CAPTAIN Jordon Poole crossed twice as Coventry Rugby battled to a bonus point 31-19 victory against Hartpury.
Poole dotted down either side of half time at Butts Park Arena while Senitiki Nayalo and Api Bavadra also crossed for tries for the home side.
The result means Coventry sit fourth in the Champ Rugby table, eight points behind Worcester Warriors in second.
Alex Rae’s side scored the game’s first try after just eight minutes as Nayalo powered over from a quickly-taken free-kick following a five-metre lineout.
However, Hartpury responded six minutes later when Harry Short touched down from a driving maul at a lineout following successive penalties.
The home side reclaimed the lead on 19 minutes as Poole broke away from a powerful driving maul to dot down his first try of the game.
However, the visitors hit back again five minutes later when Short dotted down his second try after beating a defender down the right.
With the teams locked at 14-apiece at the break, Coventry’s Tommy Mathews kicked a 50:22 which saw Allan Ferrie held up over the line.
Coventry struck moments later on 44 minutes when Bavadra gathered Sam Maunder’s perfectly-weighted kick over the top and raced to the line to finish.
And Poole dotted down the home side’s bonus point try on the hour mark with his second of the game from another driving maul.
Hartpury kept themselves in the contest five minutes later as Alex Gibson’s solo effort reduced the deficit.
A penalty from Matthews stretched the home side’s lead and ensured the fly-half ended the game with a perfect record from the kicking tee.
Coventry are next in action against Ampthill on Saturday, February 28 with kick-off at 2pm at Dillingham Park.
