Coventrians 5 - 38 Coventry Technical Mids 5 West (S E)

Bad Day at Black Pad for Blue Boys

As the curtain fell on 2009/10 (with a whimper, not a bang) and the fat lady sang, we could have done with her as 10 regulars were missing through injury and other reasons (postcard please) and playing the whole of the first half with 14 allowed Tech to take full advantage and lead by 26-0 at half time. No strangers to tough days and hard times themselves, the boys in green cashed in as Covents looked rudderless in the hot sunshine. A minute before half-time, Rohan turned up and came on but no sooner were we up to 15 then Jon Smith, teenage tackling sensation had to go off with an injured shoulder so back to 14 - it was that sort of day.

The second half was a much more spirited display and frequently, Covents' attack and drive play would leave Tech players down in clumps needing treatment much to the frustration of Coach Boppa (wish his surname was Carter) who, stressed to the max and frustrated with the lack of numbers, prowled the touchline being, errrr, well grumpy as f * * *!

The highlight of the match for Covents was an audacious try from scrum-half Tom Gough who taking a quick tap penalty about 3 yards from his own try line, weaved through the static green fatties and was away. Almost scragged, he wriggled free and resisting the temptation to pass to Rohan, sprinted in to dot down under the posts for 5-26. With fly-half Ben Davies struggling with a hamstring, up stepped prop Haydon Clarke to miss the conversion. I know what you're asking at home and to be honest, I haven't a clue, so don't!

Another moment that raised our hopes was when Haydon picked up loose ball on our line and charged forward up the touch like a wounded rhino, eventually laying off to Rohan who sprinted, chip kicked and sprinted again. He raced, shadowed by green, over the line and managed to tap down with one hand but try not awarded. On reflection it most probably wasn't but at the time, I would have given it, standing as I was on the halfway line with dodgy eyes and a bag over my head. The referee (wee Robbie fa the Highlands) wouldn't even consider our third match official's opinion (John Kenny) or a free pint if the try was awarded - I mean come on, he's a Scotsman for God's sake!

So the boys in blue kept going with renewed optimism but could not break the green defence again in a game that became scrappy and in the last 15 or so, Tech breached our line twice more to make the second half score, 5-12 and it could have been more if they'd had a kicker. Sensibly forgoing the lengthy injury time, wee Robbie blew after 41 minutes and we were, soundly beaten by a joyous Tech side who didn't rub it in too much (thanks boys).

There were some positive things from the Blue and Whites; Haydon, DJ, Giz and the rest of the pack, some bullocking trademark runs from Lawrence, Joff tackling round the ankles (reminiscent of a young, fearless Jeff Platt) Tom Gough's energy and two or three solo darts from Captain Cozzy with little legs going full tilt but all in all, pitching up on a league Saturday with 14 men to play anyone (let alone Cov Tech) is a crock of sh*t and well we know it. Yes there are a lot of injuries to key players and yes, massive respect to the 16 who fronted up yesterday (Sam Holtham included who came on in the second half) but to go from 40 plus bodies in the new year to a thin, blue bedraggled line is clearly not good enough and hopefully souls will be searched and Springy will return from Gary Glitter's holiday home whenever the Icelandic dust settles . . .

So as the sun went down, and the sun downers went down with it, we were left to reflect on a funny old season - a season in which we played champions Trinity Guild first game up and found ourselves 31-0 down at half time and only losing by 10 points while they were flagging, beating 2nd placed Atherstone at home and losing to them away in the 89th minute 23-25 to a penalty and going on a 6 match winning run and retaining the Flick Memorial by beating the Wheats 43-8. On the flip side of that coin, we lost by one point at Copsewood and sustained two heavy defeats, this week and last to finish 3rd in the league. It was the usual Covents story of flattering to deceive, on our day, when the players we know we've got are available, we're a match for anyone but unfortunately as is sometimes the case, we can go from world beaters to carpet beaters in the blink of an eye.

Thanks to everyone who contributed this season; players, coaches, committe, bar and grub staff, drinkers, supporters and flag collectors, it's not all doom & gloom, we've got the Club Dinner to look forward to and Sean in his Speedos!

Coventrians RFC, you know it makes sense.