COVENTRY Rugby marked their return to action for the first time since mid-February with a 43-33 bonus point victory against bottom club Cambridge.
Skipper Jordon Poole crossed twice early on before debutant Jake Henry, Oli Morris, Josh Barton, Ryan Hutler and Suva Ma’asi all dotted down in a seven-try success at Butts Park Arena.
The result means Coventry sit third in the Championship table.
Cambridge made the worst possible start with hooker Morgan Veness sent to the sin-bin for stopping a Cov attack when in an offside position in the opening couple of minutes.
And the home side opened the scoring from the resulting lineout as Cov forced Poole over the line and Tommy Mathews kicked the extras.
However, Cambridge responded soon after as Will Glister’s collected Louis Grimoldby’s cross-field kick and touched down.
Cov reclaimed the lead five minutes later when Hutler executed a 50-22 and debutant Henry scored his first try for the club following Daf Tiueti’s powerful break.
And another Tiueti break left Morris with a clear run to the line before Poole claimed Cov’s bonus point try with a carbon copy of his earlier score.
Cambridge hit back before the break as the visitors drove Iestyn Rees under the posts and Grimoldby converted.
However, Cov scored their fifth try on the stoke of half time when Barton received an inside pass from Mathews and touched down.
The visitors struck moments after the interval as Glister went over in the corner for his second try of the game following a sloppy kick-off routine.
Cov responded seven minutes later as Hutler dotted down following a bulldozing run from Billy Nairau.
However, Cambridge refused to lie down as Archie Vanes forced his way under the posts just before the hour mark to score the away side’s bonus point try.
Cov eventually secured the points nine minutes from time as the hosts drove Ma’asi over the line from a close-range lineout and Mathews converted.
Cambridge scored the game’s final try at the death as Ruaridh Dawson dove over from close range in the final minute of the match.
