Ionians can’t cope with White’s show

COVENTRY returned to winning ways on home soil, but after leading 28-3 within 12 minutes they were pushed all the way by relegation-threatened Ionians.

It looked a one-horse race as Cov banked their four-try bonus point, but Ionians battled back to lead after 48 minutes before the home side found another gear.

Cov swept ahead after 55 seconds, Pete White finishing off a move starting inside their own half and Will Maisey converting. Isaac Green pulled back a penalty for Ionians immediately after the restart, but Tom Howe swiftly added a second try.

White then darted over from close in before Heath Stevens followed up his own grubber for the fourth. With Maisey in the sin-bin, Ionians dominated the remainder of the half. Callum Irvine and Phil Eggleshaw went over, both converted by Green, to bring the gap to four points at the break.

A converted penalty try nudged Ionians in front, but Jimmy Litchfield’s catch-and-drive try followed by further scores from Stevens and, for his hat-trick, White, with a conversion apiece from Maisey and Tony Fenner, wrapped up the win.

Greg Lound pulled back one for Ionians, Andrew Humberstone converting, before a Maisey penalty on the final whistle.