GOOD game management in the difficult conditions was the key element in Coventry’s 36-0 win over Loughborough Students, said director of rugby, Rowland Winter.
Playing into the gale, Cov controlled the opening exchanges to quickly open up a 15-point lead which set the pattern for the rest of the game.
“We battled really hard in the first half against the wind and the boys put in a big shift,” said Winter..
“It took some good game management, which 99 per cent of the time Will Maisey and Dave Brazier got right and they looked after the ball and organised well.
“There was a big shift in the forwards from people like Brett Daynes, Jack Preece and George Oram – they must have carried 15 to 20 times in the first half just to give us a platform and they all worked hard.
“The majority of the time we looked after the ball very well, working hard to go through phases and making Loughborough put in hit after hit, tackle after tackle.
“We were repeatedly going through the gain line and making yards, and the referee was rewarding us with penalties which allowed us to pin them back a little more, and at the end of the day that game management showed on the scoreboard.
“To only have 15 points on the board at half-time wasn’t too much of a problem, we knew we had the conditions in our favour in the second half and we were camped down in their half for the majority of it, so overall we’re pleased.
“Another zero against us is great, but most importantly we got the five points and we move on to next week.”