA Needle sent a penalty over for 13-8 and Dave Bailey came on for Steve "three point turn" Vallis.

In the 66th minute a Tech pot at goal missed and from the restart Phil took a tricky little kick to himself and beat two players before passing to Lawrence the crash. Lawrence, as usual, did the donkey work before offloading to Rohan who turned the superchargers on and streaked down the wing in a blue and white blur (pausing to wave at Andrea in Phils truck) before dotting down for 18-8. BA Needle just missed but the game was nearly done. Click here for commentary.

In the 69th minute Lenny the young John Kenny Pitt came on for Paul Brindley and his first contribution was a thumping, try saving tackle right in the corner as Tech looked to score.

With 10 minutes left we had entered the best phase of the match as the game came to life with both sides going for it. BA Needle had the chance to finish it but his penalty fell just short in the 71st minute. In the 77th minute Kev Walters, ball in hand, drove two Tech players backwards in a superb display of strength and tenacity. In the 79th minute from a solid hit by Lawrence the ball fell loose, super sub Lenny Pitt picked up in his 22 and emulating Rohan, sprinted up the touchline like a man possessed beating as many as you like in the descending gloom to dot down under the posts. Click here for commentary. BA Needle sent one through the middle and it was 25-8. There was still time for a Cov Tech rally and they spent the last few minutes of time added on, on our line and even though they threw a punch that Trevor said felt like a wet sponge at bedtime they could not breach our defence.

So once again we made hard work of it at times and perhaps should have won by more but still the win felt good, coming as it did at the home of our old friends Cov Tech who were their usual spirited, physical and resolute selves. At times yesterday we were our own worst enemies then again when we played we played well. It is never easy when players have to slot in so fair play to Kev on the flank, Phil at fly half and Nicki "Banoffi" Garner for all her hard work and effort two weeks previously at the VPs do (sorry I missed you out darling!)

I feel I must mention innovative Coach Terry Mosey, Director of Rugby here who put the lads through a 4 hour pre match warm up. This included an hour of visualization whereby the boys get themselves mentally ready for battle by imagining different aspects of rugby; we saw Phil pretending he had a blood capsule in his mouth, Deej sleeping for 12 hours with no night feeds, for Rohan treble rum and coke, Danny on the Love Boat with Monkey and Vallis sitting down to pie, chips and curry sauce. It is all new to me but seemed to work. Long may it continue!

Postscript - Phil, nice to see you mate. Andrea, lovely to meet you ;-)