COVENTRY Rugby held off a late fightback from Hartpury to claim a thrilling 28-25 victory and reach the Champ Rugby play-off semi-finals.
Despite two tries from Morgan Strong in the first half, Coventry trailed by a single point at the interval at the Nick Newbold Stadium.
However, Josh Thomas kicked Alex Rae’s side into a five-point lead before Murray Davidson’s try with 11 minutes left to play all but ended the contest.
The visitors scored two late tries to close the gap between the teams to three points but Coventry held on to book their place in the play-off semi-finals.
Hartpury edged into an early three-point lead as Harry Bazalgette kicked a penalty between the posts from the halfway line with the game just six minutes old.
However, Coventry crossed for the game’s first try on 10 minutes when Strong powered over from close range and Tommy Mathews added the extras.
The visitors reduced the deficit as Bazalgette kicked a second penalty through the sticks just past the quarter-hour mark.
And Hartpury reclaimed the lead on 27 minutes when Ollie Allsopp crashed over from five-metres out following sustained pressure on the Coventry line and Bazalgette converted.
Coventry responded with a second try on the stroke of half time as Strong crossed again from a driving maul although Mathews could not add the extras to leave the home side one point behind at the break.
Rae’s side reclaimed the lead on 54 minutes when replacement Thomas kicked a penalty moments after he replace Mathews.
And Thomas kicked a second penalty four minutes later via the inside of the post while Hartpury lost Harry Taylor to the sin-bin for a high tackle.
Coventry pulled clear of Hartpury on 69 minutes when Davidson broke through and sprinted to the line as Thomas converted to put the home side into a commanding 12-point lead.
And a third penalty from Thomas three minutes from time all but sealed the home side’s place in the semi-finals.
Hartpury scored a consolation try less than a minute later as Allsopp scored his second try of the game.
And Brad Denty crossed again for the visitors with the final play of the game as Bazalgette’s conversion brought an end to the contest.
Coventry travel to league runners-up Bedford Blues in the play-off semi-finals on Friday, May 22 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Goldington Road.
