COVENTRY Rugby head coach Alex Rae cut a disconsolate figure after the club’s remarkable unbeaten run at home come to an end against Hartpury University.
Rae’s men suffered a surprise 47-29 defeat at Butts Park Arena as the club lost on home turf for the first time in 16 matches.
And Rae admitted it was the first time in his tenure that fans have started leaving the game before the end of the match.
Rae said: “I’m incredibly disappointed, I didn’t really recognise that team or our performance and I am devastated to lose our proud home record.
“It broke my heart to see people leaving before the end of the game – that’s the first time that’s happened in my time here.
“The first person I have to look at is myself and ask did we get things right in the week?
“Clearly we didn’t so we’ll be looking at our preparation but the players need to have a look at themselves as well.”
The home side led at the hour mark courtesy of tries from Matt Kvesic, Elliot Chilvers and Will Rigg only for Hartpury to score four tries in the remaining quarter at Butts Park Arena.
However, Will Wand crossed for a try in the dying seconds to ensure Coventry did at least come away with a losing bonus point on an afternoon to forget for Rae’s side.
Rae added: “I thought we started the game well and got on top but we didn’t score the points we needed to and we then had a ten-minute period where we lost control.
“Their tries came from us making an error then compounding it by making another one. That is very much stuff we can control and we have to be a lot better when we play Cambridge in two weeks’ time.
“We have two weeks now to put things right and we have to endure this pain until then.”
Coventry are next in action away at Cambridge on Saturday, December 16 with kick-off at 2pm at Ellgia Fields.
