MURRAY Davidson’s late try earned Coventry Rugby a thrilling 40-36 bonus point victory away at Ampthill.
Davidson touched down late on at Dillingham Park as Tommy Mathews, Senitiki Nayalo, Jordon Poole, Morgan Strong and Api Bavadra all crossed for tries for the visitors.
The home side ran in five tries of their own to come away from the fixture with two bonus points.
And the result means Coventry sit fourth in the Champ Rugby table, just six points behind second-placed Bedford Blues.
Ampthill scored the game’s first try after 11 minutes as Josh Barton ran a sharp line from a scrum to dot down and then kicked the first of three conversions.
Coventry responded on 19 minutes when Matthews finished a flowing move which involved Allan Ferrie and Strong.
However, the home side scored their second try just over a minute later as Totoa Auvaa powered over.
The visitors drew level on the half-hour mark when Nayalo applied the finishing touch to sustained pressure as Mathews kicked the first of five conversions.
Ampthill reclaimed the lead just before half time as Barton slotted a penalty between the posts to nudge the home side into a three-point lead at the break.
And the home side scored their third try three minutes into the second half as Oscar Wilson finished under the posts following a break.
Coventry responded three minutes later when Poole crashed over from close range from a driving maul.
And the visitors took the lead for the first time on 50 minutes as Strong dotted down from Ewan Baker’s storming break to score Coventry’s bonus point try.
The lead changed hands again on the hour mark when Wilson crossed for his second try of the game.
Coventry went back in front on just over a minute later as Bavadra sliced through the line to score after Tom Bacon executed a 50:22 kick.
The tries continued to flow when Joe Heslop crossed for Ampthill on 68 minutes as he squeezed over in the corner.
However, Alex Rae’s side took the points with the game’s decisive try five minutes later when replacement Davidson grounded a textbook move from a driving maul.
Coventry are next in action against Doncaster Knights on Saturday, March 21 with kick-off at 3pm at Butts Park Arena.
