Coventry Rugby 73 Cornish Pirates 40 - shiver my timbers, Pirates left shipwrecked as Cov plunder visitors to take the spoils
You're gonna fall with the grace of a cannonball
You're gonna rise like a tide above it all
You gotta play, play your hand, or die where you stand
Sometimes you fail before you begin
Sometimes you lose before you win
You gotta play, play your hand, or die where you stand
Sometimes you fail before you be
Sometimes You lose Before You Win - Bryan Adams
After the disappointing result up at Rotherham last week, Cov needed to make a strong statement at home against Cornish Pirates yesterday and that's exactly what they did in a performance that at times showed the potential that this squad has once they've had time to gel. Yes, a good percentage of players remain from last season, but with key players coming in over the summer across the team, it will still take time to bed everyone in.
During the game, there were two phases, one in each half, where we played with such pace and power that the Pirates couldn't live with us. In the first half, after having little possession in the first 8 minutes and falling behind 7-0, Cov answered back with five consecutive tries in just 15 minutes. In the second half, within a 13-minute span, Cov scored another five tries. That's ten tries in just 26 minutes of play. It was remarkable. Few teams at this level could have defended against us.
Skeptics might argue that the second-half surge was largely due to the Pirates playing 8 minutes with just 13 players. While this is factually accurate, it's important to note that the quick loss of two players was a result of the pressure we applied early in the second half.
Also, in the past, we've sometimes failed to put teams away when we've held such an advantage, but yesterday we were brutal and had the pace and power to make the most of the gaps that suddenly opened up as we ran the ball back at the visitors at every opportunity.
It was really impressive in parts, but it was by no means a complete performance. For much of the second quarter, Cov were on the back foot as Pirates took full advantage of a series of penalties at the breakdown and at the scrum in particular. First Strong and then Maunder were shown yellow cards, and after easing to what appeared a comfortable 33-7 lead, we were reeled back in as Pirates scored 3 tries to make it 33-26 at halftime, with the game very much hanging in the balance.
The number of penalties we conceded both at Rotherham and at home yesterday is concerning. Jordon Poole and the Benz-Solomon twins engaged in several discussions with the referee, but these seemed to have little impact. Regardless of the reasons for the penalties, Cov seemed unable to adjust their actions to appease the referee, and during this time, the crowd's frustration grew.
For 20 minutes we were down to 14 men, but Pirates lacked the killer instinct that we showed at times, and once we had a numerical advantage, the game was effectively over in that 8 minute passage of play.
Under the new scoring system, the Pirates ended up with no points from the game, even though they scored 40 points and ran in 6 tries. Surely, this should earn them a bonus point? I get some of the reasons for the change, but in my view, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' And that's coming from a fan of the winning team—making a round trip of over 580 miles to see my team perform as they did and come away with nothing would be extremely galling, to put it mildly.
For the first home game of the season against a well-established Championship team and with no Coventry City game on the same day, a turnout of 'only' 2,621 seemed somewhat low. I'm unsure of the club's perspective on this, but 18 months ago, we would have anticipated a crowd of well over 3,000 (our average was 3,400 the season before last). Is this a reflection of the cost of living, where activities like watching live sports are considered non-essential, or is there a deeper reason behind it?
Cov is not the only one experiencing this decline in attendances. Bedford attracted 2,352 spectators for what for them is essentially a local derby against Chinnor, and the Worcester game drew 'just' 5,000, which must also be a significant concern for them.
Could the increased ability to watch more Champ rugby from home now be negatively affecting attendance? It's undoubtedly much cheaper than attending live games and so easily accessible that perhaps attendance has reached its peak for now, until the fundamental issues affecting the popularity of Champ rugby, such as promotion to and relegation from The Prem, are addressed.
There have been significant enhancements to the NNS over the summer, reflecting the club's ongoing commitment to enhancing the match day experience and ensuring
compliance with the RFU's minimum standards for rugby at this level.
The most obvious change is the modernisation of the floodlights around the pitch.
The old bulbs, which seemed to provide uneven light distribution, have been replaced by modern-looking LED (?) lights. These new lights will meet the RFU's upcoming requirements. Without this change, Cov wouldn't be able to host any fixtures requiring the use of the floodlights, so no evening games or 3.00pm Autumn and Winter kickoffs.
Depending on whom you listen to, the cost incurred is anything from £45,000 to £70,000, and even with a fairly substantial grant from the council, the club has had to invest a good deal of its own money. However, hopefully, with new sponsors being announced almost on a weekly basis at the moment, this will mitigate the impact somewhat. Whoever is responsible for marketing the club at the moment appears to be earning their keep.
Skeptics might argue that the second-half surge was largely due to the Pirates playing 8 minutes with just 13 players. While this is factually accurate, it's important to note that the quick loss of two players was a result of the pressure we applied early in the second half.
Also, in the past, we've sometimes failed to put teams away when we've held such an advantage, but yesterday we were brutal and had the pace and power to make the most of the gaps that suddenly opened up as we ran the ball back at the visitors at every opportunity.
Having attended the U23 Academy evening game on Friday, I can certainly confirm they improve the visibility a good deal, and I'm given to understand that such is the technology these days, they can be controlled individually through an app on a mobile phone! That takes boys' toys to a whole new level...
Another alteration concerns the food area situated at the far end of the pitch, close to the railway side. The ground has been leveled, and some of the older food outlets have been replaced with more modern-looking ones. This has significantly improved the appearance of the ground, especially when viewed from the main stand. Last season, the area looked messy and ill-loved, but now it reflects the appearance and atmosphere one would expect from a fully professional Championship club. It's a relatively simple change, but it adds a lot. Well done Cov!
I'm not sure whether there's more to come. If I were being picky, that area could do with being tarmacked or the equivalent before the Winter rains come, but it would certainly suffice as it is.
It appears that all the available food is now provided in-house. I'm uncertain if this includes the external outlets (a burger bar and a pizza van), but although there are still no healthy options available (which is disappointing for a club that emphasises the importance of mental and physical well-being), the quality of what's on offer seems to have improved significantly.
With pies and sausage rolls also available in the main bar area, there is a good choice available for those able to eat such foods. Josh went for the burger and chips ('Coventry Blue' - with Stilton. Nice touch). I have to say, the burger was thick and meaty and looked like it had been cooked from fresh, and it came with a very generous portion of chips.
Never one to be fulsome in his praise, Josh, in fairness, was very pleasantly surprised and gave it a very impressive 8.5/10, which is a good deal higher than anything he's scored at a home game in the previous four seasons.
For me, the fact that there's still a fresh coffee option was a huge relief. Not being one to drink at a game given I drive, coffee is a prerequisite for me.
The coffee there isn't overpriced, and there is a selection of cakes and biscuits for those with a sweet tooth. A confession here - having just bemoaned the fact that there aren't healthy options available, I did indulge in a cookie but only in the interests of the blog.
Alongside a hot drink, Shortland Coffee and Co offered a special Cov cookie. While it was a novelty item, it deserves recognition for showcasing some entrepreneurial flair. To be fair, it was very tasty. The cookie was thin at the edges but very thick in the center and was more than I could actually manage, yet I appreciate the idea behind it.
A young man with a tray of cookies and cakes also made rounds at the venue with a card reader, a smart initiative that deserves success, and judging by the response, it likely will.
While the food area remained quiet for most of the time leading up to the game, it became more crowded as kick-off approached.
Overall, the improvements to this area significantly ehance the appearance of the stadium as a whole.
It took a while for the atmosphere to build. Usually by 2:00 pm, it's already building, but there were still spaces available in the car park with very few folk pitchside or in the main stand. Often there's been a community schools' event going on when we've arrived, which always creates a bit of a buzz, and many of the parents and kids stay on to watch the game - perhaps this was the difference.
Hopefully, results and performances similar to the one we saw yesterday will impact positively on attendances. Cov has worked hard to improve spectator experience, so it would be good to see some returns on that investment.
Cov seem to be clocking up a few injuries already, especially amongst the props and in the backs. However, the players who have come in appear to have fitted in well. Without Sullivan, Margetts, or Garrett (I'm not sure whether he was out injured or just 'rested'), McNab came in for his first game in a Cov shirt and looked a real handful. Alongside Reeves and Sullivan (when fit), Cov have some strong runners out wide and with Opoku Fordjour back for a few games, it all looks very promising.
Matthews at inside centre worked really well and his kicking added another option both in defence and attack; he looked like he was limping when he went off, so I'm hoping it's nothing that a few days' rest won't put right.
We kicked really well for much of the game and we made the most of the sun in the first half, using the high ball to good effect, putting the opposition receivers under a lot of pressure with some excellent chasing. Houston looked assured again at 10 and appeared to choose all the right options. He kicked 9 out of 11 conversions and alongside Matthews and Thomas, we seem to have plenty of options there.
Bavadra did what Bavadra does. His score was another in a growing list of 'how on earth did he score that' tries, but what made it even more enjoyable was the reaction of some of the Cov players. I hope the club can zoom in on Jack Reeves' response - he clearly couldn't believe what he'd just seen! how long we can keep hold of him when he keeps performing at this level remains to be seen.
The lineout worked really well and used a shortened lineout to good effect at times. The scrum, though, after a solid start, caused us or rather the referee, a few problems for a good part of the game. It's not yet firing as I'd hoped, but I'm sure Steve Boden will fix that shortly. If that becomes the weapon we're hoping it will be, then our potency will increase considerably.
For a game and a half, Tiki hadn't really shown the kind of form we've come to expect of him in recent seasons, but he burst into life in the second half on Saturday, surging through tackles and making the ball available to supporting runners. When he does this, Cov become a really dangerous side going forward and with players always in support, the quick offloads become a real threat.
It was interesting seeing the two number 8s. The contrast in size was very evident with Pirates' Abongbon several inches taller and a good few pounds heavier than Morgan Strong. Strong, though, was the more effective. Both players were always keen to take the ball forward, but whilst Strong stayed on his feet and often made the ball available, Abongbon always went to ground and it became all too predictable, killing momentum and slowing the game down when at times it needed quick ball. He's young and exciting to watch, but yesterday experience told.
Nottingham away is always a really tough ask, especially on a Friday under the lights. However, with the win under their belts, they can go up to Lady Bay with a degree of confidence now knowing that they're more than good enough to dismantle a decent Notts squad, even away from home.
Up the Cov!
Tim, my understanding is that the food outlet/bar area or the "Fans zone"will undergo further development with the laying of astro turf in the very near future.
If this does happen it will certainly be a massive and positive improvement.