When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
...when you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Fix You - Coldplay
After what was a disappointing result against Ampthill just over a week ago, next up it's a welcome return to the BPA and a chance to get our Championship challenge back on course with the visit of Doncaster Knights.
And what an important game it is.
Most Cov supporters, and a good few neutrals too judging by the predictions on the National League Discussion Forum, had Cov down for an away win over at Dillingham Park. Since Alex Rae's succession almost 12 months ago now, Coventry seemed to have overcome its away day jitters so the result, and indeed the performance as well at times, was enough to ensure a few more pre-match nerves than might otherwise have been expected in the build up to this Saturday's game.
Donny are amongst the three or 4 teams in the Championship capable of putting Ealing under some pressure throughout the season and the Knights remain the only other unbeaten team in the league.
A second defeat for Coventry in our first three games though would be a massive disappointment after what was a promising set of results in the Premiership Cup.
It's worth remembering too that Cov only lost four games in the whole of the previous season.
Probably the most frustrating thing for me about the Ampthill result was that Coventry didn't play that badly - they won a good deal of possession had a territorial advantage and despite the loss still managed to score four tries and a bonus point to boot. It's more that it was one of the very few occasions in recent months when we didn't look incisive in attack despite all our first half dominance.
On the rare occasions we did manage to get some width, we looked extremely dangerous and in Martin and Hutler we have two of the most dangerous wingers in the league, as they indeed showed in the second half when they took their chances to both score excellent ties.
It was a bit of a reality check really and a reminder that every team in the league is capable of upsetting the form book. Such is the rapid progress that we've made under Alex Rae since his appointment as Head Coach that we've become spoiled by a run of such impressive results.
We've forgotten what it's like to be second best on a cold, miserable day out in the styx. It's never a good feeling to lose, but maybe it won't do us any harm in the long run.
Interestingly, speaking to Ben Jaycock in The Rugby Paper after the game, Ampthill's Morgan Strong sounded surprised that Cov opted to play down the slope in the first half, indicating that '...we knew that if we were still in the game at half time we'd be in for a good second half'. At the turn round Ampthill were 14-7 up and so confidence must have been high despite those quick Cov scores early doors in the second 40. I wonder what Coventry's reasoning for the decision was. Was it the wrong call, a bit of overconfidence perhaps or just Strong rubbing a bit of salt into the wound?
Whatever the reason, it seemed to play straight into their hands on the day.
Ampthill apparently feel they're a team on the up this season, with Strong concluding, 'With the demise of Jersey, we want to finish as high as possible and try and get into the top four'. Certainly, on the basis what we saw when we played there, a number of sides are going to find Dillingham Park a tricky place to play and many are going to drop points on their travels. I certainly wouldn't rule a fourth place finish out just yet, that's for sure.
Home advantage will be a big factor on Saturday against Donny and Cov must surely be looking forward to getting back to winning ways even against such strong opposition? We've got a decent home record against them and it would be something of a surprise, if not a shock, to lose on Saturday in front of what should be another bumper home crowd.
Against Ampthill, other than in a 10 minute purple patch early in the second half, we struggled to break down a resilient and resolute Ampthill defence. In the days leading up to the game Alex Rae was confident that the team was well prepared for anything - 'it’s wet we’ll play one way to hopefully win the game and if it ends up being sunny and dry we’ll adapt and bring a different version of ourselves'.
On the day though, what Cov just wasn't able to do was to find the right version of itself to make the most of its first half dominance in which 85% plus of the first 40 minutes was played in the Ampthill half and much of that in their 22. The game was always going to be a tough one for us , Ampthill are always difficult to break down when they're at home, but as a test of the club's potential for a top two finish this season, well it was one we needed to do a little better in for sure.
To be brutally honest, we failed it, there's no disguising that.
It was one of those games that raised more questions than it answered and left many supporters frustrated at just how many points scoring opportunities were lost in that first half. I do think that on the day we missed the presence of both James Tyas and Tiki Nayalo and whilst we are blessed in having three fantastic second row prospects in Smith, Anstey and Nkwocha, having Tyas' experience out on the pitch might have made the difference been a loss and a narrow win. After a really strong showing against Caldy, Nkwocha at 6 didn't really work for me (he switched between 6 and 8 in the scrum depending on if we were attacking or defending), although it might be that this is where Alex Rae sees him long term.
By the sound of it, both Tyas and Nayalo should be back for the Doncaster game, although pitchside against Caldy Nayalo was still in a protective boot, so perhaps not. It would be great to see both in contention for a place in the match day squad, even if it's only on the bench, Nayalo for his physical presence and Tyas, well because he's such an important all-round player.
Coventry Rugby has certainly done its best to pull in a decent crowd for Saturday's game. Hospitality for the day is sold out (as it is for all home games up until February) and there has been a flood of social media posts advertising the fixture.
According to The Rugby Paper, Premiership attendances are down 15.6% compared to the comparative games last season which makes for worrying reading, but Coventry's first home game of the 23/34 campaign pulled in a very respectable crowd of 2611, an increase of 8.5% on the home game against Caldy back in March and a wapping 23.5% up on the opening fixture last season against Bedford.
It's early days still and a couple more results that don't go our way and who's to say attendances won't start to decline but what these figures do show is that a winning Cov will continue to attract new supporters and that the game at this level is certainly capable of attracting bigger crowds. Improved attendances year-on-year at the BPA haven't just happened by chance; a huge amount of work must have gone on behind the scenes to ensure that the BPA is seen as an attractive rugby venue for local supporters of both Cov and the game generally.
Although it appears that attendances at Premiership games might be on the decline at the moment, there's much for Coventry to be thankful for. Whether the collapse of both Wasps and Worcester has had an initial impact on Cov's crowds so far this season is impossible to tell, although anecdotally I've certainly been aware of a few rugby shirts, hats and scarves seldom seen at the BPA in previous seasons.
Whatever the reasons (and I'd like to think it's far more to do with the success of the club itself and an implicit acknowledgement on the part of the local rugby community of its potential to become a real force in the Championship over the next few months and/or seasons), the financial implications for the club are huge.
As a result of the RFU's willingness not just to bite the very hand that feeds it but also to chew it off and then unceremoniously spit out out, clubs are being forced to work on a shoestring budget, so any additional income from increased attendances must be a massive boost. A win on Saturday is important not just to confirm the Ampthill result was no more than a blip, but also to maintain momentum in terms of ticket sales in the run up to the Christmas period.
The Boxing Day game against Nottingham is bound to attract a huge crowd; one would hope the club are targeting an attendance greater than the 4000 for the Saracens' pre-season Cup game. Certainly there'll be 13 plus of the Smith family there in all probability, a good deal more than is the usual quota. Post Christmas, a massive dose of yuletide felicitations and some seasonal goodwill and the Coventry coffers could be bulging by the end of the game or, more likely, once last orders is called.
Hartpury on the first Saturday in December isn't the most attractive of games in all honesty, but a win against Donny and a strong performance against Ealing (two very tough games indeed) and we could see that being something of a festive celebration too. As a season ticket holder, I'm not a great fan of the 'Bring a Friend for a Tenner' offers that Cov have sometimes had to rely on in the past to increase numbers through the turnstiles, but for that one particular weekend maybe there's good reason to make some sort of an offer to attract a bit more than the expected footfall.
A few spectators new to Cov for the Hartpury game, some improvements to the street food/external eateries on the day and a good Cov performance on the pitch and more interest in the Boxing Day game will follow.
It sounds plausible anyway...
I'm hoping that the club shop will be open to supporters in the run up to Christmas on a couple of non-match days. I'd quite like to get the children/grandchildren some Cov merchandise, whether it be a training top, a babygrow or just a mug or two (I know Josh is very keen on the Coventry version of Monopoly...ssssh), but if it's to be a surprise then I can't get it on a match day for obvious reasons.
I think they've done this in seasons' past, but I've not heard mention of it so far. I guess partly it depends on stock too. It's a shame there doesn't appear to be an opportunity to buy the current kit online, although it might just be that I'm not accessing the virtual store correctly.
I do think the club are missing a trick by not making club merchandise available through an online website. If the only time supporters can buy kit is on a match day, then that's possibly only 5 or 6 afternoons from September to Christmas, and even then presuming the kit is available from as early as September of course. It doesn't seem a great deal really.
Also, a few more stocking fillers, things within the £3-£10 sort of price range, would be a godsend. I know there are key rings and the like (the two I bought didn't last long though, I have to say) but items that could fill a pencil case or sit on an office desk and not look too tacky would be snapped up I'm sure.
Anyway here's hoping...
Lights will guide Cov home on Saturday...
Coldplay and Ed Sheran!
🤗Alex Cant 9 tries in 19 games for Redruth ,18 tries in 75 games for CP, 2 already for Donnie this season might be a handfull , did not score against COV both games last season got yellowed sin bin in first 10 mins last OCT at BPA, Alex Dolly big threat too should be good battle enjoy
should be good game on Sat ,Donnie made some good signings think A J Cant from from CP a masterstroke only 24yo ,quite agree club internet shop very poor for on line purchases. surprised since you relaunched your feed just only few uptakers on here nice very much low key, always good to hear and read up to date club info cheers TS very much appreciated, even Toby who did live twitter feed down the mob match was very good, all the best Trev
Good to hear your views on the performance against Amptill Tim and to see you're still following the boys both home and away with your usual optimism!