’ We’ll certainly take that result for starters’’ was the commonly held view after Cov had won their opening warm up fixture for the new season at a very, very wet Talbot Athletic Ground.

Whilst also the view was that the performance nevertheless left plenty to be worked upon, after some much uncertainty over the Summer it was pleasing to achieve such a result. The ‘’ Wizards’’ had already been in action a week earlier and to produce a win in dreadful conditions over a side with the reputation of having one of the best packs in the Welsh premiership, even if they were a few short, was no mean achievement.

The match was played out over three twenty five minute sessions.

The first period saw Cov move into a 7 –0 lead they were never to lose, Sam Herrington, Myles Dorrian & Ollie Winter combining after a tap penalty to send Ronnie McLean clear for McLean to convert. Ronnie had earlier missed a penalty attempt as did Beck for Aberavon.

Session two saw no addition to the score, Coventry having limited opportunities, whilst for Aberavon, S. Davies knocked with the line at his mercy after a Kurt Johnson mistake in defence with Nathan Jones putting in a try scoring tackle on C Davies.

The final period saw Cov move away to 17 –0. Firstly Mc Lean slotted over a penalty awarded for not releasing before eight minutes later Laurie McGlone burst away from a scrum 35 metres out to rum in a fine individual try, Mc Lean coverting.

Shortly afterwards Aberavon pulled back five points, full back Lewis slithering over for an unconverted try.

Coventry; the following all played some part during the sessions;

Full Back Lee Parry. Wingers Kurt Johnson, Sam Montague. Centres Ronnie Mc Lean, Ollie Winter. Fly Half Myles Dorrian. Scrum Halves Tom Slater, Nathan Jones

Props Ricky Whitehall, Rob Dugard, Rudi Brits. Hookers Stewart Pearl, Chris Whitehead. Locks Sam Herrington, Carl Burgess, Rob Walton. Flankers James Miller, Darren Clayton, Henno Venter. No 8 Laurie McGlone.