Coventry 29 Sedgley Park 24- terrace verdict

By Tom Little
March 1 2009

On the face of it another bonus point win taking Coventry within 4 points of 7th place, with 5 excellent tries scored, left a somewhat flat feeling after the game. It needed an unlikely Steve McQueen character in the shape of Lee Parry to effect the "great escape”, with 2 tries in the last 3 minutes. MOM Myles Dorrian kept Cov in the match when all seemed lost with his silky handling and running

skills.

A game played at a frenetic pace was not helped by a serious head injury to Jamie Miller, who was stretchered off to hospital after 10 mins.

Even before the injury Coventry seemed to be rushing their passes and forcing the pace. When the Sedgley Park No 8 Ollie Cook received a red card after 30mins for punching it seemed to further disrupt Cov rather than SP. Coventry became more and more ragged, fell off too many tackles and despite searing breaks by the home side were unable to capitalise.

Chris Whitehead was prominent early on and almost scored after an Olly Winter break. The ball was quickly recycled and Whitehead was there again to force his way over. Dorrian converted on 8 mins to make score Coventry 7 SP 0.

On 15 mins following another surging break by Dorrian in the process of taking a low pass at full speed Miller was injured as his lost the ball over the line. It took 8 mins before the game restarted. This injury unsettled Cov and SP came back into game and the always elusive winger Peter Swadkins was always a thorn in Cov's side.

Coventry continued to press with first McGlone and then Clayton almost scoring. Pressure mounted on the SP line finally resulted after 30 mins for a red card to Ollie Cook for punching Clayton.

SP now played with increased vigour and as another promising attack from Cov broke down, the ball was switched from one end of the field to another for Swadkins to score an excellent try behind the posts. Mike Riley converted to level the scores. Yet Cov were not to be denied as Dorrain went on one of his mazy runs with not a hand laid on him for a fine individual try deep into injury time. Conversion was missed leaving the H/T score Coventry 12 SP 7.

The 2nd half started brightly for Cov as first Winter and Dorrian made breaks, only for the ball to be lost. SP were now finding huge gaps in the Cov defence, and it was no surprise that after 12 min Tafa went over for a Riley converted try following poor backs defence. Score Coventry 12 SP 14.

Yet within 2 mins Cov were back in front as Dixon forced his way over for an unconverted try. Score Cov 17 SP 14.

Now it was the time for SP not to lie down and No 9 Wilkinson forced his way over for Riley to convert. Score now Cov 17 SP 21.

Parry now came on for Toft, but matters soon got worse for the home side as riley kicked a penalty to make score Coventry 17 SP 24,with the final quarter to go.

We have already seen from this season that Cov do not give up, and further scorching breaks from Dixon and Dorrian came to nothing. With 3 mins to go a break inside their own 22 was carried on by Clayton who fed Parry who surged 40m to score by the posts. Dorrian converted to equalise the scores at 24 each.

Confidence surged back into the Cov side as they went for the killer blow. Just on 40 mins it occurred as a brilliant Dorrian break was carried on by Sanders, Dixon whose pass allowed Parry to score in the corner. Cov held out the final 3 mins to get their winning bonus point win.

With Esher winning surprisingly at Rotherham, the pressure is now on amongst 6 teams for the final relegation spot. Cov will certainly have to tighten up to remain safe with forthcoming games against Esher and Rotherham becoming more important.