Coventry 13 Doncaster Knights 40
Lynn Howells team got his reign off to a flying start with what turned out to be a comprehensive away win at Coventry. With Cerith Rees and Antoine Nicoud as the starting half backs, Justin Bishop on the wing, and Wes Davies at full back, the backs line up had a different look to it and it didn’t take long to show it had the pace and cutting edge that was largely missing last season! Coventry were seemingly committed to a wide game from the off but it wasn’t long before the Knights had a spell of supremacy, but early season nerves may have been the cause of early knocks-on that spoiled promising positions. It didn’t take long, either, for Nicoud to show his skills, an early sharp angled break almost cutting through a scrambling defence; and it was no surprise when the opening score arrived after a quarter hour. Good phases through the middle by the pack saw ball then moved smartly right for Bishop to show the defence a clean pair of heels as he raced into the left corner. The lead was extended shortly after when Rees slotted a penalty after Coventry hands in a ruck. Coventry’s first visit to the visitors’ 22 came in the 25th minute as they kicked ahead to touch but the line out was secure and the threat cleared. The hosts were then unlucky after they worked the ball right and kicked wide, with Bishop caught up in a ruck on the other side and only Ngalu Tau covering – the ball bounced badly for their two following up backs otherwise a score looked pretty certain. They were almost in again on the half hour as Donovan Sanders broke the defence and elected to kick and chase to the line, but Paul Bailey had the pace to beat him to the ball and clear to touch, just! From the line out James Miller gathered and spun to the line only to spill the ball and yet again the Knights line was intact. At this point the heat of the contest produced a fracas that saw Spencer Davey need a cut eye repaired after Oliver Hodge’s elbow had been planted into it, lucky only to concede the penalty. As the break approached, Rees was given another penalty opportunity that he accepted with ease to make the half time lead 11-0. Coventry had had their chances but hadn’t taken them. Lynn Howells’ first half time team talk would have been about ball retention.
Cerith Rees was replaced at the break by Mark Woodrow. Rees’ hand had been broken and early indications suggested a lay off of several weeks. A pity as he had played very well and was striking a fluent relationship with Nicoud inside him. An early exchange of penalties cancelled each other out before Ben Russell’s second closed the gap to 8 points and the home side threw everything at the Knights, who stood firm. Woodrow missed a penalty chance but it was just a matter of time before the Knights ever increasing turning of the screw brought the rewards they deserved. Twice in three minutes the backs cut loose at pace and crafted excellent tries to kill the game. First Nicoud broke right off a midfield scrum before throwing a long miss pass to the arriving Wes Davies who stepped, broke a tackle, and sprinted away to the posts. Then, as Coventry overthrew line out ball and the alert Glen Wilson snaffled it, turned and spun it wide, Woodrow broke, sent Bishop away and his beautifully timed pass to Paul Bailey saw the winger flying down the right and round to the posts to make the extras simple for Woodrow (albeit he chose to knock it in off a post!). He had converted Davies’ try as well. Coventry brought on rafts of replacements to try and get something from the game and they did breach the Knights line once when Ben Russell broke a tackle to score, and convert; but it was only a slight interruption to the Knights’ progress and it was evident they were after a bonus point. That it took until the 79th minute to arrive was partly down to their own errors but also to a frenetic Coventry defence who fought to the end. They had tried to run a quick penalty close to their own line, only to drop the ball: the 5 metre scrum saw Nicoud sniping again and when he was stopped feet short, his offload to the supporting captain Glen Wilson gave him the easiest of tries. There were worrying moments after the score as Wilson lay injured, the result of an after the whistle dropped knee that the Coventry forward won’t be proud of when he sees the DVD, but to great cheers the skipper rose and finished the game. And what a finish! With the last move, Wes Davies carried the ball well upfield, offloaded to replacement prop Richard List and his thundering run was stopped only inches short. He did manage to present ball for quick recycling and Woodrow was the man on hand to pick and dart over for a fifth try which he converted himself to end an excellent first outing of the season.
Antoine Nicoud was the name on most lips after a consummate all round performance but in truth he was just one of many who wore the shirt with pride on the day. Next up are newly promoted Cornish All Blacks at Castle Park on Saturday (2.30pm) when a continuation of this form should attract a good crowd. Those who didn’t play will have had a chance to impress on Monday night in the “A” team game against Northampton at Castle Park (7.30pm).
Listen to Lynn Howells post match thoughts at the link below
http://www.dn1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/howells0108.mp3
Coventry: B Toft, K Johnson, B Russell, D Sanders, L Kirisome (G Dixon 60), D Miles, N Jones (T Slater 70), C Rimmer, C Whitehead (S Friswell 57), R Britts (D Dugard 74), G Gillanders, O Hodge (I Nimmo 63), D Hodge, J Miller, L McGlone (D Clayton 57)
Doncaster: W Davies, P Bailey, B Hunt (S Gray 57), S Davey, J Bishop, C Rees (M Woodrow 40), A Nicoud, S Bunting (R List 74), S Boden, N Tau (J Rawson 50), B Griffiths, G Kenworthy, O Cook, S Grainger, G Wilson
Referee: R Kitt (RFU)
Photo of Bryn Griffiths courtyesy of Brian Pollard. |
