TOBY Venner marked his first Coventry Rugby start with a hat-trick as Alex Rae’s side cruised to a dominant 64-12 win against Cambridge.
Coventry ran in 10 tries against bottom club Cambridge with Venner’s treble supported by scores from Eliot Salt, Jordon Poole, Tom Hitchcock who crossed twice, Will Wand, Tobi Wilson and James Martin at Butts Park Arena.
The result means Coventry sit second in the Championship table, nine points behind leaders Ealing Trailfinders.
And the home side scored the game’s first try after just four minutes when Venner forced his way over from close range and Pat Pellegrini kicked the extras.
Venner doubled his tally for the game on 22 minutes as he raced over the line from 40-metres out after clever play from Tiki Nayalo with Pellegrini converting.
And Cov struck again six minutes later when prop Salt went under the posts and Pellegrini converted before captain Poole crossed for the home side’s bonus point try just past the half-hour mark.
After Pellegrini remained perfect from the kicking tee, Hitchcock crossed for Cov’s fifth try of the first half when he scooped up a loose ball and ran in from 35-metres out just before the break.
Cov picked up where they left off in the second half as Venner completed his hat-trick after a fine break from Pellegrini who converted the score.
And Hitchcock claimed his second try of the night on 50 minutes after Cov worked the ball from one side of the pitch to the other.
Cambridge finally troubled the scoreboard when George Bretag-Norris went over from a close range lineout with Steffan James adding the extras.
However, Cov responded on 67 minutes as Wand continued his fine form to score the club’s 100th try of the season only for Cambridge to cross again through replacement hooker Archie Vanes.
And the home side finished the game with two late tries to complete a 10-try demolition as Wilson claimed a cross-field kick to score before Martin sprinted in from 80-metres out.
Coventry are next in action away at Nottingham on Sunday, April 14 with kick-off at 3pm at The Bay.
