The ultimate assessment of this match, annoying though it was from a Coventry point of view was that they were far too generous in a number of facets and ultimately it cost them a defeat when it could so easily have been the reverse.

 

Moseley scored two tries is this match, neither of them were effectively created as Cov either turned over or lost possession and added to that,  despite the fact the overall penalty was something like 19 -7 in the Blue and Whites favour, four of the penalties conceded  were given away inside their own territory in a costly opening half. The opportunities were gratefully accepted by home full back Roberts who ensured the Butts Park men paid a high price.

 

Added to all of that, territorially Coventry dominated the second half, including some eleven minutes of injury time, but despite pummelling away just could not clinch the final important score. It is a fact that when perhaps you need  that little piece of luck to swing things, fate decides otherwise and late on with Moseley desperately defending close in this was one such time. That said and with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps a little more with width and variety might have provided the answer, as it was we will never know.

 

It was Moseley with wind advantage who made the first telling inroads. Returning Cov’s opening kick off, Moseley were able to capitalise for after Ollie Winter knocked on badly, the error was compounded with an offside decision within 1minute 56 seconds, Roberts landing the penalty, as he did again on 8 minutes when Rob Dugard was penalised for not releasing.

 

Worse was to follow when after a straight forward passing move went wrong, Fangatapu Apikotoa was forced to tidy up, possession being turned over allowing home scrum half Pasqualin to storm over from 35 metres without a hand being laid on him for Roberts to convert, 13 -0 and only 15 minutes on the clock.

 

Cov’s first real entry into the home ‘’22’’ saw home lock Muldowney yellow carded for pulling down in the line out and with a man advantage, James Lewis had sufficient room on the right to cross for his maiden club try, James Thomas converting well. 13- 7 became 13 -10 three minutes later as home wing Mensah-Coker was penalised for not releasing, 10 metres being added on by referee Debney for arguing leaving Thomas with a comfortable penalty attempt.

 

Much of the good work was then undone however as Roberts kicked two further Moseley penalties in the last ten minutes of the half, the first it has to be said when Richie Bignell was harshly penalised against his former colleagues for not releasing with a Moseley player appearing to be lying on top.

 

19-10 at the break, but then with wind advantage a telling moment against Cov. From an early attack, Aaron Carpenter appeared to lose possession and from fully 70 metres home centre May was allowed to storm away unopposed for Roberts to convert. A sickening and ultimately fatal blow. 26 -10 and three scores down.

 

From that point however with Moseley barely mounting a worthwhile attack, it was Coventry in the driving seat. With the forwards really now asserting themselves, a catch and drive on 50 minutes saw Aaron Carpenter cross wide out, Thomas missing his conversion. 10 minutes later the situation became even better, a penalty kick to touch and a move across field to the right setting up James Lewis for his second try of the game, the wide angled conversion again just defeating James Thomas.

 

At 26 -20 however Cov were really in the driving seat. From the 70th minute right through 11 minutes of injury time they pummelled away inside the home ‘’22’, but ultimately without reward, even when centre May became the second Moseley player to receive yellow.

 

Several close in scrums went down, but still nothing would come Coventry’s way and in the final analysis it was to become just a losing bonus point. 3 tries to 2 in the try count as well, but as always it was the final score line that mattered most and it was Moseley who claimed the spoils and the seasons double. A mighty effort after all the recent travails, but a very disappointing final result.

 

Coventry. Ollie Winter, James Lewis, Fangatapu Apikotoa, Chris Lewis, Simon Frewin, James Thomas, Mike Walls, Rob Dugard, Ross McMillan, Jamie Hall, Sam Herrington, Louis Mc Gowan, Henno Venter (Capt), Richie Bignell, Aaron Carpenter.

 

Replacements; Matthew Dwyer for McMillan, Dai Maddocks for Dugard, Ben Dechartres for Herrington, Arthur Brenton for McGowan, David Askew for Venter, Tommy Hayes for Winter, Kurt Johnson for Frewin.

 

Coventry. Tries; James Lewis 2, Aaron Carpenter. Conversion; James Thomas. Penalty Goal; Thomas.

Moseley. Tries; Jordi Pasqualin, Jonny May. Conversions; Tristan Roberts 2. Penalty Goals; Roberts 4.

John Butler