Whilst Coventry’s much changed side battled bravely at Headingley, the more incisive imaginative running and support play of the Leeds side meant that only one side were ever going to progress to the quarter finals of the EDF Energy National Trophy.

The competition’s favourites won this tie by eight tries to nil and nobody who witnessed it in disappointing crowd of 703 could have any doubts as to who the better all round side were.

Up front though Cov’s forwards gave little away, David Lyons being very much involved in the loose, Greg Thomas at no 8 battling well in difficult circumstances. Coventry it has to be said enjoyed large passages of play with ball in hand, but in reality never looked like breaking down their hosts. Leeds for their part however looked incisive and sharp with their lines of running. It was a testament to Cov’s bravery that a lot of tackles were put in, but still not enough.

An enormously difficult task for the much changed side became even more difficult within 58 seconds, winger Welding making a searing break to put centre Hepworth over for Leeds opening try, a second following from Welding four minutes later with DiBernado converting both.

Cov certainly had their attacking passages, but each time a failure to break down the home defence or loss of possession proved vital. Leeds for their part ran in further first half tries from Oakley and Welding, the second featuring an outrageous reverse pass from Henry Paul. Di Bernado converted both. Meanwhile referee ApGeraint Roberts departed requiring four stitches after a collision with Mike Walls.

28 -0 down at the break and a big second half facing Coventry, a task not made any easier with the yellow carding of Darren Clayton for an offside offence in Cov’s 22. Whilst Coventry continued to battle, Leeds ran in four further tries through Goodridge, Boyde with a move begun in the home 22, Nilsen and Hinton, Di Bernado and Paul both landing a conversion.

The last try indeed confirmed the defeat would be Coventry’s largest in the National Cup in terms of points difference.

Coventry. Ben Toft, Kurt Johnson, Ollie Winter, Ronnie Mc Lean, Lee Parry, Tommy Hayes (Capt), Mike Walls, Ricky Whitehall, Stewart Pearl, Rudi Brits, Oliver Atkinson, David Lyons, Darren Clayton, Ben Pons, Greg Thomas.

Replacements; Henno Venter for Thomas, Rob Dugard for Brits, Chris Whitehead for Pons, Tom Slater for Walls.

Leeds. Tries; Richard Welding 2, Jonny Hepworth, Rhys Oakley, Jon Goodridge, Andy Boyde, Phil Nilsen, Leigh Hinton.

Conversions; Alberto Di Bernado 5, Henry Paul 1