If ever there was a reality check here really was one! Coming hot on the heels of the fine win v Cornish Pirates, Coventry produced a bitterly disappointing first half performance from which Moseley were all but home and dry by the break.

In fairness, Cov did finally restore some pride in the second half even though again the line outs did not function satisfactorily, but so much of the pride and passion displayed a week earlier was just not there as Moseley, faster in deed, thought and notably foot were full value for their win.

Absent skipper Henno Venter could not hide his disappointment post match, pointing out there were hard lessons to be learnt which the squad could certainly not afford to forget. Some bits could be taken from the second half, the negatives of the first however had to be addressed.

Yet it did begin reasonably promisingly, Tom Slater being held in the left hand corner after earlier passing however had been too laboured. Moseley’s first real sortie came in the 9th minute before five minutes later Coventry were found wanting defensively down their left as Sharples on the home right stormed in on the end of a flowing move leaving Viney to convert.

Sadly from that point, 19 minutes up until half time , Cov were simply not in the game in an attacking sense. First Viney landed a penalty after a ruck infringement before a rare blue and White move broke down once again as possession was lost.

Cov were simply not picking up the dummy midfield moves and in turn making too many errors themselves before a 30 metre burst by home prop Williams set up the position for lock Arnold to crash over, Vasey again converting for 17 –0.

Jamie Miller received yellow following a late tackle, Vasey converting the subsequent penalty, before Tom Slater bravely thwarted Moseley after Mike Walls had lost possession. Ronnie Mc Lean did have an opportunity to pull back points, his 42 metre penalty attempt however drifted wide.

Moseley continued to dominate with their superior ball retention and running, Sharples crossing for his second try, converted by Vasey via a post in the 47 minute. Where though did those extra seven minutes come from?

Down 0 –27, Coventry did at least come out displaying a bit more fire to territorially have much the better of the second half. Unfortunately several realistic opportunities went begging which could have closed the deficit, Moseley prop Sigley being yellow carded before finally on 60 minutes Ollie Winter scored his maiden try and against his old club following a good passage of play, Ronnie McLean converting.

Nine minutes later after prolonged pressure on the home line Dai Maddocks crashed over, McLean’s conversion hitting a post. As Cov continued to attack a superb Myles Dorrian break took him fully 60 metres but as he was tap tackled the final scoring pass to Ben Russell was adjudged forward.

Moseley’s forwards however were to have the final say when following their only real attack of the second half, No 8 Rodwell stormed in for the bonus point claiming try, Vasey again converting leaving Coventry to ponder a very uncomfortable and unrewarding afternoon.

Coventry. Ben Russell, Lee Parry, Ronnie McLean, Ollie Winter, Tom Slater, Myles Dorrian, Mike Walls, Dai Maddocks, Chris Whitehead, Rob Dugard, Sam Herrington, Rob Walton, Jamie Miller, Darren Clayton, Laurie Mc Glone (Capt).

Replacements; Stewart Pearl for Whitehead, Rob Bell for Clayton, Carl Burgess for Walton.

Not used; Rudi Brits, Ricky Whitehall, George Dixon, Sam Montague

Coventry. Tries; Ollie Winter, Dai Maddocks. Conversion; Ronnie McLean 1

Moseley. Tries; Charlie Sharples 2, Paul Arnold, James Rodwell. Conversions; Richard Vasey 4. Penalty goals; Vasey 2