Post by Jamie Crawford on Apr 25, 2022 13:51:35 GMT
Coventry Rugby Championship Cup QF preview
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Quarter-finals, first leg, Doncaster Knights v Coventry Rugby @ Castle Park,
30th April KO 2.30pm
The Championship Cup
Round One has finished and the Knights played excellently to score five tries at Mennaye Field in Cornwall to win 20-32. The Cornish Pirates had previously been unbeaten at home in the Championship this season, last losing there by three points to Worcester Warriors pre-season.
Round 1, aggregate scores:
Tie 1: Coventry 52-49 Ampthill
Tie 2: Bedford Blues 90-33 Nottingham
Tie 3: Cornish Pirates 36-46 Doncaster Knights
Tie 4: London Scottish 21-111 Jersey Reds
Tie5: Hartpury 99-66 Richmond
The two losing teams with the best aggregate losing score were Ampthill and the Cornish Pirates.
Championship Cup Quarter-finals, 30th April then 7th May
Doncaster Knights play Coventry; first leg played at Castle Park, Doncaster.
Hartpury play Jersey Reds; first leg played at ALPAS Arena, Hartpury.
Bedford Blues play the Cornish Pirates; first leg played at Goldington Road, Bedford.
Ampthill play Ealing Trailfinders; first leg played at Dillingham Park, Ampthill.
I thought that the first Reds/Hartpury fixture should be played in Jersey because of their superior aggregate score but the Red's website confirms the first fixture in Hartpury. (? John or anyone)
Coventry rugby
A little known fact is when England made history by beating the All Blacks on Kiwi soil for the first time in 1973, no fewer than five of their starting XV played their club rugby for Coventry. Cov has a proud history and most recently their ground has been given the green light to host three concerts per year, which will significantly help the club’s finances.
The Knights have a score to settle after losing their opening game 39-22 to Cov at their Butts Park Arena in the Championship league. The Knights won the return, home match 31-9 but who will win on Saturday?
Last time out
Cov only beat Ampthill by three points on aggregate, 52-49 over both legs after beating Ampthill 31-22 at Butts Park Arena but losing 27-21 away at Dillingham Park. Cov’s back row Rhys Thomas scored first for the blue-and-whites on his first game back from injury. Back row Fred Betteridge then broke off from behind the ruck to score the second. Ampthill had to play with 14 men for all the second half after a player was red-carded minutes before the break. Hooker Suva Ma’asi then scored a similar try to Betteridge, then back row Josh Bainbridge ran one finger in the air and flipped over the line to score. The final points of the game were scored by fly half Tony Fenner.
The Knights lost 24-26 at home but then won 20-32 away, this left the Knights with a ten-point aggregate score cushion.
Cov danger men
Back row Fred Betteridge has a Facebook video entitled, “How do you stop Fred Betteridge on a rampage?” The answer was that you don’t!
Tony Fenner is hanging up his boots at the end of this season and will look to end on a high. Fenner has played for Cov for six years after stints in Italy, France, New Zealand and South Africa as well as a spell with Edinburgh.
Saturday’s game
A three-point and a ten-point aggregate winning margin in Round One is hardly conclusive, both teams will believe that they can beat the other and reach the Semi-final. Home advantage won the game for each team this season in the Championship and the Cup quarter-finals are played home and away, so it many come down to points. The Knights have won four of the last six contests and so have the psychological advantage.
If the league games were played in a Cup, the Knights would have just won the aggregate score 53-48. Five points is hardly a convincing margin, so a close game is expected.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
