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Date : 07/04/2007 : Venue : Butts Arena, Coventry
Kick off = 14:30 pm
Coventry 33 Pertemps Bees 33
Coventry 33 Pertemps Bees 33
Pertemps Bees staged another astonishg second half fightback
to claim three points from this end of season frolic at the Butts Park Arena.
The Bees were 17-0 down at half time but stunned Coventry by scoring five second
half tries in a superb handling display which helped them to claim another try
bonus point.
Such an outcome appeared unlikely when Coventry, seeking to avenge their Boxing
Day defeat at Sharmans Cross Road, opened up what appeared to be a match-winning
lead with a penalty from full-back Ben Russell followed by two tries from centre
Donovan Sanders, both of which Russell improved.
But the Bees were a transformed side after the break and produced a display
reminiscent of their victory over London Welsh last month.
The return from injury of Dave Knight meant they had strength in depth on the
bench and were able to introduce fresh legs as second half replacements who
made a considerable impact as Coventry were left battling to hold on to their
lead.
Centre Simon Martin began the fightback by crossing early in the second half
against his former club with fly-half Jon Higgins adding the extras.
Centre Tristan Davies then latched on to a stray kick from Miles Dorrian and
raced 40 yarsd unopposed for an opportunist score which Higgins again improved.
Russell gave Coventry a little bit of breathing space when he slotted a penalty
but the Bees took the lead for the first time after 52 minutes when Fiji international
flanker Akapusi Qera charged over and Higgins kicked his third conversion.
It proved a shortlived lead as centre Kieran Geraghty crossed for Coventry's
third try which Russell improved followed by a penalty.
But the Bees lived up to their pre-match viow that they would try to play expansive
rugby with no fear of failure when captain Mark Gabey was driven over for an
unconverted try.
Russell banged over another penalty after 68 minutes but the Bees were not to
be denied and Qera romped over for his second try of the match and Higgins added
the conversion from the touchline against his former club to claim the draw.
DAVIES BACK FOR COVENTRY (April
5 2007)
Pertemps Bees will be boosted by the return to action of former Wales Under-21
centre Tristan Davies for their National League One local derby against Coventry
at the Butts Park Arena on Saturday April 7 (2.30pm).
Davies has struggled with a hamstring injury in recent weeks but he passed a
fitness test at training this evening and will partner former Coventry player
Simon Martin in the centre.
Utility back Dave Knight has also recovered from the hamstring injury he sustained
in the warm-up before the EDF Energy National Trophy semi-final defeat at Exeter
two weeks ago and he has been named as a replacement. Knight's wife gave birth
to a child earlier this week and domestic commitments have restricted the amount
of training he has been able to do.
Australia sevens international Rod Petty returns to the starting XV at scrum-half
in place of Mike Baxter and he will partner Jon Higgins who will be facing his
former club.
In the pack there is one change to the back row where England sevens international
Will Matthews will start at number eight in place of Matt Larsen who suffered
a dead leg in last Saturday's win over Otley.
Larsen has recovered sufficiently to be named as a replacement along with Leo
Halavatau.
Mark Gabey will again captain Pertemps Bees in the continued absence of club
captain Mark Cornwell for personal reasons.
Pertemps Bees: 15 Matt Nuthall; 14 Reece Spee, 13 Tristan Davies, 12 Simon Martin, 11 Kyle Palm; 10 Jon Higgins, 9 Rod Petty; 1 Matt Long, 2 Matt Miles, 3 Tom Court, 4 Mark Gabey (captain), 5 Alex Davidson, 6 Dan Tuohy, 7 Akapusi Qera, 8 Will Matthews. Replacements: Emyr Lewis, Casey Dunning, Leo Halavatau, Matt Larsen, Adam Billig, Dave Knight, Mike Baxter.
| Team
15 Matt Nuthall 1 Matt Long
|
Replacements
Emyr Lewis |
 |
Match PictureS