By Coventry Rugby 
by Alex Didlick
The Butts Park Arena crowd turned out in full voice for Community Day, and Coventry responded with one of their most complete attacking performances of the campaign. After a back-and-forth opening, Cov found their rhythm and never looked back.
Coventry struck first at the Butts Park Arena, with Tom Bacon taking full advantage of space under the posts to open the scoring. It was the ideal start and the home crowd responded in full voice.
But Ampthill weren’t rattled. They hit back immediately, powering over from close range to level the contest, signalling they weren’t there to make up the numbers.
Coventry regained the lead through a wonderfully constructed forwards move. A sharp pass from Morgan Adderly-Jones sent Mackenzie Graham charging through a gap for Cov’s second of the afternoon.
Then came the slip. In total control, Coventry handed Ampthill a lifeline with a lapse in handling, allowing the visitors to race the length of the field for their third try. Moments later Cov switched off at the ruck, and Ampthill’s scrum-half Efan Jones sprinted from his own 22, riding three tackles on the way. Suddenly, and remarkably, Ampthill led 19–14 after a huge swing in momentum.
Coventry needed a spark. They found one through a brilliant 50:22 from Tommy Mathews, and from the resulting field position, Adderly-Jones crossed on the right after an overlap appeared far too easily. 21–19.
With both teams probing with the boot, Cov again won the territorial duel. A flowing multi-phase move- featuring a thunderous carry by Morgan Strong and a superb spin from Senitiki setting up captain Jordon Poole to crash over. Coventry was now motoring, and Tom Ball added his first of the campaign moments later. 35–19.
Just before half-time, Bacon produced another moment of brilliance. Fielding a kick on halfway, he danced through defenders before offloading to Senitiki Nayalo for Cov’s sixth try. A blistering first 40 ended 42–19- a staggering response from the home side after earlier frustration.
Needing a quick start to the second half, Ampthill pushed hard early but couldn’t turn territory into points. Coventry then lit up the BPA again: three rapid offloads from the forwards sent Adderly-Jones streaking through for his second. Smooth, sharp, and impossible to defend. 49–19.
A yellow card for Ampthill’s Josh Barton for a deliberate knock-on handed Cov a golden opportunity, and they struck immediately, Dafydd Rhys-Tiueti sliding over after tidy phase play. Ampthill responded with a well-earned score from Jake Parkinson, but the comeback never materialised.
A sensational Community Day showing ended 68–26, a ruthless attacking performance from Coventry, who shifted through the gears and never once loosened their grip on the contest. The result sends us into the one-week break on a high, with a trip to Doncaster looming – a prime opportunity to chase back-to-back wins. We return to the BPA the following week to host London Scottish.
Goal kicking:
Tommy Mathews- 9/10
Louis Gramoly- 3/4
Try Scorers:
Coventry Rugby- Tom Bacon (7’), Mackenzie Graham (18’), Morgan Adderly Jones (31’, 48’), Jordan Poole (33’), Tom Ball (34’), Senitiki Nayalo (40’), Dafydd Rhys-Tiueti (60’), David Opoku-Fordjour (70’), Eliot Salt (74’)
Ampthill RFC- Justin Mataele (10’), Josh Barton (23’), Efan Jones (25’), Jake Parkinson (67’)
Line-ups:
Coventry Rugby- Benz-Salomon, Jordon Poole ©, Eliot Salt, Jack Shine, Senitiki Nayalo, Mackenzie Graham, Tom Ball, Morgan Strong, Sam Maunder, Tommy Mathews, Ewan Baker, Api Bavadra, Morgan Adderly-Jones, David Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Bacon
Finishers: Murray Davidson, Keston Lines, Matt Johnson, Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi, Dan Green, Josh Barton, Dafydd Rhys-Tiueti, Oli Morris
Ampthill Rugby- Harrison Courtney, Seb Smith, Callum Norrie, Jake Parkinson, Justin Mataele, Ollie Mullarkey, Harrison Dakin, Tino Mapapalangl, Efan Jones, Louis Grimoldby, Sam Kildunne, Fraser Strachan (C), Sione Va’enuku, Oscar Wilson, Josh Barton
Finishers: Isaacs, Barrington, Warren, Gear, Davies, Heslop, Salisbury
