Coventry RFC Thread 18/19 (4 Viewers)

Indeed! Good, innit?

Go on then. Let's have a bit of a mini score-prediction for Saturday. I really don't like predicting scores (used to do it on the coach to away games, 50p a go, winner takes all, and was so shit at it that I never ever won it).
However... As it's bottom vs top, and Cov are very close to beating their tries-per-season record already, and Fylde are looking done-for, it could be interesting. I'll go for a highest score of the season this time (64 to beat? Something like that).
Fylde love to chuck it around and are known for running it out of defence and never kicking for the sticks (except for conversions obvs), and I wouldn't totally rule them out when it comes to getting one or two over the line. They aren't going to be scared of Cov as they have absolutely nowt to lose.
So I'm going 75-15 to Cov.
(And 28-20 to OEs over DMP).

I agree that they'll make lots of changes (be silly not to), but they have pretty good depth in the squad now. Will stick to my predictions (more in hope than anything).

I_Saw_Shaw_Score said:

Cov not having it all their own way v bottom of the table Fylde 14-3 at ht 2 penalty tries.

DMP won 19-14 but no BP for them.

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That's good. We just need the win and the bonus point, doesn't matter if we don't hammer them out of sight.

Poor first half with the ref losing his yellow card until half time. Odd performance from him, seemingly doing his best to slow the game down. Thankfully he finally woke up to Fylde's tactics and started pinging them and awarding pen. tries. Three in a match, and three yellows shows just how one sided it was. Mudbath though (Eric was still fretting just before the game, but the he's the eternal pessimist and was rating the game as 20% to go ahead at the start of the week). Had it been dryer, I'm sure the final score would have been nearly double that.
And Fylde still wouldn't have scored if the were still playing.

I_Saw_Shaw_Score said:

Cov only side in top 4 to pick up 5 points.

Means now16 clear of DMP so even if they win their game in hand with BP and beat Cov twice 5-0 on points Cov will still be a point clear.

Cov away on the Astro at Loughborough next Saturday and DMP face Blackheath at home

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How far away are Cov from securing promotion?

Looking forward to Loughboro next Saturday on the 3G, even if the atmosphere there is on a par with Sixfields...

fernandopartridge said:

How far away are Cov from securing promotion?

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A long long way.

fernandopartridge said:

How far away are Cov from securing promotion?

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Would say that we only need to beat Darlington once to seal it as long as we keep the form going.

About right isn't it?

I_Saw_Shaw_Score said:

DMP can make 133 getting 5 points a game
Cov need 134 on the basis DMP get 5 points every game. Which leaves Cov needing 40 so technically 8 games away but difficult to tell at moment especially with 2 games v DMP to go but Plymouth away on the 24th March or Rosslyn Park at Home week after would be my guess

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Seems like a reasonable shout.

Although DMP are unlikely to overhaul our points diff, so maybe 133?

If we come top, I couldn't care less!

See the excellent ex Cov and Bristol Will Hurrel is on the field for Bath V Northampton tonight! !

Another weekend, another win for Coventry

Ashdown said:

Another weekend, another win for Coventry

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Shaky though.
We were woeful with ball in hand, and LS were actually quite impressive on that score. I found myself counting phases and getting pished-off as I never seemed to get past two.
The ref was shocking at times too. Inside the first two minutes he'd sinbinned Brett Daynes and given them a penalty try. Reason? Deliberate knock on. When he sees the video he'll realise how wrong he got it as Daynes went for a cut-out with both hands, failing to hold on. Result should obviously be a scrum-down, not the sanction(s) he applied.
Then later, Stokes went up for a box-kick, collected it well and was immediately hit very hard by a defender when way up in the air (I'd say he hadn't even started descending). Very poor decision given, of a penalty only. We can't even 'cite' it with that happening. (Edit: Stokes was down for a long time after this, and eventually left the field after playing on for a time. Hopefully not too bad though.
He was generally just very shaky right through - and I'd thought last week's man-in-the-middle was poor...
Still, five points, and with two of the more-adrift chasing pack losing, I reckon it's now Cov's to lose, and DMP's to do something about it.
Fingers crossed.

Poor passing and handling errors have been creeping in to Cov’s games in recent weeks and needs to be eradicated. Loughborough’s spritely backs were always a threat running with the ball and their forwards negated our attempted close-in rolling mauls that have been so effective this season. I thought they put up a plucky performance and I'm relieved we got the 5 points in the end to be honest. With games running out by the week, I can't see Darlington catching up and the title race could effectively be over in 2 weeks time.

We need Albion to do us a favour with a nil over DMP on the 17th. That would be a huge boost.

Kneeza said:

We need Albion to do us a favour with a nil over DMP on the 17th. That would be a huge boost.

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Do we actually need any boosts? Think we are mighty fine just as we are aren't we.

We are seen as the team to beat now and clubs raise their game !

Otis said:

Do we actually need any boosts? Think we are mighty fine just as we are aren't we.

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Of course we do. The sooner we get to the position that other clubs cannot reel us in and overtake us, the better.
DMP are (now, probably) the only club with a realistic chance of doing that, and so I will be (notionally) be cheering Plymouth on next weekend.
I'm taking it that you've not actually watched Cov lately (no prob with that, I sort of gave up on the City some time ago for various reasons, but may have that spark rekindled one day; most likely after the current owners depart)? If you had, you'll have seen that they can be very vulnerable in the face of sides that can put phases together, and more sides are learning how to do that the deeper into the season we get.
Yes, I'm still quietly confident that we'll prevail (and one point - or even points diff will do, but I'll be much happier if it doesn't turn out that way and I can really enjoy the final two or three matches).
So; come on Albion!

Kneeza said:

Of course we do. The sooner we get to the position that other clubs cannot reel us in and overtake us, the better.
DMP are (now, probably) the only club with a realistic chance of doing that, and so I will be (notionally) be cheering Plymouth on next weekend.
I'm taking it that you've not actually watched Cov lately (no prob with that, I sort of gave up on the City some time ago for various reasons, but may have that spark rekindled one day; most likely after the current owners depart)? If you had, you'll have seen that they can be very vulnerable in the face of sides that can put phases together, and more sides are learning how to do that the deeper into the season we get.
Yes, I'm still quietly confident that we'll prevail (and one point - or even points diff will do, but I'll be much happier if it doesn't turn out that way and I can really enjoy the final two or three matches).
So; come on Albion!

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You would never believe we are 16 points clear at the top from your post.

It's the Coventrian in us all that expects to be let down !

Otis said:

You would never believe we are 16 points clear at the top from your post.

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Heh! Yeah. Sad innit?
Actually, I'm pretty confident that we'll do it, but I'll take any help going.
DMP have six fairly tough away games left (we have only four), which helps.
However, as Ashdown says, I'm a C-Pessimist. It's just part of the make-up!

Got to be honest, quite fancied a trip to Brighton for the craic but alas I shall have to make do with our only other major team in the City now tomorrow... Apart from the Blaze of course ! Be good to tick another game of the calendar with 5 points ! C'mon Cov !

Ashdown said:

Got to be honest, quite fancied a trip to Brighton for the craic but alas I shall have to make do with our only other major team in the City now tomorrow... Apart from the Blaze of course ! Be good to tick another game of the calendar with 5 points ! C'mon Cov !

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And haven't Darlington got a tough game tomorrow?