Cov rugby director Phil Maynard admits to hard work ahead
By Brian Dick, Coventry Telegraph
October 12 2010
WITH their season at its crucial juncture, Phil Maynard admits Coventry must work hard if they are to regain the momentum they need to see them through the long National One campaign. Although they have struggled on their travels so far in 2010-11 Cov had, until Saturday, been in prime form at Butts Park Arena with victories in their first two matches.
But that home record was blown away as the Blue and Whites were thrashed 40-12 by unheralded Macclesfield and as a result Maynard’s men have now lost four of their six matches.
That has left them 12th in the table and – with unenviable trips to leaders Barking and Blaydon on the horizon – facing an uphill struggle.
“The honeymoon is over and it’s time we rolled our sleeves up,” the rugby director said. “This very young group of lads are on a steep learning curve.
“It was a case of everyone – including myself – thinking the team was all right for last Saturday and that when we got out there it would just happen for us.
“That meant we got away from the secret of our success at home this season - an ethic of hard work and getting ourselves on the front foot.
“There was no lack of effort, the lads tried right to the end but we have to look at how we channel that effort because we came up against a well drilled and organised side.”
Maynard is also standing by the selectoral changes he claims were forced upon him.
Having been beaten at Cambridge last Saturday week Coventry opted to introduce Jon Lowdon, Danny Richards and Reuben Haile to their back line.
However, the result was the concession of five tries and a disjointed defensive performance.
“We had to bring Danny in because Elliott Read’s knee had swollen up and Ben Russell could not train with us on Tuesday because he has started his university course.
“Reuben scored a good try, he showed his attacking attributes but overall we are going to have to work hard to fix key areas of our defence.”To make matters worse Lowdon picked up a knee ligament injury and will be out for at least six weeks.
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We seem to have been on this slippery downward slope far to long.
Who signed all these "young, inexperienced" players, ever heard of a mixture of youth and experience ?
Its not rocket science.
