Reds fightback falls short as Coventry physicality Wins the day
COVENTRY booked their place in the final with a thrilling away win over an injury-hit Jersey Reds side.
Coventry looked to be coasting to victory leading 20-8 with five minutes to play but Jersey struck for two late tries that crucially were not converted.
Coventry head coach Alex Rea said: “We just don’t want the season to end. You have to come to Jersey and be physical, to front up and we did that. I’m really proud. We dug deep and have come away with a memorable win.”
Tries: White 29, Doolan 75, Van Breda 79 Conversions: Cope 29
Tries: Nayalo 3, Poole 9 Conversions: Fenner 3, 9 Penalties: Fenner 15, 68
Jersey exploded into life from the off, with winger Will Brown putting in a sumptuous kick for scrumhalf James Mitchell to touch down – but referee Dan Jones pulled it back for offside.
Quickly the visitors were over at the other end, with the Coventry scrumhalf
Josh Barton finding a hole in the defence to burst through and feed Sentiki Nayalo for the try. Tony Fenner converted, as he did six minutes later after another Barton break, this time putting captain Jordan Poole in for a try.
A Fenner penalty after 15 minutes gave Coventry a 17-0 lead to leave Jersey shell shocked.
The Reds tried to steady the ship by moving the ball fast and wide but with chances opening up, the final pass just wasn’t clinical enough and repeated infringements stunted any momentum gained.
Coventry’s rearguard action was fantastic throughout, and despite Jersey being camped on their line, the visitors repelled everything the Reds threw at them.
On the half hour however the resistance broke and Wesley White, right – in his last Red’s appearance before joining Bath – scored from the back of a maul. Brendan Cope added the extras with a cracking conversion from out wide.
The half ended with Jersey in the ascendancy, and the second began in a similar vein. Try scorer Nayalo was binned for a late high swinging arm, and for the sin bin period Jersey battered away in the visitors 22. The next score was crucial but despite all their pressure Jersey couldn’t go over, and it was a Fenner penalty that seemingly took the game away from Jersey.
Jersey kept going, but the Coventry energy levels stayed high, cheering every ball won like it was the final whistle. However the five-day turnaround and the intense effort of the Coventry defence began to take its toll, as gaps began to appear and Jersey took advantage. A huge Jersey maul went close, and the next went one better as Harry Doolan was credited with the score.
After claiming the restart, Jersey finally played some of the rugby the Islanders have become used to, and after pulling the visitors left and right Scott Van Breda went over in the corner.
Jersey DoR Harvey Biljon said: “It’s tough to take. We didn’t lack desire or effort but we just couldn’t get a foothold in that first half. We have had a lot go against us, both before and during the game, but again showed great resilience and on another day we could have got the win.”
REFEREE: Dan Jones ATTENDANCE: 671