Post by Jamie Crawford on Sept 13, 2021 10:05:12 GMT
Coventry Rugby preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 1, Butts Park Arena Castle Park Saturday 18th September
I can post the preview earlier because I’m not reliant on stats from games played last weekend. I’m sure that we’re all looking forward to a great season of rugby; we have some skilful new players that play exciting, fast rugby.
At a Meet The Players event at Doncaster Rugby Football Club (DRFC), club President and Chairman elect of the Championship Clubs Committee Steve Lloyd said that the rumour of the Premiership being ring-fenced were false. He also mentioned that there are now only five fully professional clubs left in the Championship and six semi-professionals. The Championship will revert to 12 teams next season, which would indicate that there will probably be four fully professional and eight semi-professionals; assuming that one of the fully professional clubs is promoted.
The five fully professional clubs are Cornish Pirates, Coventry, Doncaster Knights, Ealing Trailfinders and Jersey Reds.
Director of Rugby (DoR) Steve Boden (Bodes) also confirmed that Sam Graham would be the Club Captain for the 2021/22 campaign assisted by co-captains Sam Olver and Billy McBryde. Bodes believes that attitude and determination are paramount to winning games and the never give up mentality is more effectively shared amongst three leaders.
Doncaster Knights have been sent to Coventry to kick off the season before welcoming London Scottish to Castle Park on 25th September, KO 2.30. The season then progresses home then away every consecutive weekend apart from 11th and 18th December when we play Nottingham then Coventry at Castle Park on successive weekends. The Knights are then due to travel to London on Boxing Day to play the reverse fixture against the Scottish exiles.
It's a fantastic start for the Knights to play Coventry because they are a similar standard. Last season the Knights finished third and Coventry finished fifth, just six league points separated the teams. Last season the Knights won by a single point in their only encounter, which was played at Castle Park. The Knights were fortunate in their resolve to prevent Cov scoring during their second half domination.
In November 2019 Coventry beat the Knights 18-6, scoring three tries to none in the process. Cov dominance over the Knights that season was emphasised when they did the double over us, winning the return fixture in March 2020, 26-35. 2018/19 included two Cup games but the close scores tell their own tale, in reverse date order:
20-19 - Knight win
31-29 – Knight loss
17-23 – W
22-41 - L
Cov were the fourth highest try-scorers after scoring six more tries than the Knights last season. Obviously past games and scores have all been close affairs.
Pre-season saw Cov host Nottingham on August 28th and win 60-10, scoring ten tries in the process. Coventry’s fast backs dominated the game, with a highlight being Tom Emery’s (Wing) try.
The Betteridge brothers stood out after both were in the development squad. Ollie Betteridge (Centre) scored and brother Fred (Back Row) dominated.
Cov then hosted Wasps and lost 21-52. Gloucester travelled to Butts Park Arena and won Coventry 40-50 the week before they entertain us.
The Nights’ only pre-season game was in Newcastle against Premiership team Newcastle Falcons. We lost by four points (33-29) but there was much to be optimistic about for the coming season. It was 21-3 at half time however an impressive second half performance by the Knights (12-26) brought the conclusive result closer together. There was much praise about our defence and the speed of passing the ball. To lose by just four points against Premiership opposition is encouraging.
Sharp offloading will be key in the game after both Cov and the Knights impressed with their speed of passing pre-season.
Director of Rugby (DoR) Steve Boden said that going to Wasps’ Rugby’s new Elite Performance and Innovation Centre was a solid experience with plenty of learnings and positives for us to take away. Apparently, Wasps exposed us in some areas which we will learn from and then we can incorporate them in our game. Bodes and the Knights are aware that their opening game will be a tough test.
DRFC Fly Half Billy McBride said on the drfc website pre-season, “…“Cov away first up is going to be huge, it was very close last year and we got a bit lucky to get the win so they’ll be raring to get one over on us this season but we can’t wait. We’re chomping at the bit to get out there on the paddock and hopefully be competing towards the top of the table again…”
It promises to be a close, hard-fought game between two of the five fully professional clubs.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 1, Butts Park Arena Castle Park Saturday 18th September
I can post the preview earlier because I’m not reliant on stats from games played last weekend. I’m sure that we’re all looking forward to a great season of rugby; we have some skilful new players that play exciting, fast rugby.
At a Meet The Players event at Doncaster Rugby Football Club (DRFC), club President and Chairman elect of the Championship Clubs Committee Steve Lloyd said that the rumour of the Premiership being ring-fenced were false. He also mentioned that there are now only five fully professional clubs left in the Championship and six semi-professionals. The Championship will revert to 12 teams next season, which would indicate that there will probably be four fully professional and eight semi-professionals; assuming that one of the fully professional clubs is promoted.
The five fully professional clubs are Cornish Pirates, Coventry, Doncaster Knights, Ealing Trailfinders and Jersey Reds.
Director of Rugby (DoR) Steve Boden (Bodes) also confirmed that Sam Graham would be the Club Captain for the 2021/22 campaign assisted by co-captains Sam Olver and Billy McBryde. Bodes believes that attitude and determination are paramount to winning games and the never give up mentality is more effectively shared amongst three leaders.
Doncaster Knights have been sent to Coventry to kick off the season before welcoming London Scottish to Castle Park on 25th September, KO 2.30. The season then progresses home then away every consecutive weekend apart from 11th and 18th December when we play Nottingham then Coventry at Castle Park on successive weekends. The Knights are then due to travel to London on Boxing Day to play the reverse fixture against the Scottish exiles.
It's a fantastic start for the Knights to play Coventry because they are a similar standard. Last season the Knights finished third and Coventry finished fifth, just six league points separated the teams. Last season the Knights won by a single point in their only encounter, which was played at Castle Park. The Knights were fortunate in their resolve to prevent Cov scoring during their second half domination.
In November 2019 Coventry beat the Knights 18-6, scoring three tries to none in the process. Cov dominance over the Knights that season was emphasised when they did the double over us, winning the return fixture in March 2020, 26-35. 2018/19 included two Cup games but the close scores tell their own tale, in reverse date order:
20-19 - Knight win
31-29 – Knight loss
17-23 – W
22-41 - L
Cov were the fourth highest try-scorers after scoring six more tries than the Knights last season. Obviously past games and scores have all been close affairs.
Pre-season saw Cov host Nottingham on August 28th and win 60-10, scoring ten tries in the process. Coventry’s fast backs dominated the game, with a highlight being Tom Emery’s (Wing) try.
The Betteridge brothers stood out after both were in the development squad. Ollie Betteridge (Centre) scored and brother Fred (Back Row) dominated.
Cov then hosted Wasps and lost 21-52. Gloucester travelled to Butts Park Arena and won Coventry 40-50 the week before they entertain us.
The Nights’ only pre-season game was in Newcastle against Premiership team Newcastle Falcons. We lost by four points (33-29) but there was much to be optimistic about for the coming season. It was 21-3 at half time however an impressive second half performance by the Knights (12-26) brought the conclusive result closer together. There was much praise about our defence and the speed of passing the ball. To lose by just four points against Premiership opposition is encouraging.
Sharp offloading will be key in the game after both Cov and the Knights impressed with their speed of passing pre-season.
Director of Rugby (DoR) Steve Boden said that going to Wasps’ Rugby’s new Elite Performance and Innovation Centre was a solid experience with plenty of learnings and positives for us to take away. Apparently, Wasps exposed us in some areas which we will learn from and then we can incorporate them in our game. Bodes and the Knights are aware that their opening game will be a tough test.
DRFC Fly Half Billy McBride said on the drfc website pre-season, “…“Cov away first up is going to be huge, it was very close last year and we got a bit lucky to get the win so they’ll be raring to get one over on us this season but we can’t wait. We’re chomping at the bit to get out there on the paddock and hopefully be competing towards the top of the table again…”
It promises to be a close, hard-fought game between two of the five fully professional clubs.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
