Coventry Nighthawks 94 Nuneaton RFC 3 by Tom Little.
By Tom Little.
September 26 2013
A scintillating display of running rugby gave the Nighthawks a resounding victory over a plucky Nuneaton side who were unable to cope with the pace and finishing of the home backs.
In total 14 tries were scored plus 12 conversions with no less than 8 tries coming from the wingers on show.
The Nighthawks starting line-up was as selected with Harry Smith taking up the prop position from the bench. Fly-half Matt jones ran the show in the first half linking up well with his centres Luke Myring showing his guile and creativity and Callum MacBurnie whose distribution was first class. Coupled with the sharpness of Greg Evans at full-back Coventry Nighthawks were determined to feed what must have been some of the fastest wingers seen at BPA with Ian Clark and Alex Smit.
Six tries were scored by half-time with a sparkling display of attacking rugby through Smit (2), MacBurnie, Evans, Gere Maree and Louis Silver with Matt Jones kicking 5 conversions giving them a lead by 40-3.
The second half saw Ian Clark off injured with guest sprinter Karl Ledington from Coventry Welsh replacing him and how he lived up to his sprinting reputation within 5 minutes after a loose ball was picked up their own 22m and Karl ran fully 60m to score which included beating players on the outside, before that Smit had got this hat-trick score after good work by Tom Harris with Jones 6th conversion of the evening.
There followed a raft of changes with wholesale changes in the backs and James Tyas coming in at No 8. This temporarily disrupted the Nighthawks flow but the final quarter saw them run in a further 6 tries as the youngsters ran riot. Replacement winger Lewis Smith ran in 3 tries, with further ones by Tyas, centre Rob Knox and an unknown replacement.
In total 14 tries with Matt Jones getting 6 conversions and Jack Howland getting the other 6. All in all a good workout showing the ability and pace of the Coventry squad and giving the selectors some selection headaches.
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Better opposition vital.
Usual apology for banging on, but this is important!
The current operating model is not one where the players are sitting around one club, either getting picked or doing nothing.
It us one where within tight regulations about numbers, relative levels, national qualifications, they are effectively attached to two clubs simultaneously.
It works upwards and downwards. We have players from a Premiership clubs, we have players at Broad Street. When there's a need for cover, they get pulled back in. Either way.
It means there are players who have trained as part of the squad, know the players, know the drills, but are match fit through being out at other clubs.
When they're needed, there's no need to go out scouting, to deal with agents, to arrange player release with clubs who hadn't expected their star to leave. It's a phone call and an email, come along Thursday, play Saturday with a player that's already a well known quantity.
It hadn't always been this way, it isn't in all parts of the country, it may not be again in the near future if RFU plans to regioNalise National One are forced through, but for now it's the environment the club's operating in.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:27:11:59:49 by OldNick.
Your model could work with a 25 player core - not 40+
15 players
5 replacements
1 spare forward
1 spare back
22
The last two in case of injuries during warm up before the team sheet is submitted.
4 of last weeks starting 8 have been changed. We must be careful to maintain the right balance and promote the players that have put in the hard work. Pre-season etc
Its at the end of the season when the disenchanted leave and the usual merry go round ensues.
This is not a way to build a medium term success.