For the second week running, Coventry managed to squander a half time lead and again lose a match that should have been well within their capability of winning. It was very frustrating for a good sized Butts Park crowd to see their side nosedive to defeat in the manner they did, without taking anything whatsoever away from a well organised Newbury team.

For Newbury it was their first success over Coventry in seven attempts and few who witnessed the game will surely disagree that on the basis of the 80 plus minutes, they certainly deserved it. Once again Cov having built a foundation totally failed to close the door on their opponents, although one positive on this occasion was that improved discipline meant no yellow cards. Newbury picked up one and can count themselves a little fortunate that referee Roberts was lenient on them in the final quarter apparent persistent offside only being penalised with penalties and verbal warnings. Quite why Coventry however in that period elected not to kick for goal will remain a mystery.

With the strong breeze behind them it had however begun promisingly for the Blue and Whites. By the 4th minute, lock forward Ollie Hodge had stormed over for his maiden club try, a penalty kick to touch setting up the position for a catch and drive, Ben Russell’s attempted conversion being defeated by the wind.

At that point Newbury had not had their hands on the ball, conversely for the next 15 minutes Coventry effectively did not either. Ten minutes of solid visiting pressure brought no reward, Coventry defending superbly before after 18 minutes pressure did tell flanker Abbott being driven over, Walsh missing the conversion.

It remained 5 all for over 10 minutes before with Cov putting more attacks together Laurie McGlone powered over from close in for his fourth try in as many matches, Ben Russell converting. It got even better after 36 minutes, flanker Henno Venter being driven over after an almost carbon copy build from the first try, this time Russell’s conversion failing. Probably the most defining moment in the match came shortly afterwards when McGlone was again driving for the line only to knock on, 22-5 at that point would have been significant, but instead it became 17-8 at the break courtesy of a well struck Walsh 39 metre penalty after 40minutes.

Facing the stiff breeze it soon became clear Coventry’s nine point lead was going to be barely enough and what a difference that missed try opportunity might have made. After Kurt Johnson was penalised for a high tackle Walsh missed the resulting penalty from 40 metres, but he was successful with two conversions within the next 12 minutes which saw Newbury lead for the first time. Poor work by Cov at a defensive scrum near their ‘’22’’ saw the ball squirt out leaving flanker Morgan with a simple opportunity to cross for Newbury’s second try, replacement Damu Damu storming through for another shortly afterwards after a Walsh break.

Coventry badly needed a lift, Kurt Johnson giving them one after 57 minutes with a storming run, a superb Ben Toft break moments later also lifting home hopes. Newbury’s Morgan was yellow carded as Cov continued to try and break through, although twice kickable penalties were turned down in favour of kicks to the corner. On each occasion the visitors, even with only seven forwards held out to frustrate and ironically it was they who almost had the final say after 75 minutes, Walsh’s attempted penalty hitting a post.

The final whistle blew on a scoreless second half for Coventry who departed in the knowledge that for the second week running they really should have defeated a side below them in the table.

The facts now speak for themselves however. Cov are finding they are being drawn more and more into a close situation in the lower half of the table and with four of the next five matches against sides currently above them, life is certainly not going to get  anything but tougher particularly with the injury list also showing signs of growing.

Coventry. Ben Russell (Capt), Kurt Johnson, Jack Cobden, Donovan Sanders, Ben Toft, Myles Dorrian, Mike Walls, Carl Rimmer, Stuart Friswell, Rudi Brits, Gregor Gillanders, Ollie Hodge, Henno Venter, Jamie Miller, Laurie McGlone.

Replacements; Dai Maddocks, Danny Hodge, Ian Nimmo, Tom Slater, George Dixon, Hendry Rheeders.

Not used; Chris Whitehead

Coventry. Tries; Ollie Hodge, Laurie Mc Glone, Henno Venter.

         Conversion; Ben Russell

Newbury. Tries; Doug Abbott, Chris Morgan, Isoa Damu Damu

         Conversions; Tim Walsh 2. Penalty goal; Walsh

John Butler