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With just a five-day turnaround after the Championship Cup defeat away at Cornish Pirates, Cov Rugby come head-to-head with second-in-the-table Ealing Trailfinders on Friday evening.

The playing squad and coaches will really have had the minimum amount of time to take on board the disappointment of losing out at the Cup quarter final stage, while also planning to take on the Trailfinders for the fourth time this season.

The Coventry squad can take heart however following the thrilling 28-all draw achieved in West London in the Autumn when the two sides met for the first league encounter. Without any question it has been Cov Rugby’s best overall away performance to date this season, as well as being the first time a Coventry squad had left the Trailfinders Sports ground without being beaten.

The memory of the pinpoint diagonal kick from Rory Jennings, gathered by David Halaifonua, for the fourth try of the game close to injury time will certainly be remembered by the Cov faithful for a very long time. So too will the nerveless touchline conversion from Will Maisey which sealed the draw.

Nobody should play down in any way the test the Coventry squad face. Skippered by South African number eight Rayn Smid, the Trailfinders squad is packed with pace, power, guile and experience.

Director of Rugby Ben Ward has guided his squad to unbeaten in league and Cup so far in 2020. Indeed, Ealing have lost just twice in the Greene King IPA Championship this season, away to Cornish Pirates in Round 2 and then at home to champions-elect Newcastle in the week leading up to Christmas.

In terms of previous league meetings, all pretty recent, Ealing lead 6-2, with just the one match drawn. The first six meetings were all in National League One before the Trailfinders gained their Championship place.

Cov won the first ever meeting between the two clubs back in season 2011/12 29-26, the second coming in 2014-15, 32 -26, both of those having been at Butts Park.

Subject to being selected for the match squad on Friday evening, the game will see popular Australian born hooker Scott Tolmie turning out in a senior Coventry jersey for the 100th time.

Having joined Cov from Midlands rivals Moseley for the beginning of the 2016/17 season, Scott made his debut in the opening league game that season against Loughborough Students. Including the try double achieved last week in Cornwall, Scott has so far notched 43 tries in a Cov jersey.