Welsh put Kings to the sword (just)

Well three o’clock came and it kick started Coventry Welsh RFC’s 2016/17 league campaign.
With a clinical and ruthless performance from 1-18 in the previous weekends cup victory the Welsh were high in confidence and looking to embrace another difficult away fixture.
The Welsh came out of the blocks in true Usain Bolt style, implementing all of the pre-game conversation and enforcing themselves onto a physical opposition. This resulted in a show of territorial dominance that would have seen winger Kyle Howard into the corner for their first score if the wingers handling matched the service from the back line. Not to be deterred the Welsh pressed on with some direct running rugby keeping the opposition defence honest. Through this pressure the Welsh were able to convert it into points when number 8 Matt Carrier picked up of the driving five yard scrum and give the Welsh their first try of the season. Howard with a difficult kick from the corner adding the extras.
Continuing from where they left off Welsh were able to exit and put immediate pressure on to Kings again. Unfortunately this time not able to turn any more of their chances into points. It was the resolute defence that prevailed for Kings as they were able to capitalise on some poor play and counter the length of the field with some positive phases of play to go over for a score in front of the home fans. Kings unable to add the extras. This bought the home team back to life and were starting to show their physical dominance of hard strong running and offloads around the ruck area. Some strong cover tackles and defence from prop Will Penlington were not enough and in the last play of the half Kings were able to go over again. This also resulted in the Welsh going down a man for the first ten of the second half of the match. The official showing a yellow for repeated team offences to number 8 Carrier.

The start of the second didn’t go well for the Welsh. Energised by the last play, Kings attacked the same way again making big inroads through the Welsh defence. Early pressure from the home team converting strong phases of play deep in the Welsh 22 saw them go over in the corner giving them three unanswered tries and a commanding lead. Kings still capitalising on the extra man were able to make valuable inroads out wide and when the forwards set up some phases of play they were able to spin the ball out to the big inside centre to smash through the Welsh winger. Four unanswered tries and a bonus point and the game looking to be lost for the Welsh early in the second half.
Back to fifteen men the Welsh started to get back into the game both teams receiving final warnings for some mistimed tackles that although were not dangerous were on the higher side. Welsh able to gain some territory from one of these penalties were able to drive a good line out deep into the Kings twenty two. With scrum half and captain Mathew Hawkes in fine form he broke from the maul and looked to be clean into the corner only for some excellent cover defence from the fullback pushing him back inside and then being tackled just short of the line. The ensuing ruck saw open side Ash Stone going into the referee’s book for a fly hack deemed to be dangerous play. This however didn’t let the Welsh spirits die and some strong running by Matt Carrier and player coach Ant Collins saw quick ball played wide to winger Mitch Howe to finish a fine try being able to cut back in to make the conversion under the sticks.
The Welsh back to fifteen men were able to start putting some real pressure back onto Kings who were able to show excellent pressure in the scrum taking three balls against the head in close concession to keep the welsh in the right part of the pitch. With some ill-discipline creeping in from the home side it saw the home team down to 13 men. With holes appearing in the Kings defence. Some quick thinking again by the loose forwards and the impressive skipper saw veteran player coach Collins go over for his first of the season. The top try scorer for the Welsh last year keen to open his account again from the ground it finished on last year.
This brought the belief flooding back to the welsh team who were suddenly the team that looked so strong in the first twenty of the first half. Kings showing all the heart commitment to the cause were unable to keep a long spell of position and phases without infringement resulting in the final play of the game from a line out in the twenty two. The Welsh were able to hit Ash Stone in the line out and set up a driving maul. Hooker Mark Ellis and prop Tim Pitman able to come into the drive and add the half a ton of weight to really get it going. Just as the resolute defence looked like they may have had it covered the call from team manager Luke Horan for everyone to commit saw the back line join and give the final push that the Welsh needed to see legendary veteran flanker and ex-captain Ryan Hughes go over and secure the win the extras not needed. The result showing the welsh that sticking to the processes in place by new coach Ant Collins in the two periods of dominance required for a full eighty minutes and the new era of stand-in captain Mathew Hawkes leading from the front with a dominant display only to be beaten by outstanding man of the match Will Penlington.

The Welsh entertain Pershore at home on the 17/09 looking to continue a strong start from the league and cup.