The major fact to come from  the first ever televised Championship match of which there can be no argument is that Coventry did come out second best. There can however also be no issues relative to the durability and bravery of the squad for sticking manfully to their task in the second half when with a modicum of luck and fortune the margin in defeat could have been much closer.

All that said against a Bristol side clearly out to prove to their own supporters that they are a much better side than the one which lost at Doncaster, allowing them the sort of start which the home side enjoyed in the first half was just asking for trouble. Far too much turn over ball in the tackle area and poor retention from kick offs cost Cov dearly, the first of the latter coming from the opening play from which Bristol fully capitalised. Whereas on this occasion the line outs worked well, this time against a very good home pack, Coventry did struggle and were under pressure in the set pieces throughout. Bristol were also quicker and stronger, factors with their welter of possession which were to prove decisive.

Plus points ? There were definitely several. The performance of Joey Carlisle prior to his unfortunate injury was outstanding including his classic individual try. Secondly, the way the squad buckled down in the second half was heartening, but to score 28 points away from home and gain nothing was ultimately disappointing.

Bristol will argue that had Adrian Jarvis, one of the top points scorers in the Division had brought his kicking boots, then the margin would have been even greater by half time, allied to the other fact that several other try scoring chances were missed. As it was Bristol lead 27-13 at the break, five home tries through total dominance coming from Tom Arscott with a hat trick, Norton and Spice, Jarvis converting just one with Cov ruing errors in a number of areas, but still just in touch. Joey Carlisle with two splendidly kicked 45 metre angled penalties showed his opposite number how to do it and then struck big time to score one of the best individual tries in a Coventry jersey for a long time.

Firstly though earlier in the half the young fly half when closed in instead of kicking probed then chipped out of the Coventry "22" before re gathering and clearing downfield superbly. Then on 38 minutes came the try. With possession gained inside the Cov half, Carlisle was fed the ball. After making a few metres once again a smartly judged chip ahead and after taking the ball in his stride the home defence was left standing as Joey dived in under the posts,  Ben Russell converting. A great individual try but at the cost of a knee injury meaning sadly no further part being taken in the match.

In from of a 4,839 crowd, if Cov’s followers really did fear the worst at the break, their side certainly came out ready to prove a point or two themselves. Early pressure was rewarded on 43 minutes, from close in on the right hooker Jo Merrigan crashing over for his maiden club try, unconverted, but at 27 -18 game very much on. Even more so when Ben Russell slotted a penalty following offside.

Bristol then realised however that they had to respond, lock Phillips crossing after Cov were shunted off their own ball. 32-21 with the conversion again missed.

Still Coventry kept going forward and after Russell had engineered an excellent sortie on 73 minutes the side were certainly denied a try, a border line decision ruling forward pass instead.

As if to rub salt in further replacement Eves and centre Adams intercepting a Plantey pass crossed for further Bristol tries, Jarvis finally finding his radar with two conversions. Cov though to their credit kept trying to go forward and right at the death from a close in line out, Scott Roberts crashed over for his maiden club try, Russell’s conversion completing the scoring and the match.

A match which most observers certainly seemed to believe was an excellent advert for Championship rugby. Bristol fully deserving their win, Cov winning friends for the way they dug in after a first half to forget.

Coventry. Ben Russell, Simon Frewin, Phil Mackenzie, Fangatapu Apikitoa, Romain Plantey, Joey Carlisle, Nathan Jones, Scott Roberts, Jo Merrigan, Jamie Hall, Arthur Brenton, Sam Herrington, Jamie Miller (Capt), Richie Bignell, Aaron Carpenter.

Replacements; Ross McMillan for Merrigan, Rob Dugard for Hall, Ben Dechartres for Brenton, Henno Venter for Carpenter, Mike Walls for Jones, Chris Lewis for Carlisle and James Lewis (temp for Mackenzie) and then for Frewin.

Coventry. Tries; Joey Carlisle, Jo Merrigan, Scott Roberts. Conversions; Ben Russell 2. Penalty goals; Carlisle 2, Russell.
Bristol. Tries; Tom Arscott 3, Dan Norton, Jason Spice, James Phillips, Luke Eves, Tom Adams. Conversions; Adrian Jarvis