Not for the first time this season by any means, Coventry let slip a great opportunity to bring back a victory . Despite enjoying at least 70 % territorial domination in the first half and a good chunk in the second, more costly errors and an inability to finish cost the side dear.

All this against a very average Moseley outfit who had only one once at home  previously this season. To be brutally honest, Cov should have all but put the game out of their hosts reach in the opening half an hour, a combination of dogged defence and some handling errors keeping them out. A certain slowness to the breakdown at times also contributed to moves not being finished off as one would have hoped.

But then within the space of some 13 minutes the whole picture changed. Moseley who took 29 minutes to reach the Cov ‘’22’’ probably could not have believed their luck and fortune as the blue and whites somehow contrived to leak 17 points. From there it was always an uphill battle even though the chances were still coming.

The opening quarter save for a very brief spell was simply all Cov. Early signs were promising as a considerable number of phases were put together before a knock on ended that action. Then a penalty kicked to touch saw pressure build again before flanker Danny Hodge was driven over for his maiden club try, a Laurie McGlone charge setting up the position and with Brett Davey converting 7-0 bode well.

Shortly afterwards after more visiting pressure, Hodge was once more close to scoring only to be held up and at this stage the view certainly was the margin already should have been greater.

Then on 29 minutes all was to change as Coventry several times over literally shot themselves in the foot. Firstly a long line out throw in the home half went horribly wrong only for Moseley lock Arnold to storm up field before feeding winger Bressington who ran impressively into the Cov "22" before being held . Penalty to Moseley gratefully accepted by Stenhouse.

Much worse was to follow. On 35 minutes Cov lost possession near halfway only to see Stenhouse kick to the corner where Kurt Johnson was in all sorts of trouble before being bundled out. A catch and drive from the resulting line out saw the Moseley forwards drive hooker Mc Millan over for Stenhouse to convert. Then two minutes into time added on after another line out throw had gone awry, flanker Mason was able to storm away for 30 metres for try number two, the reliable Stenhouse again converting.

Coventry finished the half where they had been for most of the game, on the attack, but a score line of 17-7 was a very strange reflection of what had gone before.

Tom Slater soon replaced the limping Lee Parry on the wing as Coventry once more went on the attack. After Dai Maddocks was held up, pressure continued pretty unabated before on 50 minutes the hard working McGlone was rewarded with try number two, Davey just missing the wide angled conversion.

Now just 5 points behind, Cov a minute later put together an excellent move featuring notably McGlone and Darren Clayton before the final try scoring pass to Slater on the left was adjudged forward.

After 68 minutes however, Coventry were to go 10 points behind once again as errors once more cost them dear. Firstly a Davey clearance failed to find touch and with a chasing tackle also missed Moseley were able to move the ball wide through several pairs of hands to set Bressington free on the right, the angle defeating Stenhouse’s attempted conversion.

Six minutes later a mass brawl broke out as Cov attacked from which after lengthy discussions with his touch judges referee Rowden red carded both Trueman of Moseley and Danny Hodge.

Logon Kirisome became the latest player to be held up short on 72 minutes whereas a pass to Slater might have secured the try before two minutes later the Moseley ranks were further depleted, skipper Mason receiving ‘’ yellow’’ from which Brett Davey slotted the easy penalty.

At 22-15 victory was still within reach and became even closer when Slater slipped over for the third try just into injury time. From the left hand touch line, Davey’s attempted conversion slid agonisingly across the  face of the posts.

There was still time to be added on, but Moseley understandably were not going to give up possession lightly, being happy to see down the clock.

Cov’s impressive tally of bonus points had again been added to, but the feeling most definitely  at the final whistle was victory had slipped through the grasp. One also could not escape the feeling the relieved cheers from the home crowd also said rather a lot. In fairness to them though , they had waited rather a long time for a home vistory.

Coventry. BenToft, Kurt Johnson, Jack Cobden, Logon Kirisome, Lee Parry, Brett Davey, Nathan Jones, Dai Maddocks, Chris Whitehead, Rudi Brits, Ollie Hodge, Ian Nimmo, Danny Hodge, Darren Clayton, Laurie McGlone (Capt)

Replacements; Tom Slater for Parry, Carl Rimmer for Maddocks

Not used; Stuart Friswll, Rob Dugard, Ricky Whitehall, Mike Walls, Ronnie McLean

Coventry. Tries; Danny Hodge, Laurie McGlone, Tom Slater. Conversion; Brett Davey. Penalty goal; Davey

Moseley. Tries; Ross McMillan, Neil Mason, Nathan Bressington. Conversions; Neil Stenhouse 2. Penalty goal ; Stenhouse