Coventry extend lead at top with big win in Darlington
NICK WALSH was left beaming after his Coventry side recorded a resounding victory over Darling Mowden Park.
The visitors cemented their credentials as clear favourites for Championship rugby next season after sweeping aside the division’s second-placed side 42-0 away from home.
Mowden old boy and Coventry lock Tom Jubb scored two of the visitors’ six tries, with Maxwell Trimble also chipping in with a brace.
Full-back James Stokes and centre Heath Stevens also crossed, with Will Maisey weighing in with three conversions and two penalties.
And Walsh could not hide his delight after his side turned in such an emphatic display.
“We are thoroughly delighted with the result,” he said. “The boys produced a tremendous performance, working really hard like they had done all week.
“Second-placed Darlington are a decent team, but today we played well.
“The first try and a good start was all important and we got both. It was still in the balance at the break. Not many teams will come here and do what we did.
“Good luck to Mowden for the rest of the season.”
Coventry came out of the blocks immediately and within a couple of minutes were ahead when a midfield break gathered momentum, Jubb going in under the posts before the hosts had drawn breath.
Darlington responded from the restart, piling on the pressure on the visitors five-metre line and only some good Coventry defence kept them at bay.
But Coventry broke away against the run of play, with full-back Stokes scoring the try, Maisey converting.
Playing on the edge, Coventry were in the ascendancy for the rest of the game, with Darlington barely looking like the team in second place in the league.
Things didn’t get any better for the hosts as a defensive mistake cost them two penalties. Maisey was the benefactor, leaving the home side 20-0 down at the break and with a mountain to climb.
An early try after the break underlined Coventry’s superiority, this time visiting centre Heath Stevens benefiting from some poor defence to score, converted once again by Maisey.
Two minutes later and Coventry were roaring ahead, when Trimble scored his first try following a searing break down the wing.
Jubb added the last try of the game to put the cherry on the visitors’ cake.
Despite putting in some brave tackles, the hosts could not live with the pace and power of the league leaders, with coach John Newton philosophical after the loss.
“We are very disappointed with the manner of that loss, we just didn’t turn up,” he said. “However, all credit to Coventry. Their forwards gained plenty of ball and defended well when required.
“They had some gas on both wings, but we just weren’t on our game today and were punished.”