Coventry 27 Cambridge 29 by John Wilkinson.

Ahead four times in a game which ebbed and flowed from start to finish, Cov were undone right at the death in a manner which left opinion divided.

Cov’s show of defiance as they spent the last ten minutes or so defending on their line perhaps deserved more than the losing bonus point they eventually took from the game; equally, Cambridge’s own discipline as they retained the ball through phase after phase until eventually breaking through was just as admirable and earned its reward.

And while Cov could argue that Luke Myring’s yellow card during that decisive final phase was unjustified and that Cambridge had given referee Greg MacDonald ample opportunity to whistle up before the clinching score, the visitors’ coaching team were just as adamant that Cov had been allowed to get away with too much over the course of the game.

Whatever the rights or wrongs, the outcome only underlined that National League One will be tighter than ever this season and with such a thin line between success and failure, any shortage in performance is likely to be costly.

For Cov, on Saturday’s display that means a curb on kicking back to the opposition runners instead of finding touch or turning the defence and tightening up the scrum, where they again came under too much pressure on their own ball to give them clean possession.

And although Cov’s defensive organisation was for the main part outstanding, they were outscored 4-1 on tries and grateful for the accuracy of Myring’s boot to take them so close to victory.

Cov went in front for the first time inside three minutes, No.8 Matt Tibbatts – who had an excellent game – breaking off a scrum in the Cambridge 22 and sending the ball down the line for winger Andy Murray to cross in the right corner.

Myring was unable to convert into the breeze but penalties on 14 and 17 minutes gave Cov an 11-7 advantage after the visitors had replied through a Steve Hipwell try, off the back of a close-range scrum, and Tom Wheatcroft conversion.

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