By Coventry Rugby 
By Alex Didlick
Bright blue skies and only a light breeze set the scene for an afternoon of attacking rugby in Cambridge, as Coventry shook off the Christmas cobwebs and returned to league action full of intent. With the travelling support in good voice, the Cov Dogs produced a dominant first-half display built on forward power and set-piece authority, before seeing out the contest to secure another important bonus point victory.
Josh Thomas got proceedings underway, kicking into a headwind in the opening half. Coventry were handed an early opportunity after a poor kick to touch from the hosts, and there were promising signs immediately from the visitors. Tom Bacon was a standout early on, slicing down the left-hand touchline with a spirited run, though Coventry were unable to convert that pressure into points.
Early scrum dominance soon provided the platform Coventry were looking for. A penalty earned from the set piece allowed them to kick to the corner, and from the resulting lineout maul it was Plan A executed to perfection. Captain Jordon Poole was on hand to finish the drive, forcing his way over against the stiff breeze to give Coventry the lead. 7–0.
A communication mix-up at the restart briefly handed Cambridge possession, but Coventry’s pack, brimming with confidence, defended the ensuing lineout superbly. Bacon again sparked the attack with another sharp line break, and although the ball was lost forward, Coventry were awarded a penalty. Moments later, another lineout maul on the right flank brought the same outcome, Poole again dotting down at the back of a dominant shove. 14–0.
The low winter sun was playing its part at the restart, with Senitiki Nayalo knocking the ball on. Cambridge made the most of the opportunity, working the ball well before scrum-half Ollie Allan showed quick reactions to snipe over the ruck for the hosts’ first try.
The next quarter raced by, with neither side displaying the accuracy required to add to the scoreline. Coventry, however, continued to assert themselves at scrum time, and in the 32nd minute another penalty allowed them to kick into the Cambridge half. Once again, the maul proved irresistible. This time it was Morgan Strong who finished the drive, with Thomas maintaining his impressive accuracy from the tee to stretch the lead to 21–7.
As the half moved into injury time, Coventry showed their attacking flair out wide. A slick backs move ended with David Opoku-Fordjour crossing, with the hands of Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti, including a superb hand-off and offload, at the heart of the move. An impressive half display saw Coventry leading 28-7 at the break.
Making use of the wind for the first time, Sam Maunder pinned Cambridge deep with a clever kick on the 45th minute. The resulting pressure was anticipated well by Allan Ferrie who read the play superbly to intercept and score. A ruthless start to the half-sent Coventry into a commanding 33–7 advantage.
The scrum pressure continued to tell, both on the field and in the stands, with growing frustration among the home support. That pressure eventually resulted in Cambridge’s tighthead prop being sent to the sin bin for repeated infringements. The sinbin break was well mitigated by Cambridge who did well to keep Cov away from their territory.
As the game entered its final ten minutes, Coventry’s academy celebrated another important milestone as Sam Gibson made his senior debut for the club. The introduction of Gibson highlighted the strength of the club’s development pathway and the exciting talent emerging from the academy. He becomes the first graduate of the Class of 2025 to feature at senior level.
Before the final whistle, Coventry suffered a couple of defensive lapses that allowed Cambridge a way back in. Space was left in the backfield following a competitive box kick, enabling a return kick over the top. Shortly after, Ruaridh Dawson picked from the base of the ruck and found himself with a clear route to the line.
Cambridge added a late consolation from a lineout maul, Rhys Fulford bundling over, but Coventry remained in control as the clock wound down. The final whistle confirmed a 33–19 victory for the visitors.
Coventry’s commanding first-half performance, built on set-piece dominance and clinical execution, proved decisive on a crisp afternoon in Cambridge. While the hosts found a foothold late on, the Cov Dogs had already done the damage, showing both power up front and ambition in the backs. Another strong away performance keeps momentum building as the season gathers pace, with confidence clearly growing within the squad.
Players of the Match were Api Bavadra and Dafydd-Rhys Tuieti, both of whom were central to much of Coventry’s best work throughout the afternoon. Combining attacking flair with defensive solidity, the midfield duo posed a constant challenge for the opposition.
Next Match: Coventry Rugby vs Cornish Pirates | 01.01.26 | 15:00 KO | Butts Park Arena | Tickets available HERE
Goal kicking
Josh Thomas- 3/4
Otumaka Mausia- 2/3
Try Scorers:
Coventry Rugby- Jordan Poole (6’,13’), Morgan Strong (34’), David Opoku-Fordjour (40’), Allan Ferrie (46’)
Cambridge Rugby Club- Ollie Allan (15’)
Line-ups:
Coventry Rugby- Aristot Benz-Salomon, Jordon Poole ©, Matt Johnson, Dan Green, Senitiki Nayalo, Allan Ferrie, Tom Ball, Morgan Strong, Sam Maunder, Josh Thomas, Peter Sullivan, Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti, Api Bavadra, David Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Bacon
Finishers: Murray Davidson, Keston Lines, Sam Gibson, Jack Shine, Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi, Josh Barton, Tommy Mathews, Morgan Adderly-Jones
Cambridge Rugby Club- Jake Ellwood, Jack Doorey-Palmer, Sam Buckley, Rhys Fulford, Gareth Baxter, Ben Adams ©, Dan Eckersley, Edward Timpson, Ollie Allan, Otumaka Mausia, Charles Robson, Eparama Rokodrava, Levi Reweti, Taitusi Qaniuci, Ben Currie
Finishers: Dylan Irvine, Jake Barry, Paul Wulf-Masoe, Jake Mccay, Jake Lawrence, Ruaridh Dawson, Eli Caven, Vereimi Qorowale
