COVENTRY Rugby surrendered an early 19-point lead in a 47-26 defeat against Chinnor as the home side produced a stirring comeback.
The visitors made a blistering start as Morgan Strong, Ewan Baker and David Opoku-Fordjour all crossed for tries inside the first 15 minutes at the Rectory Pavilion.
However, Chinnor closed the gap to five points at half time and carried their momentum into the second half to leave Alex Rae’s side stunned.
Chinnor scored seven tries in total while Suva Ma’asi crossed for Coventry’s bonus point try late on in Oxfordshire.
And the result means Coventry sit ninth in the Champ Rugby table after three matches.
The visitors made a blistering start as captain Strong wrestled his way over the line to score the game’s first try after just six minutes.
And Coventry dotted down again on 13 minutes when Baker scored his first try of the season after the visitors worked the ball out wide following a five-metre scrum.
The away side scored their third try two minutes later as Opoku-Fordjour collected Tom Ball’s pass, stepped past one defender and dived over in the corner.
However, Chinnor hit back on 27 minutes when Luke Carter sold three Coventry players with a dummy and dove over near the posts.
And the home side struck again on 35 minutes as Connor Slevin dotted down following an incisive break from Carter.
Chinnor completed a remarkable turnaround three minutes after half time when Robin Hardwick powered over following another Carter break.
And the home side extended their lead on 46 minutes as Slevin scored his second try of the game after gathering Grant Hughes’s kick over the top.
Chinnor continued to punish Coventry when Alun Walker broke free from a destructive maul to score seven minutes later after the visitors lost Senitiki Nayalo to the sin-bin.
And Jamie Carr dotted down for the home side on 61 minutes with Coventry’s Matt Johnson sent to the sin-bin as Chinnor registered 40 unanswered points.
The visitors scored their bonus point try on 72 minutes as Ma’asi crashed over only for Carter to burst through for Chinnor two minutes later to score the game’s final try.
Coventry are next in action against Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday, October 25 with kick-off at 3pm at Butts Park Arena.
