Record for Wand as Coventry move on up

WILL Wand equalled a club record four tries in a league match as Coventry ran riot against a sub-par Hartpury to move up to second in the Championship standings.

Alex Rae’s side scored seven tries in a dominant display, and ended their 10-year winless hoodoo at Hartpury’s College Ground in style.

The Coventry head coach said: “Wandy is a terrific player, week in. He came from National 1 and is developing and developing and I’m sure there’s a few teams watching him. Historically we haven’t won too many games here. To come here and win in that manner, in some really tough conditions as well, I’m really happy.

“The last try just before half time was really important, scoring a brilliant try off a scrum advantage from scrum advantage. And we were really brave and aggressive in the second half.”

Playing behind a very strong wind, the grey shirted visitors got off to their most impressive start of the season, scoring three tries in the opening 12 minutes.

Outside centre Wand opened the scoring when he scooped up fullback Tobi Wilson’s chip and raced over the try-line.

Wilson went from creator to scorer, side-stepping through the middle to in a solo effort before Nayalo got his first try of the season when he crashed over from a five-metre quickly-tap penalty at the end of a long spell of pressure.

On the half-hour mark, Coventry wing Jimmy Martin saw yellow for a deliberate knock on.

But that didn’t stop the away-side, wing Ryan Hutler raced from deep to score the bonus point try before inside centre Tom

Hitchcock burst through Hartpury’s line to give Wand a simple finish just before half-time.

Hartpury struck first in the second-half, wing Matthew Ward dotting down after some quick inter-play from deep.

The West Midlanders re-asserted their dominance, with Wand getting his hat-trick from an Evan Mitchell long looping pass just after the hour mark.

Ward saw yellow for being off his feet at a ruck, then Coventry tighthead Vili Nairau’s line breaking carry set Wand up to canter over the try line for his fourth.

Outside centre Robbie Smith and Ward nabbed two late consolation tries for the home side.

Hartpury head coach Mark Cornwell said: “I’m disappointed. We did not manage that really strong wind in that first half. We got it wrong. Coventry are a good side and they punished us.”