COVENTRY made an ecouraging start to their 2015/16 National League One campaign thanks to a convincing 41-14 victory over Wharfedale at the Butts Park Arena.
The hosts enjoyed a superb opening period which saw them storm to a 29-0 lead after 29 minutes and although they were unable to reach the same heights again, it was an impressive start to the new league season.
It did not take long for the exciting Coventry back division to click into gear and with the forwards pulverising their counterparts in the early scrums, both centres Rob Knox and James Tincknell each crossed for tries by the 21st minute.
Knox scored another and with Matt Jones coverting twice as well as slotting a penalty goal, Coventry looked well on their way to a win.
It took the visitors some 24 minutes before they reached the home 22 but they were soon quashed.
And back on the offensive a catch and drive brought a try for hooker Matt Price and a bonus point, with Jones converting the extras for 29-0.
To their credit Wharfedale hit back with centre Huw Morgan evading home tackles for James Guy to convert.
But there was to be more trouble for the visitors in injury-time when the powerful Tincknell broke through unopposed to score his second of the match and Jones converted to give Coventry a healty 29-point lead.
Shortly before the break both Sam Pailor and Dale’s Rob Baldwin received yellow cards.
The second half as a consequence continued in a very similar vein but Coventry never reached the heights achieved earlier.
With the home crowd calling out for more action, it was indeed Wharfedale who pulled points back with French winger Labasse crossing wide out which led to a fine Guy conversion.
With mistakes continuing, Dom Lespierre looked suitably puzzled as to why he had been singled out for a yellow card following a case of mistaken identity.
At 36-14 that was the closest the visitors were going to get as Coventry finally raised their game and on 67 minutes Knox was held by the line but moments later replacement hooker Devlin Hope scroed on his debut.
It was to prove to be the last score as Coventry opened with five points on the board ahead of this Saturday’s trip to Loughborough Students.
