Six-try Cov show Hart but lose game
COVENTRY slipped to just their third league defeat of the season as hosts Hartpury came out on top in a 12-try contest in Gloucestershire.
The sides chalked up six tries apiece and at the final whistle it was the kicking of Tommy Matthews that edged the university side over the line with the fly-half kicking 15 points.
Frustrated director of rugby Alex Rae admitted: “It is disappointing to score six tries away from home and not come away with the win but credit to Hartpury, they took their opportunities really well and put us under pressure, winning contests and crucial points in the game.”
There were just three minutes on the clock when the home side opened their tally, debutant fullback Alex Morgan running 40 metres to the line only to pull a hamstring in the process ensuring a short and sweet encounter.
Cov pressed for a response but fell further behind against the run of play when Harry Short scored following a driving line-out.
The rest of the half was dominated by the visitors who rounded off the first period with three tries.
Winger Will Talbot-davies raced in for the first on 21 minutes with excellent work from the pack sending back row Tom Dodd over soon after. Moments later it was no8 Senitiki Nayalo’s turn as he finished off a sweet move started by Louis Brown.
Coventry’s 17-14 interval lead was wiped out within eight minutes of the restart when flanker Harry Short capitalised on a period of pressure close to the Cov line but the response was instant with James Martin going over beneath the sticks, Pat Pellegrini making it 21-24 with one of his three conversions.
A quickfire double followed from Hartpury as winger Sam Smith and second row Jack Davies dotted down and although Will Chudley nipped in on the blindside for Cov, the Gloucestershire outfit claimed their sixth of the afternoon through replacement Harry Tarling.
Will Rigg bagged a final try for the Blue-and-whites but a late Matthews penalty stretched the lead to nine points to deny the visitors a losing bonus point.