Coventry Saracens 10 - 31 Coventrians Mids 5 West SE

Our all time league record v Saras is now P22 W12 L10

Saras Get The Needle as Simon Super Show Seals Win

Covents continued their Jeckyll and Hyde impression at Bredon Avenue on Saturday flattering to deceive in the first half before romping home in a very one sided second half. As early as the 4th minute they illustrated their supremacy as Rohan looked sure to score after beating 3 defenders - unfortunately though instead of moving sideways (as he always does) to beat the last man, he chose to run straight (as he hardly ever does) and was stopped short.

Two minutes later, fly-half Simon Needles threw out an outrageous pass to Rohan who again, along with Lenny Pitt, looked certain to score but with an 'after you old boy, no no I insist after you old chap' they managed, to between them, not score. In the 14th minute Simon chipped over but Saras managed to drop on and still we couldn't get on the board. From a lineout Giz the veteran rose like a salmon and Tom Gough went on his own but still we couldn't find a way through.

From another lineout, Captain Cozzy cleaned up the scraps at the base and allowed Simon Needles to scythe his way through to dot down under the posts and convert his own kick in the 18th minute for 7-0. As is always the case, the opposition came at us and with a nicely executed drop kick, were back in it at 7-3. Just after this, Paul Brindley picked up a loose kick and made 30 yards before being halted - pushed off a scrum earlier, the Covents 8 then went on a rumble and pushed Saras back powerfully in a maul. Then disaster struck as a Saras Garryowen in the 32nd minute left Lenny in two, possibly three minds and as he pondered the meaning of life, the chasing Sara gathered and dotted down very much against the run of play. They converted for 7-10 and came again full of confidence and spirit with fancy flicks and sweet sherry and mauling on our line resulting in a dangerous looking scrum but they knocked on to signal half-time.

The second 40 was a different story thankfully as in the 44th minute a twinkle toed run from Alan Bedford resulted in Kev Walters putting Lawrence in to score for 12-8. We were finally rumbling now as D J went on an Incredible Hulk of a surge and then in the 51st minute Lawrence went on a bullocking crash centre of a run which allowed Simon Needles to pick up and deftly chip over, catch but just be held up on the line. 8 minutes later, Lawrence again like a bull in a China shop set up a ruck from which D J rumbled again and Rohan put Simon Needles in who waltzed through as many Saras as you like to touch down 17-10. We were now starting to look more like a Bentley than a Lada and Simon converted for 19-10. Minutes later, great work from Captain Cozzy, chasing down and pressurizing Saras defenders, forced them to kick infield and Rohan just about catching the pill, put Simon Needles in again who running a great line and beating at least 2 defenders put Lenny in at the corner for 24-10 and another quality score.

The 70th minute saw Tom Carter welcomed back to the fold as he came on for Cozzy and Covents were still hunting as a mazy run from Rohan, a straight one from Bedford and a galloping warthog from Lawrence all tested the Saras defence. In the 76th minute from a scrum on the Saras line, Covents drove and from the ensuing scramble scrum-half Tom Gough stuck out a telescopic arm and put the icing on the mini bakewell to score. Simon provided the cherry with a successful conversion and so ended a good win (eventually) for Covents and a virtuoso performance of his own, 31-10.

So a 4th successive league win for the blue and whites - a few mentions here - Boppas coaching, Haydon deputising for Woz, Giz playing 80 minutes at 2nd row (at his age!) Cozzy whose attempts to stick the nut on a huge prop would be massively improved by the use of some step ladders, D J for starting at prop and moving to 2nd row (after Keiran did his shoulder), Vallis for not scoring for the 3rd week in a row and most of all to the backs who looked as sharp as razors for most of the match - well done one and all!

PS - if anyone knows the result and scorers from the 2nds put it on the guestbook - cheers

Newbold 3rds 35 - 15 Covents 2nds Warks 3

Scorers unknown