SUVA Ma’asi scored two first-half tries as Coventry RFC held off a late Bedford Blues fightback to triumph 33-24 in the Championship Cup.
Ma’asi crossed twice in the space of 10 minutes to put Coventry in command before Tobi Wilson and Tom Ball dotted down and a penalty try sealed the win at Butts Park Arena.
Despite a nervy start, Coventry scored the game’s first try on nine minutes when Ma’asi burrowed over after some patient play and a fine looping pass from Evan Mitchell who added the extras.
And Ma’asi scored his second try of the afternoon on 19 minutes when Lucas Titherington ran a superb line which allowed Ma’asi to dot down in the corner as Mitchell kicked the conversion from the touchline.
Bedford responded on the half-hour mark as Jake Garside ran a clever support line to score before Coventry’s Shea Cornish chased down Matt Worley as the full back looked destined to score soon after.
However, the home side extended their lead on 33 minutes when Wilson intercepted a pass and cruised in for his second try and is many games as Mitchell remained perfect from the kicking tee.
And there was still time for Coventry to score their fourth try of the half when captain Ball displayed excellent footwork to touch down in the corner with Mitchell unable to add the extras.
The visitors scored the first points of the second half as Garside collected Sean French’s kick in behind the Coventry defence to grab his second try of the game with Louis Grimoldby converting.
A series of handling errors at the crucial moment denied both teams further tries before a dominant driving maul was brought down illegally by Bedford with Coventry awarded a penalty try.
Bedford rallied late on with two tries in the space of six minutes as Jack Hughes produced an acrobatic finish, converted by Will Maisey, and French touched down in similarly spectacular circumstances.
Coventry are next in action away at London Scottish on Friday, February 17 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Richmond Athletic Ground.
