Coventry Rugby 43 Cambridge 33 - seven try Cov flatter to deceive

Now if there's a smile on my face

It's only there trying to fool the public

But when it comes down to fooling you

Well now, honey, that's quite a different subject

So don't let my glad expression

Give you the wrong impression

'Cause really, I'm sad (so sad, sad)

Oh, I'm sadder than sad (so sad, sad)

Look, I'm hurt and I want you so bad (so sad, sad)

Like a clown, I appear to be glad

Ooh yeah, well there's some sad things known to man

But ain't too much sadder than

The tears of a clown

Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson

The five-week interval between the final Premiership Cup game and the resumption of the Championship provided the club with an opportunity to regroup following what had been a disappointing series of performances since mid-December, during which Cov lost six out of nine games.

Four of these losses occurred in the six Championship matches.

There were plenty of reasons for that dip in form, not the least of which was a number of injuries to key players that left them with a squad that was pared down to the bone, forcing the club to look around for loan players to fill gaps in the front row and at scrum half.

The break appeared to arrive at the perfect moment, allowing the coaches an opportunity to reset as well as giving one or two players time to recover from injury.

Among the 3,048 attendees at yesterday's game, a significant portion of the interest focused on assessing the benefits Cov gained from the break. Following a performance that was quite mixed, opinions remain divided, as evidenced by numerous comments from fans leaving the BPA after the final whistle and on social media afterwards.

For those who missed the game, a victory with seven tries might imply a dominant win for Cov. With Cambridge responding themselves with five tries, the overriding impression could be that it was an open, highly entertaining game.

And they would be partially correct in saying it was entertaining, albeit possibly for the wrong reasons. Coventry let Cambridge back into a game they should have secured earlier, and to Cambridge's credit, they continued to play until the final whistle and there were moments in the last quarter when many in the ground feared the worst. So entertaining, but in a nervy, frustrating sort of way.

While Cambridge certainly deserve praise for their resilience and determination not to let Cov gain a significant lead after securing the 4-try bonus point in just 25 minutes, the home team must also acknowledge their part in a defensive performance that was as disappointing as any we've witnessed this season, including (for me) the one at Lady Bay in the post-Christmas match against Nottingham.

Throughout this campaign, Coventry's strength has largely been their defensive capabilities, making it tough for teams to break through our defensive lines. Meanwhile, a significant concern for many of us touchline pundits has been Cov's struggle to score tries, particularly amongst the backs.

Yesterday, the reverse was true.

So, let's start with a positive and perhaps the biggest plus to come out of the game for me. I thought there were real signs that the backs could unsettle a lot of teams in the remaining games this season. With Hitchcock out injured, Morris and Tiueti look like they are already starting to form what could be a productive partnership in attack, together with Tommy Mathews who unlocked the Cambridge defence on a couple of occasions (his wide, arcing run provided Hutler with the try for Cov's first score in the second half).

With so many injuries amongst the backs this season, Alex Rae hasn't been able to make consistent selection choices, but if these three and Hitchcock (on his return) can remain injury free, then there are signs that they could yet be a force in the Championship. Hutler at 15 isn't the answer for me, but he's presumably a stop gap until Davies and/or Richman return, but his inclusion at full back did allow us to get our first real chance to see Jake Henry.

In fairness, he didn't see a lot of the ball but he does look as if he might have something about him, although he'll need to tighten up his defence, although that is probably a comment that could be directed to all the backs with the exception of Dave Opoku- Fordjour who continues to impress both with and without the ball.

James Martin's absence (on paternity leave?), probably didn't help although he's had his fair share of criticism this season, too.

Barton was as busy as ever and was often on the shoulder of the ball carrier in any break but his box kicking lacked a little accuracy and apart from Opuku-Fordjour, the chasers struggled to run down the receiver more often than not. Will Lane fared little better and the normally reliable 9 struggled a little, with at least two kicks charged down. Shakes of the head from him suggested that Cambridge were a little too quick off the mark on both occasions.

The forwards were workmanlike and both the scrums and lineouts worked well. Indeed, Cov scored an excellent try from a training ground move (from a lineout) with Poole feeding Tiueti who all but scored only to be held up just short of the line. Good vision allowed him to pop the ball up for Jake Henry to grab his first points in a Coventry shirt.

Another even better move from the lineout later in the game was denied a try following a forward pass, much to the annoyance of Jordon Poole who had already started to celebrate as the players were called back.

Cov enjoyed some flowing rugby at times, but they tended to be isolated moments. In amongst the quality, there was a fair degree of frustrating play, with players spilling or throwing wayward passes or failing to make important tackles that enabled Cambridge to stay in a game that they should have won at a canter. And with three golden opportunities wasted in the first half, Cov just weren't clinical enough. Against stronger sides such profligacy would have been punished.

The slightly worrying thing for me is that even when Coventry were top of the league for the period running up to mid-December, we still struggled to produce the kind of form that we'd enjoyed last season, especially against teams at the bottom end of the table - as witnessed with wins against Hartpury (by 1 point), Ampthill (by 6 points) and Caldy (2 two points). In fairness to both Hartpury and Cov, the Gloucestershire club's results have improved greatly since then. Plus ca change...

Ealing apart, I do wonder if the standard of the clubs in the Championship this season isn't quite as it was last, with most of the teams below Ealing struggling to put any sort of run together. As if to prove my point, Ealing and Bedford both lost yesterday with both results surprising in their own way. However, such inconsistencies this season do, perhaps, show that the gap between top and bottom isn't quite as great as it has been on occasions and helps keep the league honest and spectators interested.

(As an aside - I do wonder if the RFU's decision to reject Ealing's application for Premiership status had impact on yesterday's result against Donny. It must have been demoralising for many of the squad who might well have started the season in September believing they had a real chance of playing Premiership rugby in 12 months' time. Fair play to Donny, though, who have now done the double over them. BUT, psychologically, Ealing can't be in the happiest of places right now).

Yesterday, the main source of frustration for the home crowd was Cov's defence. It often seemed narrow and vulnerable to a missed pass or cross kick, which more skilled and disciplined teams than Cambridge could have exploited more effectively.

And Coventry were guilty of missing far too many tackles, something that became a common complaint in the stands near where I was sitting the longer the game went on. Maybe it was just case of being ring rusty after the break, but it won't have pleased James Scaysbrook and I'm sure it will be an area reviewed closely next week in the build-up to the Chinnor game, as will be the penalty count which must have been 15 plus by the final whistle.

Cov now face a series of three 'easier' matches, on paper anyway against Chinnor (away) and Caldy and Ampthill (both at home), before a challenging visit to Hartpury. Hopefully, this provides an opportunity to address the issues from yesterday's performance before the tougher games against teams like Pirates, Doncaster, and Ealing. Although we're just one point behind Bedford in second place, based on yesterday's performance, finishing as runners-up in the league this season is a significant challenge, and much will need to go right for us to improve on last year's third place. The trip to Chinnor next Saturday suddenly looks a good deal harder after the performance against Cambridge.

That said, a win's a win, and doubtless the coaches will be relieved to have got the 5 points. However, and I mean now disrespect to Cambridge here who have shown they are more than capable of beating teams in this league, relief isn't enough.

Temporary Cambridge Head Coach Anthony Allen, formerly a coach at Cov, chatting to Tiki before the game

With 31 points on the board at half time against the side bottom in the Championship at home, we should be putting Cambridge to the sword, not sitting on the edge of our seats with 10 minutes remaining. Of the two coaches, doubtless Rae will be the happier, but Cambridge's erstwhile Cov coach, Anthony Allen, will take some comfort from the result and, but for a knock on in the build-up to an interception try for Cambridge, the gap could have been even closer.

Much of the pressure in the second half came from the visitors not us, and when the Chinnor coaches get to see the game, they'll fancy their chances if Cov produce a similar performance at Rectory Pavilion...and rightly so.

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After a five week break and a run of results prior to that that had been pretty ordinary at best, a crowd of 3048 was pleasing, especially against the side rooted to the bottom of the table, as Cambridge are at present. It actually seemed rather more than that at the kick off but the atmosphere was fairly muted even when Cov were in the ascendancy in those opening 25 minutes or so.

Cov players lining up in readiness for the minute's silence

The minutes silence for Nick Newbold was impeccably held and his passing clearly means a great deal to many, although as an ordinary supporter living outside Coventry, I'd been unaware of just what an impact he'd had on the club or the city generally.

Around the ground, there's been an addition to the external catering outlets - the Tasty Greek' hut. I was really pleased to see this if only because it gives supporters an alternative to the Food for Heroes options elsewhere. Bizarrely, just as I was sending a photo of it to my daughter, a lover of Greek food generally, she sent me a message 'Might have to come to the next home game' attached to a similar photo that she had come across via social media.

I was also proud of myself - I resisted the temptation of a 99 (with a flake but no bug juice), no mean feat, honestly (or should that be Feast)! Great to see an ice cream van at the ground, too - it certainly seemed popular with many of the younger fans there yesterday.

All it needs now is a 'Healthy Options' van selling vegan wraps and I might even buy my lunch at the ground!

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Despite my moans, it was great to be back watching Cov at the BPA again. 12 tries in all and an entertaining game despite the tense finish in those closing minutes when Cambridge were very much in the game. I guess my frustrations and those of many present at the BPA yesterday are indicative of the high standards that Alex Rae and his coaches have set these past couple of seasons.

Yes, there was a smile on my face, but...

Up the Cov!

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