Bedford Blues 42 Coventry 6

Written by John Butler

Monday, 14 September 2009

Back down to earth with a bump! Goldington Road has not been a happy hunting ground in recent years, this was Coventry’s seventh defeat on the trot there and little which happened during this desperately disappointing latest visit looked as if that stat was about to change. The understandable belief post match was "we are a better side than that", the feeling being that whilst the score line was in no way unfair, the squad were and are certainly capable of much better. Still in contention at half time, Cov to be brutally honest were blown away in the second half with the rampant Blues running in five of their six tries during that period. For Coventry to have stood any realistic chance of recording a second Championship win, it was going to take a very big performance from the pack to help nullify the potency of the home backs. Sadly it did not happen, Bedford being in charge in all phases, Cov in their smart new red and white change kit not helping their cause with far too much turn over ball. Consequently with limited quality possession pressure positions were very rarely held for long. Bedford though looked fast, slick and evasive virtually every time they had ball in hand, Coventry meanwhile also did not help their cause particularly in the first half; first use of the Goldington Road slope but tactical kicking which was wayward with no real use of the corners. On a beautiful sunny day and with that slope advantage Cov desperately needed a good positive start, however the reverse happened. After home full back Pritchard had missed an early penalty, thankfully the Canadian international was not at his best kicking wise all afternoon, Dai Maddocks became embroiled in an off the ball scuffle, Australian referee Tutty issuing a yellow card on 7 minutes. The Blues keeping up pressure were soon rewarded, centre Burke cutting inside for the opening try, Pritchard converting before adding a penalty after 16 minutes after Ben Russell had not gathered a Dorrian kick cleanly and Coventry were penalised for slow release. Bedford lock Tupai by now had also received "yellow" for aiming a punch at Will Hurrell, Ben Dechartres putting in an important tackle to end another Bedford surge. On 23 minutes, Cov made their first entry into the home "22" and effectively stayed there for some eight minutes. During the period Ben Russell landed two penalties for 10-6, the first after home number 8 Goodman was penalised for handling on the ground to become the third "yellow recipient", the second after the home pack broke their binding at a scrum. Romain Plantey in pursuit of a Tommy Hayes high kick ahead had helped create the position 24 metres out. Cov then rather needlessly conceded three points to a Pritchard penalty following a late tackle 35 metres out, 13 -6 at half time. Any realistic ideas Coventry had though of staying in the match were totally obliterated within the next 21 minutes. Four home tries saw the visitors constantly on the back foot with Tupai (2),Pritchard and Goodman all crossing, Pritchard converting just one. A rare Cov excursion into the home "22" saw Jamie Miller just forced out, an attacking scrum five being lost and more penalties being needlessly given away and handling being poor. Replacement Drew Locke produced a neat individual effort which died for lack of support, before finally replacement Davies sealed the home win with try number six right on the final whistle, Pritchard converting. Difficult in the final analysis to draw any real crumbs of comfort at the end of a very poor all round performance. Coventry. Ben Russell, Will Hurrell, Phil Mackenzie, Chris Lewis, Romain Plantey, Tommy Hayes, Mike Walls, Dai Maddocks, Jo Merrigan, Scott Roberts, Arthur Brenton (Capt), Ben Dechartres, Henno Venter, Richie Bignell, Jamie Miller. Replacements; Ross McMillan for Merrigan, Kevin Davis for Maddocks, Rob Dugard for Roberts, Louis Mc Gowan for Brenton, Nathan Jones for Walls, Drew Locke for Hayes, Ben Pons for Venter. Coventry; Penalty goals- Ben Russell 2 Bedford ; Tries – Paul Tupai 2, Brendan Burke, James Pritchard, Chris Goodman, Brad Davies. Conversions – Pritchard 3. Penalty goals – Pritchard 2

 

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