Coventry Rugby 24 Doncaster Knights 23: Cov hold on to secure much needed win - Coventry Academy prove far too strong for Hartpury

I'm lucky

I'm lucky

I can walk under ladders

Yes I'm so lucky

That I'm as lucky

As me

And the world

Loves a winner

Yes I'm so happy

That you're happy

With me

You are happy too

Ain't you baby

I'm Lucky - Joan Armatrading

Am I happy?

24 hours later, I must admit that I feel more relieved than I do happy.

Following three straight losses and a series of disappointing displays even in victory, yesterday's win was a much-needed boost as we head into a challenging series of games. starting with an away game against Bedford on Friday and concluding with a home game against a Tigers' team keen to avenge their home loss in the first round of Cup games back in November.

Yesterday, the result held more significance for me than the performance. A loss would have added to the growing pressure on the players and coaches, pressure stemming from several long-term injuries in key positions, those recent lacklustre recent performances (with the exception of Ealing) and heightened, and unrealistic, fan expectations following Coventry Rugby's announcement in early December to officially apply for promotion to the Gallagher Premiership.

Coventry's ability to secure a victory yesterday, even as Doncaster controlled the final 30-35 minutes, highlights the team's current mental resilience amid all the surrounding uncertainty. Cov largely dominated the first half, yet they allowed two breakaway tries that nearly negated their efforts in those initial 40 minutes. A 21-12 lead was arguably the minimum they deserved, having squandered three or four excellent chances to secure a bonus point by halftime.

Two minutes into the second half, Coventry chose to kick a penalty, increasing their lead to 24-12, marking the last time they added to the scoreboard. The decision to forgo another 3 points in pursuit of a fourth try minutes later might have been their downfall, as Doncaster then intensified their efforts while Coventry lost their earlier momentum. Two penalties by the visitors and a try in the corner on 78 minutes gave the visitors a chance to claim victory, but the conversion from the touchline was missed, despite Bennett having kicked a successfully kicked a 2-pointer from a similar angle in the first half.

But there was still time for one more twist. In what proved to be the final play of the game, Doncaster were awarded a penalty from about 40 metres out and slightly to the left of the posts after Coventry's scrum was shunted backwards at a rapid rate. With no time for a restart, the outcome of the game hung on this one kick, a kick which Bennett again failed to convert, giving Cov the win which they just about deserved.

With Matt Johnson and Vilikesa Nairau injured and short-term loanee Steven Longwell departing, the scrum was expected to be an area of concern, particularly in the final twenty minutes after the usual front-row changes. As it happened, Alex Rae opted to keep Toby Trinder on the field for the entire 80 minutes, while Jordon Poole and Eliot Salt were substituted at the 65-minute mark. Cov's game management was good here to be fair, as Doncaster had limited chances to test the new front row which included Mink Scharink, formerly of Saracens and now with Loughborough Students.

As it was, they only needed the one opportunity but fortunately luck was very much on our side and the ball flew wide of the posts from the ensuing penalty to give us the win and everyone a bit of breathing space going into the game on Friday night against Bedford.

Doncaster had good reasons to feel that they deserved more from the game than just the won losing bonus point but Coventry's first half display in the end was good enough to ensure that Cov continued their recent dominance over Doncaster; a run of wins stretching five games now.

It proved to be a game of two very distinct halves and whilst there were areas of Cov's play that will still be giving the coaches sleepless nights, especially the tendency to lack a little discipline at the break down (where we conceded far too many penalties), much of the work put in during the first half was really pleasing with both the scrum and lineout working well and the backs looking sharper than they've done for a while now, let down at times though by the final pass or the failure to hold on to the ball at key moments.

There was a fluency to some of the play with a real tempo at times and when we did give away possession, defensively we were tight and allowed little time or space for Doncaster's backs to thrive. I thought the forwards put in a real shift without the ball, with Hinkley, Nkwacha and Tyas at the fore...the tackle counts for all three must have been well above. the average. Tyas leads from the front and since he's been starting games, we've looked more organised at the set piece. Poole and Nayalo constantly drove forward and Poole in particularly looked shattered in the moments before his substitution; if ever a player wore his heart on his sleeve its him.

David Opoku continues to shine, and while he's always been incredibly fast, he's now added a level of physicality to his game that makes him stand out. He's relentless at the breakdown, securing turnovers and putting pressure on defenders when chasing box kicks. His 'Best Moments 2024/25' reel must already be impressive, and if Premiership clubs are watching him closely, he's certainly boosting his prospects. The article in The Rugby Paper last week highlighted his ambition, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him move on at the end of the season.

Like many supporters, I was left wondering why Tom Hitchcock started on the bench yesterday to allow Ryan Hutler to play out of position, outside Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti. The switch hadn't worked away at Pirates before Christmas and with memories of that game still lingering, it seemed a strange option. However, I certainly owe Rae and the coaches an apology on this score. Hutler and Tiueti linked well and there were glimpses of what could yet be - I imagine it's 'horses for courses' as far as the centre pairings go, with decisions being made on a match-by-match basis but as far as the Donny game is concerned, the coaches made the right call and deserve respect for so doing.

The reason for our loss of momentum in the second half is unclear, but lose it we certainly did. It did seem as though the Doncaster coaches had carefully reviewed the video of Cov's collapse against Nottingham just before the three-week break with Donny using a tactic very similar to that of the Archers, with several short dinks over the heads of the advancing defenders, allowing the backs to chase the ball in open space. Fortunately, yesterday Donny wasn't as precise as Nottingham had been, and for the most part, Cov managed to recover. However, it appears that this aspect of Cov's game is now being targeted by opposing teams as a potential weakness.

The second half was a real nailbiter for the 3033 who watched the game, a figure perhaps a good few hundred lower than many had expected, the result of City playing at home and Coventry's loss of form I imagine. However, the atmosphere was good and there was plenty of noise and appreciation for Toby Trinder in particular who was playing his 101st game in a Cov shirt, this being the first chance for Cov fans to celebrate him reaching the 100 mark.

In contrast, new boy Sam Maunder made his first appearance from the bench on 61 minutes and did enough to suggest that he's going to be a good addition to the squad. He looked sharp around the fringes, with a couple of snipes and seemed to want to make the ball available quickly wherever possible. As I understand it, he's here for the rest of the season although it's unconfirmed - just where that leaves Will Lane and Fin Ogden, I'm not sure - 4 scrum halves seems one too many at least although both were involved in the pre-match warm-up.

Yes, Cov rode their luck yesterday, but there have been moments this season when luck seemed to have deserted them so maybe it all evens itself out in the end.

Happy with the performance?

Happier than I was pre-game, for sure, but I left the ground with an overwhelming sense of relief, relief that Cov had enough fight and tenacity to hold on for the win and end what was starting to become a depressing run of results.

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Cov supporters had their second opportunity to see the Academy in action this season as they faced Hartpury at the BPA on Friday evening.

And in front of a goodly crowd, perhaps 350-450 in total (that's a complete guestimate but it certainly looked at least that), the youngsters put on a terrific display of 15-man rugby, proving altogether too strong for a Hartpury side that were left chasing shadows for much of the second half.

Without an announcer or a scoreboard, there was some uncertainty about the final score, but the general agreement is that it was 55-19. I mentioned this in a previous post, but if Cov is committed to the Academy and intends to highlight its importance to the club's future success, then the bare minimum it should be doing is providing someone the PA to keep the crowd up-to-date with scores, replacements and so on, especially if they can't find anyone to operate the scoreboard.

There are some really talented youngsters in the current squad (which was bereft of a number of first choice players on Friday apparently - 9 was the number quoted to me - who were representing their various schools and colleges over the weekend). It doesn't look great and as a parent, I'd want to see the club going all out to provide the kind of playing environment for my lad that you might expect of one of the 'local' Premiership clubs. It doesn't cost the club a great deal and what expenses are incurred would be repaid several fold in feedback youngsters and parents would give to the various clubs, schools and colleges these youngsters represent. Bringing in even more youngsters...

And as the club is encouraging supporters to come along and watch these youngsters, some of whom might well play professionally in years to come, then at least provide them with the basics - use the scoreboard to show the team sheets and score so that supporters begin to talk about the Academy not just in terms of a squad but also as individual players, names to look out for etc. It creates a buzz that will only grow if the youngsters continue to show such ability.

Matt Jones (image left), the Academy's Head Coach, together with Gordon Ross and Steve Boden, seem to be doing a fantastic job in this, the Academy's inaugural year (I think), so let's celebrate the work they're doing.

I received an update from the Coventry Supporters' Club about the Academy at the end of last month, which I greatly appreciated. However, this information should be accessible to all supporters, as well as the youngsters' families and friends. While I am thankful to the Supporters' Club, maybe first and foremost it's the club's responsibility to regularly share such updates with all its supporters through its website and social media channels.

On a personal note, with no sentries at the turnstiles and no mandatory body searches or X-raying of bags as on a normal match day, I surreptitiously enjoyed a Tesco's meal deal while sitting in the main stand as the youngster warmed up. To borrow from Paul Coelho, 'the great victory, which appears so simple today, was the result of a series of small victories that went unnoticed.'

(If you never read 'The Alchemist,' I highly recommend it - although this quote isn't from there).

Common sense alone says that's one of the most effective ways of growing interest in what's happening within the Academy, surely?

To be honest, I've had just as much pleasure from watching the Academy games as I have the first team, although that's in spite of, rather than because of, the interest generated in the games by the club itself. I'm probably very much in the minority here, but as someone who was head of a sixth form for a good many years, I would always give youngsters the best opportunities available as it to them we look to in the future.

Just sayin'...

Friday's game was marred a little by what looked to be a serious injury to one of the Hartpury forwards. The first half ended prematurely and there was a 50-minute delay before the ambulance arrived and the player was removed safely from the pitch.

Big credit must go to the referee and the physios who responded immediately and ensured the player was quickly stabilised and to the club for overseeing access for the ambulance and crew. The club did everything it could to ensure the player was kept warm and as comfortable as the conditions would allow.

Fortunately, it appears that the injury was nowhere near as serious as it looked at the time and the player is going to be fine - however, it did show that there are rigid protocols in place when such potentially life changing events do occasionally occur. Well done Cov on this front - in fairness, Nick Johnston was on the pitch very quickly and overseeing the incident and he serves praise here, too.

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Plenty this weekend, then, for us Cov supporters to enjoy and lots for the coaches to get to grips with over the next few days, mainly positives but with a few concerns too. Bedford is going to be a massive test - we've done well over there recently but Bedford look to be in good form and we're not yet firing on all cylinders.

Hopefully, we'll stay lucky...