To quell Richmond

simple pass to Josh Bainbridge to finish.

Richmond had their best period in the second quarter and fully deserved a try by man of the match Alex Post from a well-co-ordinated lineout drive.

After 50 minutes, Richmond cut the lead to four points with a Billy Johnston penalty. However, Coventry looked to have made the game safe with a third try in the 61st minutes, when Coventry found space on the wide left, and James Martin had a run in from 25 metres.

Richmond hung on and defended gamely, preventing several likely looking break outs. From one such move, Makele intercepted and set off to run 75 metres, outpacing the chasing defenders. Richmond needed the conversion to take the lead, but it wasn’t to be.

Coventry head coach Alex Rae said: “Richmond were fighting for their lives and I expected nothing less of them. They weathered a few storms, hung in there and showed tremendous spirit and fight. They probably didn’t get what they deserved from the game.

“We’ve had a tremendous season and we have a great group. Maybe we fell a bit short today but that’s credit to Richmond for their doggedness’.

Atkins 7, Makele 8, Case 7, Kiernan 8 (Duncan 65, 6), Caddy 7, Johnston 7 (Burrage 67, 6), Lennon 6 (Kerins 56, 6), Cave 7 (Maguire 56, 6), Post 9 (Wagstaff 44, 6), Lichfield 8 (Spring 67, 6), Anstey 7, Cavubati 7( Mondson 50, 7), Massey 8, Benson 8, Bright (c) 7 (Johnson 69, 6)

Brown 7, Talbot-Davies 8, Wand 8, Titherington 7 (Rigg 43, 7), James 7 (Martin 56, 7), Mitchell 8 (Mannion 56, 6), Lane 7 (Chudley 51, 7), Trinder 7 (Biggs 67, 7), Ma’si 8 (Kenny 68, 6), Andrews 7 (Bridges 65, 6), Tyas 7, Smith 7 (Thomas 52, 6), Ball 7, Bainbridge 8, Dodd 8