Cynics might argue, is it possible to take positives from a 9 to 1 try beating ? Against the top side in the Division, unbeaten to date and likely to remain so, on the evidence of the overall match, the answer unequivocally was ‘’ yes’’.

Right from the outset Leeds, so quick in thought and deed displayed some very talented runners amongst their backs as Cov, again playing in their red change strip soon found themselves chasing shadows. It soon became very obvious that unless first up tackles were nailed and quickly, big trouble would follow and unfortunately Cov’s biggest problem area throughout was that far too many early tackles were missed, together with turn over ball particularly in the second half when some pressure was being applied.

The biggest positive. Considering the starting line up was way below full strength, it had to be the way the forwards not only handled Leeds in the tight, but also gave them major problems particularly in the set scrums. All that with a line up showing three forwards making a full start for the first time, one of whom, Laurence Ovens who had only been signed on loan from Bath late in the week to help over come the prop injury crisis. It was a splendid effort against the odds by the forwards.

As it was, the side could not have got off to a worse start, Leeds silky runners twice running through tackles in the opening five minutes through the dangerous Biggs and Hepworth and with Di Bernado converting the second try it was 12-0. Ronnie McLean moments later was taken from the field very dazed after a crunching tackle on his opposite number saw Ronnie’s head come in bodily contact and at that point Cov frankly were staring down the barrel.

To their absolute credit Covenrty then took the game to their hosts for fully 20 minutes, an excellent build up on 18 minutes and a switch by Myles Dorrian sending Donovan Sanders over for his first try of the season; just reward for pressure. Ben Russell in McLean’s absence missed the conversion as well as a head on penalty attempt 5 minutes later.

Although the Leeds scrum remained under pressure, more flimsy tackling after 25 minutes saw Biggs fly in again with Fourie claiming try number four and a bonus point nine minutes later, DiBerndo converting both.

26 –5 at the break and with second half wind advantage Cov needed a good start. Once again far from secure tackling allowed Danny Paul in and whilst the visitors did have some attacking opportunities later in the half, Leeds were able to add further tries from Biggs to complete his hat trick, Welding (2) and Hepworth for his second. DiBernado converted three.

For a club aspiring to be back in the Guinness Premiership next season, certainly the performance of their backs and handling skills generally was pretty emphatic, but the way Cov were able to cause such problems up front cannot have gone unnoticed. Neither surely can the uninspiring attendance of 2,972 have done either!

Coventry. Ben Russell, Roinnie McLean, George Dixon, Donovan Sanders, Olly Winter, Myles Dorrian, Nathan Jones, Laurence Ovens, Chris Whitehead, Rob Dugard, Greg Thomas, Carl Burgess, Jamie Miller, Ben Pons, Laurie McGlone (Capt)

Replacements; Stewart Pearl for Whitehead, Laurence Sanderson for Dugard, Rob Bell for Miller, Tommy Hayes for Dorrian, Sam Montague for McLean.

Leeds Carnegie. Tries; Tom Biggs 3, Richard Welding 2, Jonny Hepworth 2, Hendre Fourie, Danny Paul. Conversions; Alberto Di Bernado 6
Coventry. Try; Donovan Sanders