WILL Rigg scored a hat-trick of tries as Coventry RFC returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 48-19 bonus point victory against Caldy.
Rigg’s treble was supported by tries from Patrick Pellegrini, Rhys Thomas, Tom Ball, Will Lane and Louis James at Butts Park Arena.
The result means Coventry remain third in the RFU Championship table, one point ahead of Bedford Blues with a game in hand.
Despite the final scoreline, Caldy scored the game’s first try when Rhys Hayes finished off a well-worked set play from just inside Coventry’s 22 as Elliot Gourlay added the extras.
However, Coventry were soon level as Pellegrini ghosted in to intercept the ball at a lineout before running in from the halfway line to score the club’s 100th try of the season before he converted his own score.
And the home side completed the turnaround on 21 minutes when Rigg scored under the posts and Pellegrini kicked the extras.
Coventry scored two quickfire tries before the half was out as Rigg grabbed his second from Pellegrini’s offload before Thomas powered over to secure a bonus point.
Alex Rae’s side picked up where they left off after the break as Ball crossed following a lineout after Pellegrini kicked to the corner with Caldy penalised for a high tackle on Will Wand.
Caldy ran in their second try on 49 minutes as Sam Dickinson scored in the corner and Gourlay converted after Will Chudley was sent to the sin bin for interference in the ruck.
However, Rigg completed his hat-trick just past the hour mark after a quick tap and go allowed Rigg to storm over on the far side as Pellegrini kicked the extras.
And with six minutes left to the play Coventry shoved at the scrum with Peters quickest to react to the loose ball as he tipped it up to Lane who finished under the posts.
The home side crossed for their eighth try just two minutes later as Lane broke away from the restart and threw a long pass out wide to James who caught the ball at full pace and scored in the corner.
Caldy had the final say with a late consolation try as Chris Pilgrim sniped over the line from a scrum five-metres from the Coventry line.
Coventry are next in action away at Doncaster Knights on Saturday, March 25 with kick-off at 2.30pm at Castle Park.
