COVENTRY ended their 2015 home programme in disappointing fashion after losing 16-24 against a streetwide Blackheath in National League One.
Poor discipline proved to be the major contributing factor again as Coventry slipped to their fourth defeat of the season on home soil and the result leaves them sitting eighth on 35 points after 14 games.
The hosts were backed by the biggest crowd of the season (1,298) and they only had to wait until the second minute for the first score with Matt Jones landing a 40-metre penalty.
But it was not long before Coventry were to shoot themselves in he foot as they lost possession from the kick off and despite keeping their opponents out on four occassions, Blackheath scored an unconverted try at the fifth time of asking through winger Hamish Graham.
The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half but they had precious little to show for it although another successful penalty did put Coventry 6-5 in front.
Coventry were given a helping hand when the referee yellow carded two Blackheath players and a penalty try was awarded, which was converted by Jones.
Jones was successful with another penalty soon after but ten points is all Coventry could muster despite their two-man numerical advantage.
Despite their 11-point lead, Coventry started the second half poorly and within the space of 14 minutes a series of costly mistakes allowed Freddie Gabbitass to score two penalties to reduce the score to 16-11 and by this point it was backs to the wall.
Despite the sterling efforts in the open of Jacques Le Roux, who had another excellent game with his surging runs, several handling errors and a poor long pass with an overlap begging meant more opportunities were lost.
While Coventry spent more time in the opposing territory, it was Blackheath who used the elements to much greater effect and although superb defence kept the visitors at bay, while at the other end Coventry failed to find a breakthrough.
Some 13 minutes from time, Blackheath were then to claim their second and ultimately the decisive try of the match.
Intense pressure was initially held before forward Tom Stradwick was released for the score after several phases of play, converted with ease by Gabbitass for 16-18.
Hard though they tried, Coventry simply could not get any nearer to breaking through and two more Gabbitass penalties sealed the home fate, during which time replacement prop forward Tipiloma Kivalu was yellow carded following a scrum offence.
