That fact was born out by the fact their streetwise forwards were in almost total command from the outset and with such a base it was inevitable Coventry would spend considerable amounts of time on the back foot. The positives and negatives. Certainly there was a great deal to commend in the amount of tackles that were put in around the fringes and in midfield.

The same unfortunately could not be said about the inability to stem Bristol’s rolling mauls which brought tries at key times or the fact several crucial penalties were given away allowing Bristol to set up the positions in the first place.

However in open play Bristol were only rarely allowed to develop their moves with stubborn defence regularly frustrating them. On a personal level there was an encouraging debut at number eight from Alex Shaw who battled well and bravely at the rear of a pack often under pressure as did new scrum half, Ollie Frost.

Bristol however soon signalled their intentions with Cov under pressure at the first scrum, only excellent defence keeping the visitors out after a line out had also been lost.

Pressure however paid off on 10 minutes and with Coventry stretched on the right, centre Adams broke to feed Robinson for a try wide out, although some locals near to the action firmly believed a forward pass had featured in the build up. Jarvis missed the conversion, the Bristol fly half for the second time this season against Cov appearing to leave his goal kicking boots elsewhere.

A poor kick out of defence followed by a Bristol kick ahead needlessly carried over spelt more danger before the Blue and Whites put first points on the board. Bristol were caught offside as Coventry finally won some good possession on 18 minutes leaving Fangatapu Apikotoa to land a well struck penalty from 36 metres for 3 -5.

A Dai Maddocks infringement then allowed Jarvis with a penalty kick to touch to set up a line out position inside Cov’s 22 from which Bristol’s eight man drive took Johnstone over for the try, Jarvis again missing the conversion.

Three minutes later Fangatapu Apikotoa landed another penalty this time from 40 metres to keep his side in touch, only for Aaron Carpenter to concede a penalty allowing Bristol to set up yet another catch and drive. From it, flanker Pennycook came up with the ball, Tom Arscott this time converting.

There was time however for Cov four minutes later to set up a similar situation, a penalty kick into the visiting 22 being wasted with a crooked throw into the subsequent line out.