Coventry want to make Butts a fortress

COV captain Nick Southern has called for a reaction from his young team when they face Macclesfield at Butts Park Arena this Saturday.

The Blue and Whites lost their third straight away game at the weekend when they failed to recover from a slow start at Cambridge.

Southern’s side were 18-3 down inside the first quarter and although they bounced back well after the break, it was not sufficient to repair the early damage.

As a result Cov now sit seventh in the table having posted two handsome wins in front of their own supporters but also having leaked 118 points in three road trips.

However, for second row Southern the priority remains how they perform at Butts Park and this weekend’s visit from newly-promoted Macclesfield presents them with an opportunity to bounce back.

“The main thing is we have to make sure our home form is good,” Southern said. “We need Butts Park to be a fortress where everyone comes to Coventry and knows they are going to get a torrid time.

“If we can do that and sneak a few away wins we will climb up the board. So far in our away games we have put in three half performances so it’s about trying to strike more of a balance. Hopefully we will get a success away from home, which we are desperate to do.”

They will also need to do much better at the set-piece where they were taken apart at West Renault Park. Cov struggled in the lineout throughout and were under the cosh in the scrum from the first minute.

“Set piece has been the strongest part of our game so far this season but unfortunately it was the worst part on Saturday,” the 28-year-old admitted.

“That was a real shock to us. We got absolutely mullered in the first scrum and that set the tone for the whole game. It was the first time we have been in that situation and maybe we reacted badly.

“We’ll have a look at it in training because we need it to function week in week out.”

Southern’s own fitness continues to be a cause of concern. The former Moseley man is having to manage the groin strain that forced him off at Cambridge.