Phil Maynard: Inexperience cost Coventry RFC at Tynedale

RUGBY director Phil Maynard conceded that inexperience cost his new-look Coventry side after a promising start to Saturday’s opening National League One game at Tynedale which ended in a 45-20 defeat. Cov – who had 12 players making league debuts for the club – led 17-16 at half time against the wind but were unable to press home the advantage after the break as their Northumberland hosts

moved up a gear to score four unanswered tries.

“We showed classic signs of a young side,” said Maynard. “There was a certain naivety in places.

“We had a good first half and there were some encouraging signs there but having got into a good position, the players expected the wind to win the game for them and it just doesn’t work like that.

“We didn’t play well tactically in the second half and didn’t utilise the wind to get the best out of our game.

“It’s difficult enough as it is without giving the ball up cheaply and we have got to learn from our mistakes.

“We fed their defence with a lot of unforced errors and looked like a side in the development stages.”

Despite the size of the defeat, Maynard found positives in a number of performances.

“I was impressed with the way Danny Richards played generally at fly-half,” he said, “and I thought Nick Southern played well – he’s been away from this level for some time and just needs to sharpen up.

“We kept going to the end and there was no sign of any heads dropping.

“We have to keep working at it and move things up a step for next week.”