Given an object lesson in a number of areas but most notably finishing, Coventry returned to the Midlands with another EDF Energy National Trophy season well and truly finished and with the words of coach Brett Davey ringing firmly in their ears, having described the overall performance amongst other things as "unacceptable and a total embarrassment’’.

Having seen their side’’ niled’’ for the first time in a while, the faithful few who travelled and helped make up a disappointing crowd of 1,672 will of reflection probably feel that the side should have achieved a great deal more. Exeter for their part had made quite a few changes from their recently successful league side.

Putting it as simply as possible, Cov in their red change strip rarely looked like breaking down a solid home defence and when chances did come, they simply could not finish them off. Two arose as early as the opening ten minutes, Lee Parry being denied by a forward pass after a good move featuring Laurie McGlone twice amongst others and then shortly afterwards Ben Toft failed to hold on to a floated pass from Myles Dorrian after the fly half half had broken clean through. Chances which had to be taken.

With the Coventry forwards at least giving the Chiefs some problems in the set scrums, but just about the only area where the home side were not on top, the Midlanders with more territory after the break huffed and puffed, but again when opportunities came they simply were not finished off. A catch and drive from a close in line out saw replacement Danny Hodge cross only to be adjudged to have lost possession before grounding, whilst six minutes later, Myles Dorrian also slipped through only for the try to be disallowed for crossing/blocking.

Earlier with the 24 points coming in a 22 minute spell, Exeter had amply  demonstrated their ability to finish off opportunities created. Yapp following a flip pass from scrum half Barrett opened the scoring, a rolling maul giving hooker Blythe his 10th try of the season, before a line out ploy straight from the training ground saw the elusive Barrett steam through a gap for try number 3. Yapp converted each as well as adding a penalty right on half time.

With the coach’s words post match ringing out, the question following this desperately disappointing defeat is, how will the squad respond ? The local derby with rivals Moseley on Saturday, with very important league points at stake, should hopefully provide some answers.  

Coventry. Ben Toft, Kurt Johnson, Jack Cobden Donovan Sanders, Lee Parry, Myles Dorrian, Tom Slater, Dai Maddocks, Chris Whitehead, Rudi Brits, Ollie Hodge, Ian Nimmo, Hendry Rheeders, Darren Clayton, Laurie McGlone.

Replacements; Carl Rimmer for Brits, Rob Dugard for Maddocks, Danny Hodge for O Hodge, Sam Montague for Clayton.

Not used; Ricky Whitehall, Mike Walls, Brett Davey.

Exeter Chiefs. Tries Tony Yapp, Sam Blythe, Kevin Barrett, Conversions; Yapp 3, Penalty goal; Yapp.