Faced with the most appalling playing conditions, Coventry produced a totally professional and work man like performance to finally see off the spirited Mounts Bay challenge at the Mennaye Field in this EDF Energy National Trophy 4th Round tie.

Post match coach Brett Davey commented the conditions were the worst he had experienced in his whole career. Persistent heavy rain and gale force winds had lashed the South West for many hours, but then 20 minutes into the first half, ‘’normal rain’’ was replaced  by a torrential downpour which quickly turned an already quagmire at the Mennaye Field into an almost lake in parts. And the gale which Cov had hoped to use in the second half virtually disappeared !.

Miraculously though somehow the match not only started but thankfully was also played through to a conclusion. Conditions though were an enormous leveller and without doubt with the pace of the game slowed tremendously, in turn assisting the Division Three leaders to stay in the game.

In conditions which at times though bordered on the dangerous, Coventry, into the elements had done an awful amount of hard work by half time to lead 12-0. After an early foray to the home line was held by brave home defence, Mounts Bay urged on by a passionate crowd gave as good as they got before Cov, in red, broke away to set up a  line out in the Bay ‘’22’’ . A well worked catch and drive then saw No 8 Laurie Mc Glone become the last man up with the ball for his sixth try of the season, the conditions as much as anything defeating Ben Russell’s attempted conversion.

With the rain now hammering down even more, Ben Toft made a superb run out of defence, before after 29 minutes Coventry eased further ahead. Deep in the home half, Myles Dorrian somehow made a superb one handed take before feeding Ben Russell for the skipper to slither though from 22 metres for an excellent try in the conditions, Russell converting.

Mounts Bay had their best moments of the half shortly afterwards, but a series of pick up and drives were held before a subsequent knock on.

From 12-0 up at the break, Cov came out in blue and white, Bay had also changed as well, only to find the gale had blown away. Credit to the hosts who again came out to play in a very spirited fashion, Coventry for their part finding in conditions which by now were simply appalling, it was virtually impossible to increase the pace of the game. Both sides to their credit at least continued to try and play rugby, the only score of the second half being a penalty from home full back Mosey from 20 metres.

Cov highlights in the second forty, a 45 metre rolling maul, an excellent Kurt Johnson run and slither supported by Dorrian and Tom Slater, whilst in the final minutes, the home side were kept in the their own half, Cov finishing on the offensive in the ‘’22’’.

The task, with a considerably weakened squad certainly satisfactorily completed, but oh those conditions!.

Coventry. Ben Toft, Kurt Johnson, Brett Davey, Ben Russell (Capt), Lee Parry, Myles Dorrian, Tom Slater, Carl Rimmer, Chris Whitehead, Rob Dugard, Gregor Gillanders, Ian Nimmo, Henno Venter, Darren Clayton, Laurie McGlone.

Replacements; Ollie Hodge for Clayton, Nathan Jones for Slater.

Not used; Rudi Brits, Ricky Whitehall, Danny Hodge, Mike Walls, Sam Montague

Coventry; Tries, Laurie McGlone, Ben Russell. Conversion; Russell

Mounts Bay; Penalty goal; Tim Mosey