PADDY Ryan’s late try helped Coventry Rugby to a thrilling 40-38 win at London Scottish as Alex Rae’s side returned to the top of the table.
Ryan touched down two minutes from time, with Patrick Pellegrini kicking the conversion, before Connor Slevin’s last gasp penalty for London drifted across the face of the posts.
That came after Ryan Hutler dotted down either side of Will Wand’s try while Will Rigg and Jordon Poole both crossed for a bonus point win at Richmond Athletic Ground.
However, the home side ran in six tries of their own and were on course for victory until Ryan’s late try and Pellegrini’s conversion.
The result means Coventry lead the Championship table by one point although second-placed Ealing Trailfinders have two games in-hand.
London took the lead on seven minutes when Luke Mehson crossed for the game’s opening try before Hutler and Wand touched down in quick succession with both scores converted by Pellegrini.
However, the home side hit back through Matas Jurevicius when he charged down Will Lane’s attempted clearance and gathered the loose ball to score.
The back-and-forth contest continued when Hutler crossed for his 13th try of the season following a steal at a lineout and a long pass from Pellegrini.
And Coventry scored their bonus point try on 27 minutes as a quick tap penalty sent Rigg on his way to the line from close range.
However, London responded when Jurevicius crossed for his second try on the half-hour mark after charging down the base of a ruck and running in from 45-metres out.
Cov went into the break 28-17 ahead, only for London’s Tom Marshall to cross twice in the space of four minutes to turn the game in the home side’s favour.
And after the visitors scored their sixth try through Poole on 63 minutes, William Trenholm dotted down nine minutes from time with Slevin converting to restore the home side’s lead.
However, Rae’s men scored the game-winning try on 78 minutes when Ryan drove over the line and Pellegrini added the extras.
London had a chance to snatch the points with the last kick of the game only for Slevin’s penalty from 43-metres out to miss the target.
Coventry are next in action at home to Cornish Pirates on Saturday, January 27 with kick-off at 3pm at Butts Park Arena.
