COVENTRY Rugby saw their five-game winning run come to an end following a 38-31 defeat away at Bedford Blues.
Returning to action for the first time since New Year’s Day, Coventry surrendered a seven-point lead at Goldington Road but came away with two bonus points.
Tries from Senitiki Nayalo, Chester Owen, Jordon Poole and Allan Ferrie twice put the visitors 14 points ahead in the first period.
However, Bedford halved the deficit to seven points at the interval and completed the turnaround after the break.
The visitors registered just three points in the second period as Tommy Mathews kicked a late penalty to earn the away side a losing bonus point.
And the result means Coventry sit fifth in the Champ Rugby table.
Coventry made the perfect start when Nayalo crossed for the game’s first try on five minutes from the back of a driving maul as Josh Thomas kicked the extras.
Bedford responded six minutes later as Fred Tuilagi powered over from close range and Will Maisey converted to draw the home side level.
However, Coventry reclaimed the lead on 17 minutes when Owen dotted down under the posts after Tom Bacon and Ewan Baker combined well with Thomas again adding the extras.
And the visitors crossed again five minutes later as Poole received Morgan Adderly-Jones’ sharp offload to score Coventry’s third try as Thomas remained perfect from the kicking tee.
Bedford hit back on 26 minutes when Rory Ward crossed following a lineout after Coventry failed to deal with Louis James’ initial grubber kick while Maisey converted.
Coventry scored their bonus point try on 36 minutes as Ferrie surged over the line from Sam Maunder’s offload and Thomas kicked a fourth conversion.
However, the home side reduced the deficit to seven points at the break one minute before half time when Oisin Heffernan forced his way over the line from close range and Maisey added the extras.
Coventry lost Dafydd Rhys-Tiueti to the sin-bin early in the second half for a high tackle.
And Bedford took full advantage of the extra man moments later to level the game on 48 minutes as Maisey scored and converted his own try.
The Blues took the lead for the first time on 54 minutes when Fyn Brown touched down and Maisey added the extras.
And Maisey kicked a penalty on the hour mark to take his individual tally for the game to 18 points with Bedford now two scores ahead.
A late penalty from Mathews closed the gap to seven points with three minutes left to play.
However, Alex Rae’s side twice failed to capitalise at the lineout in the closing moments as Coventry slipped to a frustrating defeat.
Coventry are next in action against Chinnor on Saturday, January 31 with kick-off at 3pm at Butts Park Arena.
