Sunday 19th September. Warwickshire RFU Vase Final.
Before a ball had been kicked, the mood in the Coventrians' camp was serious. Today was a day to win. Shottery RFC were a speed bump on the way to silverware that had been missing from the club for too long. Enjoyment would come later.
Shottery showed up early, warming up in the midday sun, signalling their intent. Coventrians bade their time, Coach Goddard leaving the players until he absolutely had to, before bringing them in for a warm-up and run through.
The tension was palpable, right until the opening kick-off, when it was dispelled by a rampaging Luke Thornton, who ran over 3 defenders before succumbing to a fourth and fifth. Support didn't arrive in time and with the referee signalling his intent for quick play, a penalty was awarded to Shottery.
Showing nerves, the Shottery centre failed to find touch and so began a period of intense Coventrian pressure, under which Shottery lost their starting prop due to injury.
Coventrians used their forwards well and some darting, jinking runs from ad hoc number 10 James Wickham gave Covents some go ahead ball.
Coventrians were looking to get the ball out using an offload game, sometimes a little too brave, but were moving the ball confidently.
The pack continued the good work from previous seasons, particularly in the scrum, where they were massively dominant over their Shottery counterparts. Eventually the pressure led to a penalty in a very kickable position. Wickham duly obliged. 3-0 Covents.
The restart gave a sense of deja vu. Thornton gathers and attacks. Coventrians continue to put Shottery under pressure, when they gain a man advantage due to Shottery indiscretion.
Feeling the superior numbers and with momentum on their side, Covents elect to scrum and spend the next 8 minutes camped in the Shottery 22.
To their credit, Shottery clung on, until after some phase play, the overlap opened up wide left. Coventrians moved the ball through the hands to Reuben Roberts-Hunt, who rounded his opposite number to dot down under the post. Wickham converts, 10-0.
Any sign that Shottery would just roll over under the pressure soon got shot away. Covents losing their number 8, Sam Shaw, to injury didn't help matters.
A period of Coventrian ill discipline and the Shottery kicker finding decent touch marched the Covents back to their 5 metre line, culminating in a yellow card, for Callum Craig, in front of the posts, allegedly for being "a loud mouth nause from Keresley." Shottery score 10-3.
Half-time.
Coventrians knew this game was theirs to lose. No-one felt unduly worried about their opposite number. Captain Callum asked the team to be focussed and keep at it.

Momentum in games has a habit of switching, and with a man advantage, the wind and the hill helped Shottery turn the pressure up against Covents. Loose hands and dropped balls helped generate field position for Shottery, who eventually capitalised with a try in the corner. Conversion missed 10-8.
Shottery had the bit between their teeth now, and began to put width on the ball. Under the cosh, Coventrians conceded a contentious yellow card, Declan Jones the unlucky recipient, again 5 metres out. Shottery elected not to kick and attacked with ball in hand. Strong goal line defence pushed them back, but an overlap appeared out wide. Shottery looked to exploit the gap, but some outstanding last ditch tackles put the attacker into touch, earning Covents a lineout.
Covents then lost scrum half James Gittins for dangerous play. Down to thirteen men and with their backs against the wall, the Coventrian forwards decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
With Shottery targeting the high balls at an unusually jittery Rohan, they gained some territory and the put in at the scrum. The seven man pack proceeded to nudge Shottery off the ball against the head. Some old school rugby came into force as pick and goes around the edge bought valuable time to see out the sin bin, some sensible kicking from Wickham who stepped in at 9 and big hits from the pack forced Coventrians back up field.
Momentum had turned again in favour of the blue and white and with a silly play (that saw a certain SA scrum half binned recently), a Shottery hand came through the ruck to knock the ball out of Wickham's hands. Penalty, in front of the posts, put away by Wickham. 13-8.
Back with a full complement, Coventrians wrestled control of the game from Shottery, taking possession into contact and working phase play, keeping hold of the ball while time ticked away.
The final play of the game was a dominant scrum from the Covents pack earning a penalty, from which Wickers tapped and put out of play.
Full time

The Coventrian pack showed up well throughout the game and dominated the set pieces, all be it with some loose lineouts. Particular mention should go to DJ Sexton putting in a massive shift, and the locks, Luke Thornton, Andy Robertson and Jake Arms who dovetailed well together.
An inexperienced backline more than held their own, with Wickham taking Player of the Match and Roberts-Hunt scoring a well taken try.
Coventrians RFC made hard work of what should have been a formality, but a win is a win by one point or one hundred and new silverware is on display in the Coventrians clubhouse.
Next up, Old Wheats at home for the Flick Memorial Trophy.