Coventry RFC 41 Wharfedale 14

Coventry opened their National League One campaign with a five-point maximum haul but a performance which left some questions to answer.

The home side had their four-try bonus point in the bank after just 28 minutes as they threatened to overwhelm a Wharfedale side which looked well off the pace.

But it was a different story after the break as, 36-7 up, Cov went off the boil and, although never under real threat, lost some shape and allowed the opposition to dictate.

Cov put the Wharfedale scrum under pressure from the start and swept in front inside five minutes through a Rob Knox try.

Matt Jones failed to convert but kicked a tenth-minute penalty before converting a 13th-minute try from James Tincknell to give Cov a 15-0 lead ahead of the clock.

Knox raced through a gap for his second try before Matt Price claimed Cov's bonus point try on the end of a line-out drive, Jones converting both scores.

Wharfedale were finally seen as an attacking force, Huw Morgan going in for a try which Jamie Guy converted, but a second try for Knox, converted by Jones, brought the half to a good end for Cov with Sam Pailor and Dale No.8 Rob Baldwin in the sin bin.

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