COVENTRY Rugby lost 36-31 away at Hartpury as the visitors just fell short in pulling off a second-half comeback from 24 points behind.
The away side trailed 29-5 at half time after Senitiki Nayalo crossed for the game’s first try at Hartpury College.
However, the home side ran in 29 unanswered points to take a commanding lead at the break.
Tries from Tommy Mathews, Nayalo, Allan Ferrie and Peter Sullivan after the break left Coventry five points adrift late on.
However, Oliver Holliday’s try for Hartpury early in the second half proved decisive as Alex Rae’s side lost for the fourth time in six matches.
The result means Coventry sit 10th in the Champ Rugby table.
Coventry scored the game’s first try after just nine minutes when a driving maul sent Nayalo over the line which proved the away side’s only points of the half.
Hartpury responded on 18 minutes as Dale Lemon bounced off a tackle and crashed over the line from close range.
The home side crossed again three minutes later when Alex Morgan made the most of an overlap to score in the left corner.
And Hartpury dotted down a third try on 27 minutes as Oscar Lennon finished unopposed after the home side charged down a Coventry kick just outside the 22 and moved the ball through the hands.
Hartpury crossed for their bonus point try on the half-hour mark when Morgan intercepted a pass and ran from inside his own half to score his second try of the game.
And the home side extended their lead shortly before half time as Harry Bazalgette kicked a penalty after the referee penalised Coventry at the breakdown.
Coventry responded six minutes into the second half when Mathews ran in under the posts after Jordon Poole broke the line with Morgan Strong and Mackenzie Graham also involved in a flowing move.
However, Hartpury hit back on 50 minutes as Holliday scored in the left corner as the home side made the most of a penalty advantage.
Coventry dominated thereafter as Nayalo scored his second try of the game on 54 minutes with a powerful finish from close range.
And Rae’s side crossed again three minutes later when Ferrie broke the line and raced in from 30-metres out to secure a bonus point for the visitors.
Hartpury then lost Josh Gray to the sin-bin for a trip as Coventry made the most of the extra man almost immediately.
The away side closed the gap to five points on 62 minutes as Sullivan continued his rich vein of form with a try in the left corner
However, Coventry then lost captain Poole to the sin-bin after he brought a driving maul to the ground.
And Rae’s side saw Matt Johnson sent to the sin-bin five minutes from time for another infringement at a driving maul.
The visitors ultimately ran out of time as Coventry came away from the fixture with two bonus points.
Coventry are next in action against Ampthill on Saturday, November 15 with kick-off at 1pm at Butts Park Arena.
