MAISEY LOVIN’ IT
As long as we keep improving every week, by the end of the season I feel we will be in a very good place. Will Maisey
TWO tries in as many games has cranked up the enjoyment levels for Coventry Rugby fly-half Will Maisey ahead of today’s toughest test of the season so far away to Ealing Trailfinders.
The 26-year-old was part of the Cov squad that achieved promotion back to the second tier of English Rugby two years ago and he has hit a rich vein of form to score five pointers in the recent back-to-back victories over Bedford Blues and Yorkshire Carnegie.
“I’ve enjoyed the last two weeks,” said Maisey.
“It has been really nice to get over the try line.
“It isn’t something I do very often.
“Going back to the Bedford game, I probably owe Kess [Tom Kessell] a beer after him getting over the line right at the end,” added Maisey, who missed a tricky penalty to win the round two clash before team-mate Kessell’s try won it at the death.
Maisey’s bid to make it three tries in successive games and a hat-trick of Coventry wins will be no easy feat as they tackle a big-spending Trailfinders.
They have already beaten Rowland Winter’s side this season, with a 22-17 Championship Cup victory at the Butts Park Arena last month.
But having secured two wins from their opening three league fixtures to sit second in the early Greene King IPA Championship table, Maisey insisted the Blue and Whites travel to west London with a real spring in their step.
“We have to go there with loads of confidence,” he said.
“We have an opportunity to play against a side we have already faced this season.
“We know exactly what they’re going to bring to the table.
“They’re going to be strong and they’re going to be very physical.
“It is going to be a very difficult game.
“I know, however, that if we play to our potential that we can come out with the result we want from the tie.”
By the end of round six, Coventry will have faced two of last season’s top four sides; Ealing and Jersey Reds, as well as making the trip to promotion favourites Newcastle Falcons, who were relegated from the Premiership last term.
Maisey recognises what results in these games would signal, and that is a clear indication of how far Coventry have come as a side since making their return to Championship rugby.
“It is probably a good thing for us,” added the stand-off, who has made more than 100 Cov appearances.
“We’re building every week. The fixtures are going to get tougher and tougher.
“As long as we keep improving every week, by the end of the season I feel we will be in a very good place.”
There are seven changes to the Coventry starting line-up which ran out against Carnegie at Headingley last Sunday, with Gareth Denman, Alex Woolford, Luke Wallace, Ryan Burrows and Kessell stepping up from the bench to face Ealing.
Darren Dawidiuk and Max Trimble return to the match-day 23 after missing the trip to Leeds. Burrows will lead the team.
COVENTRY RUGBY: 15 James Stokes, 14 Rob Knox,13 Heath Stevens, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Max Trimble; 10 Will Maisey, 9 Tom Kessell; 1 James Gibbons, 2 Darren Dawidiuk, 3 Gareth Denman, 4 Nile Dacres, 5 Alex Woolford, 6 Adam Peters, 7 Luke Wallace, 8 Ryan Burrows (capt). Replacements: 16 Joe Buckle, 17 Toby Trinder, 18 Phil Boulton, 19 Senitiki Nayalo, 20 Jack Ram, 21 Pete White, 22 Tony Fenner, 23 David Halaifonua.