Premiership-bound Irish bring the 50 up against Coventry
TWO-TRY winger Ollie Hassell-Collins led the way as London Irish continued their relentless march back to the Premiership with an eight-try win over Coventry.
This extends Irish’s unbeaten Championship record at the Madejski Stadium to seven games and leaves them nine points clear of Ealing with seven matches remaining.
Three first-half scores gave the hosts a 19-3 interval advantage and, after Hassell-Collins’ second effort was quickly followed by an Albert Tuisue try, they seemed likely to post a substantial score.
However, illness-andinjury-hit Coventry, who lost two tight-heads prior to kick off, responded well to claim three of the last six tries and almost bank a bonus point.
Irish head coach Les Kiss was broadly satisfied with his team’s efforts, but noted room for improvement remains. He said: “We had to work hard for it and at times were a bit frustrated we couldn’t quite get our teeth into the game.
“We were probably our own worst enemies in some respects, but you’ve got to be pretty happy with getting eight tries and 52 points in any competition.
“On the flip side, when we got the sin-bin we were a bit lazy in our defence – they’ve got some good players but to concede so many points is not the nicest.”
Irish took the easiest of leads only two minutes in when newly-signed international fly-half Ian Keatley dummied over for a try which he also converted.
Keatley’s afternoon ended early after a head knock tackling David Halaifonua on 27 minutes and after Dan Lewis’ penalty put Cov on the board, Keatley’s replacement Jacob Atkins converted scrum-half Brendan McKibbin’s close-range score.
The hosts then drove hooker Dave Porecki over for their third try immediately after Cov lock Tom Jubb was sent to the sin-bin for a slow retreat.
Irish’s try bonus point arrived eight minutes after the interval when HassellCollins gathered Atkins’ excellent kick pass and sped to the corner, then flanker Albert Tuisue cut a powerful line to the posts
for a try which Atkins upgraded.
Cov’s fightback began when home flanker TJ Ioane was shown a yellow card for taking out Pete White, and Jubb claimed their first touchdown.
Lewis converted, and the visitors’ young No.10 was on the mark again when Scott Tolmie finished off White’s scorching break.
The pace was now frenetic, and the home side promptly swept to the other end where Hassell-Collins claimed their sixth try then Brendan Macken wriggled into the same corner for No.7 five minutes from time.
Atkins converted both before livewire Cov replacement White chalked up the best score of the match thanks to a scorching 50metre finish in support of Sam Tuitupou’s break.
Fittingly Atkins’ conversion of Topsy Ojo’s score gave Irish the last word, but despite leaving the Madejski pointless Coventry director of rugby Rowland Winter was happy with his team’s performance.
“Credit to the boys to come back and to get three tries,” he said. “It’s a bit disappointing we didn’t get the fourth, but there’s plenty of positives in there.”