Where there’s a Will there’s a top signing, says Rae
COVENTRY 32 CORNISH PIRATES 19
COVENTRY chief Alex Rae admits it was a ‘no-brainer’ to sign experience scrum-half Will Chudley after his Worcester Warriors contract was terminated.
The 34-year-old made an impressive debut in the defeat of Cornish Pirates on Saturday and the club’s director of rugby hopes some of the younger players in the Cov squad can learn a thing or two from the former Bath, Exeter and Newcastle man.
Rae said: “Will has loads of experience and what a great opportunity for the younger fellas to learn off a real seasoned pro.
“Signing him was a nobrainer for us. He’s only been with us a week but you can already see what he has added o the group and today he has managed the game and the referees. That experience is so crucial to the team.”
The Cornish visitors struck first on Saturday when flanker Alex Everett went over in the corner but the hosts hit back with Chudley and fly-half Pat Pellegrini creating and opportunity for winger Shea Cornish to claim his first try for the club before Senitiki Nayalo stretched out and arm to dot down following a catch and drive move – all inside the opening 20 minutes.
A try from Pirates scrum-half
Ruaridh Dawson reduced the arrears but Will Talbot-davies added a third try for the Blue-and-whites as they opened up a 19-12 lead at the break.
A Talbot-davies penalty and a converted Cornish effort meant the hosts moved 17 points clear but while the visitors had full-back AJ Cant in the sin-bin, they reduced the deficit through a converted try from replacement hooker Max Norey. Undeterred, it was Coventry who rounded things off with another Pellegrini penalty much to the delight of the majority of the 2,552 fans at the Butts Park Arena, some of them taking advantage of reduced entry for Wasps and Worcester season ticket holders.
Rae added: “We talked about this being a real big game and If we can build this momentum at home and people keep coming back then this will be a real tough place for teams to come and play.” COVENTRY: Brown, Talbot-davies, Rigg (Mitchell 73), O Betteridge, Cornish (Martin 55), Pellegrini H, Chudley; Trinder, Ma’asi, Seward (Andrews 65), Tyas (Ball 50-59), F Betteridge, Dodd (Ball 65), Bainbridge, Nayalo (Peters 44). Reps (not used): Stone, Bridges, Lane,
PIRATES: Cant, Sirker, Parata (Tucker 48), Elderkin, Wyatt (Penny 59), Robson, Dawson (Kessell 69); Walker (Adkins 59), Crane (Norey 60), Beaton (Andrew 59), Teague, Britton, Everett, Stevens, Tuima (Nagle-taylor 60). Reps (not used): Fender.
Referee: Adam Wookey