Coventry finally put end to dry spell

AFTER successive defeats to Championship opposition, Coventry found their scoring touch to win an entertaining 14-try thriller against Welsh Premiership visitors Newport.

Cov, who had managed a only two tries against Jersey Reds and Ealing Trailfinders, ran in eight this time – all converted by Tony Fenner – as they opened up a 56-19 lead midway through the third quarter before Newport closed the gap with a strong finish.

A high-tempo first quarter saw Cov – playing with a stiff wind at their backs – open up a 21-12 lead through converted tries from Dan Rundle, Rob Knox and Max Trimble as Newport replied through Ryan James and Henry Palmer, one converted by Matt O’Brien.

A Reuben Tucker try and O’Brien conversion closed the gap to two points, but Eoghan Grace snapped up a loose ball to go in for Cov’s fourth before the dominant home scrum turned up the power on the run to halftime. Sam Grasso eventually went over for 35-19 at the break, with Newport’s Tucker and Tom Piper in the sin bin.

Three converted tries in the space of five minutes from Darrell Dyer, Olly Povoas and Corey Hircock took Cov almost out of sight, but Newport had no intention of lying down . As Cov dropped off the pace, they had much the better of the final quarter to pull back tries through Elliot Frewen, Tom Pascoe and Jack Goodey, all converted. Star man