COVENTRY RFC missed the chance to leapfrog Ealing at the top of the Championship table after losing 22-12 at Cornish Pirates in their final game of the season.
Alex Rae’s side took a narrow lead into the break only for two late tries to end Cov’s slim title hopes at The Mennaye.
The result means Coventry stay second in the Championship table although a final day win for the Pirates against London Scottish would see Rae’s side slip to third in the final standings.
Cov made a fast start and scored the game’s first try after just six minutes when Jimmy Martin went over after a powerful carry from Toby Trinder with Pat Pellegrini adding the extras.
However, three penalties in the space of seven minutes, all converted by Bruce Houston, saw Pirates turn the game on its head before the half-hour mark.
Cov responded with their second try on 32 minutes as Trinder barged his way to score his first try of the season over following a good break from Pellegrini.
The hosts lost winger Will Trewin to the sin bin for persistent infringement with Cov unable to make the most of the man advantage before the interval.
And after Will Wand went close to a third Cov try after the break, Houston kicked his fourth penalty of the game to bring the scores level.
With Cov’s pack disrupted by injury Rae deployed the bench only for replacement Chester Owen to receive a yellow card for collapsing a driving maul inside his own 22.
And the Pirates took full advantage when they returned to the corner and shunted Harry Hocking over the line on 68 minutes for their first try of the game.
The home side made sure of the points two minutes from time when they drove Matt Johnson over for a try to deny Cov a losing bonus point.
