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COVENTRY RFC  29  v  DMPRFC  17

COVENTRY RFC 29 v DMPRFC 17

Kevin Robinson16 Nov 2014 - 00:32
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A second half fightback fails to fully materialise, as DMPRFC return with no league points from Coventry RFC (Match report attached.)

DMPRFC travelled South to Coventry RFC, to take on a team who were highly placed in the league and who were on a high having won six consecutive games.

Both team cited several injury problems and an inability to put their best XV out on a regular basis, a statement true for most National League One sides, as the physicality of the league has taken it's toll for everyone.

The first half was ultimately forgettable from a DMPRFC perspective as a cohesive Coventry XV starved the visitors of possession and ran in 4 tries in the first 26 minutes, securing the try bonus point and effectively winning the game.

All DMPRFC could show for their efforts was a 15th minutes Tom HODGSON penalty.

Perhaps that's all they deserved, as Coventry RFC played all the rugby, taking the game to DMPRFC and showing their quality attributes, which included cohesion at 8,9 and 10, powerful runs from big forwards and a quality England Counties centre.

The DMPRFC defence was found wanting and tries came at regular intervals and continued from the 4th, 18th, 21st and 26th minute, the first three from the backs and the last from the openside flanker. These were supplemented by a decent kicking display from the league's top points scorer, Coventry's full back.

It didn't help matters when DMPRFC flanker Jack ALLCOCK received ten minutes in the 'cooler' for a sort of 'tip tackle'.

During that period, DMPRFC did have their chances, but were unable to convert, as mistakes cost them dearly.

The best opportunity found full back Joe NELLANY evading the defence and sprinting down the left wing. His chip through to beat the last defender, crossed the try line, but hec was adjudged by the officials to have knocked the ball forward in the act of touching the ball down and the chance was lost.

What was notable was that despite their dominance, the home forwards were visibly tiring after their exertions, which gave DMPRFC some hope for after the interval.

A penalty was added before oranges and with the score at 29 - 3, a more than happy home crowd loudly applauded their charges as they left the field for the break, with a job not over, but well done.

Conversely the DMPRFC players trudged off dejectedly.

'But it's not over till the fat lady sings' as everyone knows and a second half transformation silence a healthy home crowd, until the final whistle allowed a sigh of relief.

DMPRFC dominated possession, the scrum and all the points scored in the second half, much like the previous weeks' performance against league leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

Tries from wing Henry ROBINSON and prop Ralph APPLEBY, together with two Tom HOGSSON conversions edged DMPRFC closer to the home haul.

Three home players were sent to the 'sin bin' during this time, as they tried everything to stop the visitors momentum.

With the score at 29 - 17 as the game entered the last ten minutes, the home side desperately tried to hang on to their lead in the face on a DMPRFC onslaught.

An eerie silence befell the ground as a transformation looked on the cards.

With the home scrum being put under pressure every time and various of their front row players feeling the pressure and popping up and out of the scrum first, the official seemed to penalise the visitors, which became a frustration.

Several opportunities were missed, as Coventry's desperate defence held out and the clock ran down.

A deserved win from Coventry RFC based on their first half performance and a chance to reflect for DMPRFC, who gave themselves a mountain to climb in the second half, but found themselves wanting half way up it.

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