By Alex Didlick
On a freezing, rain-soaked night at the Butts Park Arena, Coventry produced a powerful second-half display to overcome Richmond in style. After trailing at the break despite flashes of attacking brilliance, Alex Rae’s side rediscovered their clinical edge to run away comfortable winners under the lights.
Richmond sent the ball high into the night sky to get us underway at a wet Butts Park Arena. Early exchanges were cagey, both sides wary of forcing play in greasy conditions. That was until Josh Barton injected urgency. Spotting space, he combined smartly with Tommy Mathews before the ball was shifted wide to Jack Reeves, who finished superbly in the corner. A flying start for Alex Rae’s side, and a great start for last week’s man of the match.
Richmond responded well, building phases inside the Coventry half. Freddie Charles, sharp around the ruck all evening, darted over from close range to level things up. It was his second probing carry from the base, a warning sign Coventry had to address.
Coventry’s offloading game, one of the most prolific in the league, soon came to the fore. Allan Ferrie showed fine awareness in midfield, popping the ball free before backing himself to finish a powerful run under the posts. Direct, clinical rugby. 12–7.
Handling was always going to be tested in the conditions, but Tom Bacon dealt brilliantly with the aerial battle, forcing an error with a well-judged high ball. From the resulting platform, Coventry cut loose. Quick hands, sharp angles and relentless support running culminated in a brilliant final offload from Chester Owen to Josh Barton, who stormed through for the score. 19–7.
Coventry pushed again before the interval, but Richmond held them up heroically. They then marched the length of the field and struck through Donnacha Byrne to give themselves a way back into the contest. 19–14.
The visitors finished the half stronger. Captain Jake Monson found a superb line just before the break to edge Richmond in front. Coventry’s attack had sparkled at times, but penalties and knock-ons crept in as the half wore on. Despite dominating possession, they went into the sheds trailing 19–21.
Richmond began the second half looking to move the ball, but the conditions made ambition risky. Coventry’s scrum dominance reasserted itself, earning territory before Mathews pinned Richmond deep with an excellent kick. From the ensuing pressure, Barton found space and released Morgan Adderly-Jones for the bonus-point try. 26–21.
Then came the try of the night. Morgan Strong’s sharp pop pass sent Sam Maunder surging into space. Maunder surged deep into the 22 before offloading to Api Bavadra, who powered over to extend the lead. A superb, length-of-the-field effort. 31–21.
Momentum was firmly with Coventry. Allan Ferrie grabbed his second of the evening, finishing off sustained pressure, before another sweeping team move, featuring David Opoku-Fordjour in full stride, stretched the advantage further. 41–21.
As the match moved into its final stages, the result had been decided but Richmond chased the all-important bonus point. Coventry, however, controlled the closing exchanges impressively. Morgan Strong capped the evening with a powerful late try, underlining the dominance of the second-half display. 48–21.
After a frantic first half that saw momentum swing both ways, Coventry’s composure and physicality told in the final forty. The scrum dominance returned, the offloading game clicked, and the scoreboard followed. A 48–21 victory on a cold BPA evening sends Coventry into next week’s fixture against Hartpury full of belief and building momentum at exactly the right time of the season.
Man of the Match- Api Bavadra
Another outstanding display from one of Coventry’s most consistent performers this season. Direct, fearless and increasingly influential, he was central to the second-half surge. His try was superbly taken, and his work rate throughout the night was relentless. A player hitting real form at the business end of the season.
Goal kicking
Tommy Mathews- 4/8
Alex Burrage- 3/3
Try Scorers:
Coventry Rugby- Jack Reeves (6’), Allan Ferrie (17’, 65’), Josh Barton (28’), Morgan Adderly-Jones (47’), Api Bavadra (61’), David Opoku-Fordjour (68’), Morgan Strong (79’)
Richmond RFC- Freddie Charles (13’), Donnacha Byrne (36’), Jake Monson (40’)
Line-ups:
Coventry Rugby- Aristot Benz-Salomon, Jordon Poole, Eliot Salt, Dan Green, Senitiki Nayalo, Allan Ferrie, Chester Owen, Morgan Strong, Josh Barton, Tommy Mathews, Jack Reeves, Api Bavadra, Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti, David Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Bacon
Finishers: Murray Davidson, Keston Lines, Matt Johnson, Jack Shine, Mackenzie Graham, Sam Maunder, Morgan Adderly-Jones, Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi
Richmond RFC- Theo Bevacqua, Will Goffey, Luke Spring, Jake Monson (C), George Nugent, Donnacha Byrne, Jared Cardew, Ethan Benson, Freddie Charles, Alex Burrage, Alex O’Meara, Jason Baggott, Paddy Case, Chidera Obonna, Callum Grieve
Finishers: H. Hocking, C. Freeman, J. Litchfield, M. Wakeling, S. Pim, L. Jones, L. Dennett, G. Kitson