Maynard: Slow start was killer for Cov

Rugby director Phil Maynard attributed Coventry’s 43-22 defeat at Cambridge to the wrong mindset as they paid for a slow start which saw them trail by 22 points after half an hour. Cov recovered to win the second half, but they had left themselves too much to do after that initial period, which Maynard felt came from over-confidence following their nine-try win over Cinderford a week earlier.

“For the first 30 minutes it was very much a case of them thinking it was just going to happen for them,” said Maynard. “We could sense it through the week and had tried to bring them out of it.

“They are a young side and have learnt another lesson. These are difficult places to come to, Cambridge are a big side and quick, and nothing is going to come easily.”

Cov were unceremoniously shoved off the ball at the first scrum inside the opening minute and were 18-3 down by the start of the second quarter.

“What happened at the start was a shock and down to a lack of concentration – it was indicative of a sloppy performance,” said Maynard. “There were too many missed tackles throughout.

“At half-time we told the lads they just needed to get hold of the ball, score first and string some phases together, which they did. Once they realised they could break them down they began to play well but sloppy defence let Cambridge back in when we might have taken something from the game.”

Prop Adam Parkins is joining Cov on a dual-registration loan from Northampton. The 20-year-old, 6ft 5in tall and 20 stone, benched for Saints last season.