Cov take advantage as Knights let it slip
COVENTRY produced a big Cup upset at Castle Park where they won by five tries to three against a Doncaster side who failed to deliver their Championship form in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
On this performance, Coventry, inspired by skipper and No.8 Ryan Burrows, will be confident of achieving further success in the second leg at the Butts Park Arena next weekend when they’ll go into the return game with a lead of 13 points.
As well as a top-class display from Burrows, flanker Fred Betteridge was also outstanding, scoring a try in each half as Coventry showed more passion and desire, although Doncaster fought back impressively in the second period, scoring two tries by winger Maliq Holden, his second,
and flanker and skipper Thom Smith.
And with Knights’ fly half Sam Olver adding two conversions and a penalty, his team, with 10 minutes remaining, were only behind by 28-22 with the momentum in their favour.
However, Doncaster threw away opportunities to take control and win, and Coventry fully deserved their victory which thrilled forwards’ coach Alex Rae. “We showed heart and character. It was really pleasing. Ryan captained the team really well and there were
good efforts from older players, such as Will Owen and Andy Forsyth.
“If you’d said before the match we’d have a lead of 13 points going into the second leg, I’d have snapped your hand off. What we must do is to build on this performance.
“I know some people have belittled the Championship Cup, but winning with your mates is the best feeling in the world, so why wouldn’t you strive to win it? As I said to the lads, not many players win silverware in their careers, so let’s go for it.”
Doncaster, losing only for the second time this season at home, both defeats have been in the Cup, started poorly as Coventry, playing aggressively and with genuine commitment, seized a 21-5 lead at the interval following tries by hooker Jordan Poole, Betteridge and centre Andy Forsyth.
The Cov pack were domAMPTHILL
inant but, after 30 minutes, Doncaster finally woke up, scoring a try from 30 metres by Holden. This improvement continued in the second half as Holden dashed over again on 50 minutes and then Smith was driven over in the 70th.
But in between, Betteridge fought his way over for Coventry’s fourth, and any doubts that Coventry, now resisting a strong Doncaster fight-back, would lose their match winning position were dispelled as replacement back Tom Emery intercepted a pass in the 79th and sprinted 50 metres to add the fifth, and with fly half Anthony Fenner striking his fifth conversion, Coventry completed a fine win.
Doncaster coach Steve Boden wasn’t in the best of moods afterwards. He said: “Disappointing, wasn’t it? We were massively below par, and we had no energy. We looked extremely tired and I must have overworked the players during the week.
“Now all I’m bothered about is: can we finish the season on a high note?”