By Coventry Rugby 
By Alex Didlick
With playoff ambitions firmly in mind, Coventry and Nottingham served up a breathless Matt Gallagher Cup contest at a sun-soaked Butts Park Arena. Packed terraces, winter sunshine and two sides separated by just a handful of league places created the perfect backdrop for a game that swung wildly in momentum and intensity. Coventry, desperate to turn home advantage into points, produced a performance full of attacking ambition and resilience- though not without moments of late drama that kept the BPA holding its breath until the final whistle.
Josh Thomas got proceedings underway on a picture-perfect afternoon at the Butts Park Arena. On such an important day for Coventry, it was great to see the ground packed to the rafters. Nottingham gathered the kick-off cleanly and returned play into the Coventry half, allowing the home side their first opportunities in possession.
It was almost the perfect start for Coventry, who should have opened the scoring early but for some excellent Nottingham line speed that forced a knock-on. The move stemmed from a threatening break by Tom Ball, before Josh Barton looked to find support in blue and white. Good early pressure from Cov, but without the all-important points on the board.
The breaks from midfield kept coming. This time it was the ever-present Senitiki Nayalo who punched through, though the ball was lost forward in the ensuing phases, setting up the first scrum of the afternoon inside the Nottingham 22. Just as Caldy last week, Coventry’s scrum pressure proved decisive. Notts were penalised for rotating, and Cov made full use of the advantage. A rapid attacking play followed, spearheaded by Morgan Adderly-Jones, who powered over for Coventry’s first try of the afternoon. 5–0.
Nottingham responded well and refused to let Coventry run away with the contest. While Coventry were defending comfortably in midfield, the ball was shipped wide before an astute kick in behind from second row Osian Thomas was gathered by Josh Goodwin. Another deft grubber followed, and Goodwin reacted quickest to dive on the ball for the score. Coventry, despite enjoying much of the possession in the opening 20 minutes, found themselves trailing 5–7.
Penalties began to hamper Coventry’s progress, with a couple in quick succession pushing them back from deep inside the Nottingham 22 to defending their own half. Nottingham enjoyed their best spell of the game, threatening to extend their lead, only for an outstanding try-saving tackle from Dafydd Rhys-Tiueti to deny them. Coventry rode their luck soon after, winning a lineout and clearing their lines to relieve the pressure.
Coventry were desperate for a spark, and they found it through Senitiki Nayalo. Spotting a loose ball at the back of a ruck, the second row reacted sharply to create chaos in the Nottingham defence. With the visitors scrambling, the ball was worked through Benz-Salomon and Rhys-Tiueti before Peter Sullivan beat two defenders to score. A superb try built from quick thinking and midfield invention restored Coventry’s lead.
The hosts now sensed blood. From the restart, Nottingham were penalised for a clear-out in the air, inviting Coventry straight back into attacking territory. The ball was moved with purpose, Barton probing effectively at the base, before David Opoku-Fordjour produced a moment of individual brilliance. Beating two defenders at the line and another in the backfield, the winger stretched to score Coventry’s third try of the half- a finish worthy of the occasion.
Coventry were flying now. One final flourish before the break sent the BPA into raptures as Dafydd Rhys-Tiueti powered over from close range to cap a devastating end to the half. Cov headed into the interval with a commanding 24–7 advantage.
As the sun dipped behind the Coventry terraces, the second half began with a chill in the air but no drop in intensity from the hosts. Coventry wasted little time returning to Nottingham territory. After several attempts from the lineout maul, the ball was recycled for a series of powerful forward carries, eventually seeing Allan Ferrie bundle over for the score.
A brief lapse in concentration allowed Nottingham back into the contest. A well-worked lineout maul put them in position, and Michael Green surged over to reduce the deficit to 31–14. Nottingham were enjoying a purple patch and added a third try soon after through George Timmins.
Prompted by the roar of the BPA faithful, Coventry wrestled back control. Another crucial restart was claimed cleanly, putting them straight back on the front foot. After sustained pressure, fan favourite Senitiki Nayalo forced his way over from close range to restore breathing space. 38–21.
Nottingham refused to fold, however, and continued to apply pressure. Dan Richardson crossed before Coventry were dealt another blow when David Opoku-Fordjour was shown a yellow card for not rolling away, leaving the hosts with a nervy final 20 minutes.
Discipline again came under scrutiny as a penalty at a Coventry scrum handed Nottingham easy territory. Another infringement put the visitors on the Coventry five-metre line, but Jack Shine produced a huge moment, rising highest to steal a Nottingham lineout and halt the momentum. Further pressure followed, with Nayagi penalised to push Nottingham back into attacking position.
Tom Manz crossed for Nottingham, compounded by a yellow card for Morgan Adderly-Jones, leaving Coventry with just 13 men at one stage and clinging to a five-point lead. With backs against the wall, Coventry again nailed the restart, before a penalty allowed Tommy Mathews to extend the lead to eight points.
Nottingham were handed late opportunities to close the gap, but Parks missed two difficult kicks. Though he finally converted with the final play of the game, there was no time left for a restart. Coventry had survived- just.
In the end, Coventry just about did enough to hold off a relentless Nottingham fightback in a contest that showcased both attacking quality and the fine margins that continue to test them. The hosts’ explosive first-half surge proved decisive, even as discipline wavered late on and invited unnecessary pressure. Still, this was a win forged through grit, big moments, and the roar of a home crowd that refused to let the side wilt. With vital points secured against a direct playoff rival, Coventry will take heart from the result, and plenty of lessons, as the season edges closer to its defining stretch.
Man of the match: Seniki Nayalo. A strong case could be made for several members of Coventry’s engine room, Allan Ferrie among them, but for me, the standout was Senitiki Nayalo. With Coventry trailing 7–5, it was Nayalo who sparked the momentum shift, reacting quickest to create the chaos that led to Peter Sullivan’s try. He followed that influence with a try of his own in the second half, underlining a performance built on power, work rate, and big moments. An all-round display from the second rower that set the tone for Coventry’s afternoon.
Goal kicking
Josh Thomas- 5/6
Tommy Mathews – 1/1
Gwyn Parks- 5/8
Try Scorers:
Coventry Rugby- Morgan Adderly Jones (8’), Peter Sullivan (31’), David Opoku-Fordjour (35’), Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti (40’), Allan Ferrie (45’), Senitiki Nayalo (58’),
Nottingham Rugby- Josh Goodwin (17’), Michael Green (50’), George Timmins (53’), Tom Manz (70’)
Line-ups:
Coventry Rugby- Aristot Benz-Salomon, Jordon Poole ©, Matt Johnson, Jack Shine, Senitiki Nayalo, Alan Ferrie, Tom Ball, Morgan Strong, Josh Barton, Josh Thomas, Peter Sullivan, Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti, Morgan Adderly-Jones, David Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Bacon
Finishers: Alfie Longstaff, Keston Lines, Eliot Salt, Dan Green, Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi, Sam Maunder, Tommy Mathews, Api Bavadra
Nottingham Rugby- Oscar Stott, Jack Dickinson, Dan Richardson, Tom Manz, Osian Thomas, George Timmins, Michael Green, James Cherry, Josh Goodwin, Gwyn Parks, Harry Graham, Kegan Christian-Goss, Wilf McCarthy, David Williams (c), Evan Mitchell
Finishers: Arthur Allen, Archie van der Flier, Tonga Kofe, Jay Ecclesfield, Sam Green, Will Yarnell, Levi Roper, Harry Simpson
