One very clear fact came out of Coventry’s second pre season trial match & that clearly was the longer the sessions progressed, Aberavon proved much stronger all round opposition than Stourbridge had been able to achieve.

Trial matches are always notoriously difficult to judge overall as well, but having looked at the good and not so good elements to come out of the three sessions, clearly a lot will have been learnt. Rugby Director Phil Maynard acknowledged as much post match, as did Forwards Coach Dave Addleton who emphasised that much work still requires to be achieved in the close quarter areas, notably line outs and set scrums.

With some 27 players having been used there were bound to be some break downs in continuity, that much said, whereas Cov began strongly the effects of that certainly became less with no score coming at all over  the final 40 minutes or so, whereas Aberavon after a moderate start certainly grew in strength & were continuing to press right to the end.

For the record, centre Chris Lewis powered over for a try wide out, Drew Locke’s attempted conversion hitting a post. Try number two also came in the first "third", Ollie Winter from full back chipping cleverly before re gathering to send French winger Romain Plantey over, Locke this time converting well.

12 -0 became 19 -0 early on in the second "third", when after Tommy Hayes had been prominent in the build up, prop Jamie Hall powered over for Hayes to convert.

Although 25 minutes into this period a superb multi handling move saw Dew Locke forced into touch, "Cov" had scored their last point, the Wizards scoring a converted try, followed by a second but this time unconverted to trim the lead to 19 -12.

Indeed if the Welshmen had not dropped the ball on the line when scoring looked easier, the outcome could indeed have been even closer.

Much for everyone to ponder with Cardiff due at the Butts Park Arena on Friday evening for a 7.45 pm kick off.