Ace Chudley inspires Cov young guns to hit big six

WILY scrum-half Will Chudley inspired Coventry’s young guns to a scintillating victory over the students, capping a memorable display with a try in each half.

The 33-year-old former Worcester, Exeter and Bath playmaker conducted Friday night’s proceedings and had director of rugby Alex Rae praising his contribution at the end of the six-try win.

Rae said: “It is clear to see that he runs and controls the game. He is probably the oldest player on the pitch but it is great that that rubs off on Will Lane who comes on for 20 minutes. He’s an amazing player and I’m so pleased that we have him.”

Coventry started quickly and could have chalked up their first points inside a minute when a slick passing move looked to have put hooker Will Biggs in but the ball was knocked on.

Not that the Cov faithful had to wait long for the opener, another sweet move scythed through the Hartpury defence three minutes later with prop James Kenny bagging a debut try.

The pace didn’t drop and a second score followed on eight minutes with Chudley instrumental, starting and finishing the move with Ewan Mitchell’s conversions opening up a 14-0 lead.

Students’ skipper Ollie Robinson rumbled over from a line-out on 14 minutes, converted by Tommy Mathews, but openside’s contribution ended soon after due to knock to the head.

Tom Dodd added a third for the hosts from close range but the visitors hit back once more when back row replacement Harry Short was driven over to close the gap to seven points.

Coventry started the second half just as they did the first with two tries inside ten minutes. Chudley dotted down for a second time following another eye-pleasing break down the left wing before lock James Tyas crashed over following a period of pressure on the Hartpury line.

A yellow card for Short for killing the ball did not help the students’ cause and they slipped further behind with ten minutes to go when their depleted pack was pushed off the scrum ahead of full-back Louis Brown snaking his way to the line with Mitchell slotting his sixth conversion of the night.

Back row Joe Howard impressed off the bench for the visitors and claimed a third try late on but there was no way back for the visitors even though Cov finished with 14 men after prop Toby Trinder was binned late on.