COVENTRY Rugby battled to a hard-fought 27-21 bonus point victory away at Ampthill courtesy of Tom Hitchcock’s late try.
Hitchcock dotted down four minutes from time after first-half tries from Suva Ma’asi, Will Lane and Ryan Hutler at Dillingham Park.
The result means Coventry sit top of the Championship table, two points clear of Ealing Trailfinders, after inflicting a first home defeat of the season on Ampthill.
Cov found themselves on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle early on as Hitchcock received a yellow card for a deliberate knock down.
And the hosts made the most of the extra man to score the game’s first try on 16 minutes when Kennedy Sylvester forced his way over the line as Josh Barton converted.
The visitors responded just three minutes later as Ma’asi touched down from Tiki Nayalo’s long pass following a break from David Opoku.
And Cov took the lead on 33 minutes when Lane dotted down from a lineout drive and Tommy Mathews kicked the conversion
However, a missed tackle on the halfway line allowed Brandon Jackson to score for the home side two minutes later with Barton adding the extras.
Alex Rae’s side scored their third try on 37 minutes when Hutler received a long pass and stepped inside of his marker to dot down as Mathews converted.
Cov took a five-point lead into the break only for Reggie Hammick to run in from 30-metres out for the home side on 52 minutes with Barton kicking the conversion.
The visitors edged back into the lead just past the hour mark as Mathews kicked a penalty from 37-metres out.
Strong work from Coventry’s forwards then saw Ampthill’s replacement hooker James Isaacs sent to the sin bin for repeated infringements.
Another long spell of pressure followed before Hitchcock scored Cov’s bonus point try on 76 minutes while Ampthill’s Ollie Hartley received a yellow card for a deliberate knock down earlier in the move.
The visitors missed the conversion which left Ampthill in range but Cov held firm to secure a sixth successive victory.
Coventry are next in action against Hartpury University on Saturday, December 7 with kick-off at 3pm at Butts Park Arena.
