Maynard claims Coventry exonerated of repeatedly collapsing
By Brian Dick, Coventry Telegraph
October 7 2009
RUGBY director Phil Maynard claims Coventry’s forwards have been exonerated of repeatedly collapsing the scrum following analysis of last Friday night’s controversial defeat to Moseley. An entertaining derby turned sour when – eight minutes into injury time – the Birmingham side were awarded a third penalty try when yet another 5m scrummage went down. That gave the visitors a barely
believable 28-25 victory and prompted vehement criticism of referee Luke Pearce.
Maynard followed up that displeasure on Monday when he met with the Rugby Football Union to review Friday evening’s events and he insists the findings support Coventry’s conviction they were not the guilty party.
“Our front five and front row are completely vindicated,” Maynard said.
“We have been through the DVD with the RFU and reached an understanding.
“I feel they have listened sympathetically to our case and actually given some ground on some contentious issues.”
If the Blue and Whites were upset by the first penalty try, which was awarded after 23 minutes, they were exasperated by the second in the 74th.
But confusion turned to anger soon after when without a single reset Pearce ran under the sticks to hand Mose a vital Championship victory.
“On the final one it was clear their loosehead lost his footing,” said Maynard.
“That caused the right side of the scrum to go up and they dropped the whole thing.”
Maynard claims some of Moseley’s players have subsequently admitted to him their part in the deception.
“Four tries to one in any other arena would be good enough. We played all the rugby,” he said.
“We have now drawn a line under the issue with the referee, who was clearly wrong.”
Next up for the Butts Park outfit are Doncaster this Saturday and at least one positive from last week’s match is that there are no new injury worries.
Ross McMillan will still be out after a bang on the head at Cornish Pirates while Nathan Jones is doubtful.
But Cov at least have skipper Arthur Brenton back in the frame following the lock’s neck injury.
He could come in for either Sam Herrington or Louis McGowan at Castle Park
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