Coventry 19 - 15 Pertemps Bees

By James Roach
May 19 2005

Back to Winning Ways An under-performing Coventry returned to winning ways with a resolute 2nd half display of defence withholding the Pertemps Bees attempts to steal the league victory and local bragging rights for the West Midlands.

An even first half had ended all square at 12-all, Coventry showing more attacking premise and going to the changing rooms with 2 tries to show for their efforts whilst Bees were thankful for the accuracy of four first-half penalties by Tommy Walsh.  The game had started with Pertemps being awarded two penalties within the opening 4 minutes for Coventry infringements of failing to roll away in a ruck and ‘fighting’.  The latter penalty resulting in a Bees knock-on from a lineout within the cov 22 following a kick to touch.  John Higgins clearing from the scrum under significant pressure from the Bess back row.  Just before the 10 minute mark, Coventry were awarded a scrum for a knock on by Pertemps, Shaun Perry took his usual breakaway and got through the Bees defence though the resulting play broke down and a lineout to Bees.  Ben Gulliver rose highest to win the lineout and the ball spun quickly to the left for Kurt Johnson, with enough time to spin out of a tackle in-goal to drop down for the opening score.  Richard Davies was unluckily off-target with the touchline conversion to leave the visitors 5-0 up.

 

Within 5 minutes Bees had pressed forward after a Coventry knock-on and quick break though from 2 more penalty lineouts Coventry held firm and were able to relieve the pressure with their own attack.  With barely 15 minutes gone, Bees were awarded a further penalty, since the revious lineout catc and drives had failed, Tommy Walsh stepped up to reduce the deficit to 3-5 in favour of Coventry.  The restart kick went out on the full and within 5 minutes Cov were behind following another Walsh penalty (P.Bees 6-5 Coventry).

 

The next ten minutes were even, neither side dominating, though a quick line out throw call by the alert Craig Richards regained territorial advantage for Coventry taking play back to the Bees 22m.  Coventry were determined to play free-flowing rugby by passing the ball through hands out to Richards, Johnson and Davies out on the wings and this brought reward in the 32rd minutes as Northampton-bound James Percival scored, on the loop, his maiden Coventry try running the ball from wide left to behind the posts allowing Davies to add the extra points putting Coventry back in the driving seat at 12 points to 6 up.  The 6-point gap only lasted a few minutes as Coventry, penalised for a tackle off the ball, watched Walsh slot his third penalty.  Injury-time brought Bees level as Walsh knocked over his fourth successful penalty, maintaining his own 100% kicking record.

 

The second half brought a more meaningful Bees side out and from the start they applied pressure to the Coventry defence, which was able to stand firm.  Bees failed to roll away from a ruck and the resulting penalty was put into touch 5m form the bees line, Hooker Richard Protherough emerging with the ball from the resulting catch and drive over the line after the award of the try though the BBC state Kisi Pulu as the scorer (We’ll let Richard and Kisi decide!).  Davies was able to add the conversion for a Coventry lead of 19 – 12.  The remainder of the second half was virtually all Pertemps Bees though Coventry did manage to break a couple of times but knock-ons or missed passes denied them their fourth try.  Many an advantage went begging for the Bees towards the end with Coventry’s defence under immense pressure and Walsh missed a penalty to reduce the Coventry lead to 1 point.  A disjointed game came to an end with Coventry the victors and walking away with 4 league points due to guts and determination though to be frankly honest Bees ran out of ideas in the first half.  Not often you can say the away support outnumbered the home fans but today was one occasion that was true including the air-horns enhancing the chants and shouts of the faithful Cov following.