Sam Pailor just happy to be back in action with Coventry.

If there was a silver lining to the cloud that descended over the Butts Park Arena on Saturday it was the return to fitness of all-action Coventry back-rower Sam Pailor.

While the former Doncaster forward wasn’t able to mark his first appearance in two months with a victory, quite the reverse in fact as Cov were battered 37-15 by Blaydon, he was at least back in the thick of things.

After all, the 24-year-old was coming back from a freak injury in which he not only broke his nose but ruptured several arteries and required blood transfusions and surgery.

Despite the misgivings of his family, he was thrilled to be playing again. “I was really happy to be involved,” Pailor said. “I did the best I could under the circumstances.

“I took a couple of big blows to my face, which I needed, and now I am fine again and my confidence is sky-high.

“I could have worn a mask but I opted against it because if something’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. My girlfriend and parents were concerned and they told me to be careful but you can’t really do that in a contact sport, you can’t pick and choose what you do.

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