COVENTRY Rugby conceded a late try to suffer an agonising 27-23 defeat against Bedford Blues despite losing captain Jordon Poole to a red card early in the second period.
Cov skipper Poole saw red on 51 minutes after picking two yellow cards with the visitors trailing by a point at Goldington Road.
That came after Charlie Robson and Ryan Hutler crossed for tries before Tommy Mathews kicked three penalties to edge Coventry into a three-point lead late on.
However, Bedford drove James Fish over the line four minutes from time with Cov forced to settle for a losing bonus point.
The result means Coventry sit third in the Championship table.
Alex Rae’s side made the perfect start when Robson fielded a Bedford clearance on halfway and beat three tacklers to score the game’s first try inside the first minute which Mathews converted.
The home side responded on 25 minutes as Bedford drove Tommy Herman over the line from close range.
And the referee showed Poole a yellow card for the away side’s persistent infringement before Will Maisey failed to add the extras.
However, Maisey’s 35-metre penalty on the stroke of half time sent the home side into the break with a one-point lead.
Coventry reclaimed the lead six minutes into the second period when Hutler finished well following a powerful carry from Tiki Nayalo as Mathews converted.
However, the game turned five minutes later when the referee awarded Bedford a penalty try after the visitors collapsed a maul with Poole shown a second yellow card and sent off to compound Cov’s misery.
Mathews kicked two penalties in quick succession to put Cov back in front only for Dean Adamson to cross for Bedford to level the game with Maisey unable to add the extras.
Another Mathews penalty edged Cov back into the lead on 68 minutes before Bedfored forced a series of late penalties.
And the home side’s pressure eventually told on 76 minutes when they drove replacement Fish over and Maisey converted with Cov forced to settle for a losing bonus point.
