Phil Maynard denies deceiving Twickenham chiefs

PHIL Maynard has reacted angrily to accusations from local rivals Bees that Coventry deceived the RFU in obtaining dispensation to sign front-row reinforcements. The Blue and Whites rugby director was speaking after his team came back from the dead against Bees on Sunday to dump their nearest rivals in to the Championship relegation zone.

Maynard revealed he was disappointed with the Solihull outfit for questioning the veracity of the information that Cov had provided the governing body when they re-registered Joe Merrigan earlier this month.

Bees claim Aaron Carpenter and Dai Maddocks could have backed up incumbent Ross McMillan who has been struggling for fitness for several weeks. Irish hooker Merrigan started and scored at Sharmans Cross Road.

But Maynard insists Cov did need Merrigan and that everything they have done has been above board. “It’s a shame about the comments in the paper in the build up to Sunday’s game,” Maynard said.

“We do need the front row replacements. Ross McMillan was in a hospital on Friday night having intravenous injections and a minor operation to relieve pressure in his knee.

“He went on against Bees with a scar to prove it, it’s all well documented. We have got five front row players fit and they were all involved against Bees, registered within the required standards.

“We have met all the criteria with medical reports from professional people that have put their name to it. We have no dramas there.

“If I was going to say whose admin needs looking at perhaps Russell Earnshaw should look at his own administration. He is the one that has been docked points for playing illegal players.”

Bees were found guilty of breaching registration regulations in February when loan hooker George Thomas played against Doncaster.

Maynard said he used the Bees’ row it to increase his team’s determination.

“It has to be said it’s a highly motivating factor when somebody is accusing you of those sorts of things. You just pin it on the changing room wall, it’s not hard is it?”