Donny Disappointments
By AdminBTCov
January 12 2019
Cov were their own worst enemies at the BPA this afternoon as Doncaster made up ground with a deserved 4-1 win in the January gloom.
Gloom probably sums up the feelings of the home players too, given that they would have expected to secure the win and thereby put more clear water between themselves and the bottom half chasing pack.
It could have been so different, and it appeared to be going Cov's way in the first couple of minutes when they won a penalty just inside their own half, and up stepped Rob Knox to attempt the shot. However, the attempt drifted well wide, and that summed up much of the rest of the first half.
The hosts conceded penalty after penalty from that point on, and Donny made capital, cutting out a pass in their own half and eventually crossing with Cov in some disarray. With the conversion made by Flockhart, it was 7-0 to the visitors.
The storyline seemed to be set in stone from then on, with Cov incurring Mr Wigglesworth's wrath on several occasions, but the defence held, somehow, and eventually a kick through was pounced on wide on the left by Will Maisey to bring it back to 5-7. The conversion sailed wide, and so it remained for the rest of the half.
Straight from the kick-off of the second period, though, things took a turn for the better, with Cov securing the kick-off in their own twenty-two, and the ball was quickly shipped via two pairs of hands to Pete White who scored what was undoubtedly the try of the match.
With the score at 12-7, Cov slipped back into their first-half malaise, with error following error, but somehow weathering the storm but for a Dougie Flockhart penalty, and what ought to have been a turning point with a superbly-crafted forwards try, leaving the scoreline at 17-10.
The BPA crowd had finally been woken up by an incident in front of the stand where the Donny right winger appeared to take out Halaifonua in the air, resulting in a penalty. An incident almost identical to one a few weeks previously that resulted in the same sanction...
Just a Pen, Sir?
Having defended fairly resolutely against all odds up to now, we dared to dream that the win was now in sight, but that dream was shattered by the old defensive frailties when Cov's line parted like the Red Sea to allow Donny to stroll in, giving an easy conversion shot for Flockhart, who gleefully accepted the invitation.
Tied-up at 17-17, Cov's forwards found themselves in a pickle in front of the posts, being shunted backwards in a scrum. Flockhart again stepped up to split the posts, and give Donny the lead once again.
Insult was then added to when, guess who, Flockhart slid over a further long-distance penalty to give the visitors what turned out to be an unassailable lead at 23-17.
A hugely disappointing result then, when a win would have given extra breathing space. More so after London Scottish had also closed up the gap behind Cov.
Cornish Pirates to follow next Saturday. Much to address before that.
Cov Scorers:
Tries - Maisey, White, Tolmie
Con – Maisey
Unofficial Coventry Man of the Match: Pete White
Attendance: 2147
Pics: Nick Meredith
Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged)
Date: 12/01/2019 18:51
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:17:15:05:29 by AdminBTCov.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:17:15:05:29 by AdminBTCov.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Mark7070 (IP Logged)
Date: 12/01/2019 18:55
Lack of a cutting edge along with an bizarre inability to catch the ball
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:13:09:08:37 by Mark.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:13:09:08:37 by Mark.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: AdminBTCov (IP Logged)
Date: 12/01/2019 18:59
Hi chaps. Just a quick reminder. When submitting a comment, just click the button once, and wait.
It's not your fault - the site is very slow to respond at times. There have been several multiple postings lately due to this.
Cheers!
It's not your fault - the site is very slow to respond at times. There have been several multiple postings lately due to this.
Cheers!
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: HoboAl (IP Logged)
Date: 12/01/2019 21:18
Well, going into this we had as strong a 22 on paper as we have had for a long time. Doncaster, I believe lower in the table than their ability, with several returning from injury: so a close game expected, but one I thought we could win.
However, despite some bullish pre match talk we came up short. Our management of possession and the ball was poor, turned over too easily and our backs lacked punch while looking porous.
For me there are two problems: Game management and not enough physicality in the backs.
If Maisey doesn't bring his kicking boots he looks too one dimensional to me. Great to have in the squad, but we need an alternative. As good as Fenner, Knox, Trimble and Stokes are, we need a bit more brawn in the mix.
We desperately need an alternative 10 and a couple of younger Sammy T's.
Okay Sir gave us nothing. But the above are more pressing week in week out problems.
However, despite some bullish pre match talk we came up short. Our management of possession and the ball was poor, turned over too easily and our backs lacked punch while looking porous.
For me there are two problems: Game management and not enough physicality in the backs.
If Maisey doesn't bring his kicking boots he looks too one dimensional to me. Great to have in the squad, but we need an alternative. As good as Fenner, Knox, Trimble and Stokes are, we need a bit more brawn in the mix.
We desperately need an alternative 10 and a couple of younger Sammy T's.
Okay Sir gave us nothing. But the above are more pressing week in week out problems.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Cliff Bennett (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 08:05
We’ve become so used to seeing us win at BPA and to putting up strong performances against leading teams like London Irish that yesterday was something of a shock.
It was a game between two poor sides but the lack of intensity, urgency and ambition from Cov was worrying. Donny were there for the taking but we never got a creative, smooth, consistent and dynamic flowing game going - except for the first minute of the second half. There were very few occasions when the receiver took the ball at pace - most of time the back line was static when Will Maisey passed the ball to them.
I must admit that I couldn’t understand some of the substations. Why was Tony Fenner hauled off, and similarly with Jack Ram who I thought was having a storming game?
Next Saturday against Cornish Pirates becomes even more important now.
It was a game between two poor sides but the lack of intensity, urgency and ambition from Cov was worrying. Donny were there for the taking but we never got a creative, smooth, consistent and dynamic flowing game going - except for the first minute of the second half. There were very few occasions when the receiver took the ball at pace - most of time the back line was static when Will Maisey passed the ball to them.
I must admit that I couldn’t understand some of the substations. Why was Tony Fenner hauled off, and similarly with Jack Ram who I thought was having a storming game?
Next Saturday against Cornish Pirates becomes even more important now.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Cliff Bennett (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 08:17
By the way, who was the Man of the Match?
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Straightout (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 08:45
I think Hobo is right.. we do Def lack physicality in the back line without Heath and Sammy T. Sammy T although small is like a human misile in defence and attack and Heart is a big unit.. Maisey, white, fenner, stokes and max are small for this level but v skilful.. one point just before half time Fenner was really nailed and could hardly get up and Maisey although has good games and can pass long is not a strong running fly half. He does that step but gets hammered in contact.. maybe on faster pitches we will be ok but Sammy T would have kept them honest yesterday and he plays on people’s mind due to his tackling ferocity.. but he is mid 30s and slowing so we need more.. in the pack there number 8 and 6 are huge men and at times we struggled to contain them.. we looked a bit rusty without playing for 3 weeks so hopefully next week we will really be on it from the start. They may bring Phil Nilsson back for hard edge. Donny to be fair to them defended well although we made loads of errors in contact but they marshalled our threat well and their number 20 who came on won 3 vital turnovers in the last 15 mins which quietened the crowd and stopped our momentum. We were second best at breakdown..what do people think of Ben Nutley? He was our biggest signing having played 70 times for saints first 15 and was expected to carve up this league. He is only playing a bit part so far and does not look the outstanding number 8/7 we thought so far.. although he clearly has a great pedigree and reputation and I remember big M writing he was a great player for saints. Maybe injuries have rocked him but he hasn’t settled and he seems to lick pace or real physicality this year..hoping he will come through and be the leader/figurehead we need at the back of the scrum..
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Egg Timer (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 09:48
no - we didn't play well but Donny deserved the win of a poor gam overall.
Equally, if not more, disappointing was the dreadful service in the bar after the game.
Equally, if not more, disappointing was the dreadful service in the bar after the game.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: HoboAl (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 09:54
Quote:Charliebravo (Cliff Bennett)
By the way, who was the Man of the Match?
Pete White for me closely followed by Jack Ram
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: John Butler (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 10:43
No official man of the match was passed through to me for announcing as has usually been the case.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Alinta (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 11:10
For me the Man of the Match was Tim Wigglesworth
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:13:19:19:14 by Alinta.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:13:19:19:14 by Alinta.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Cliff Bennett (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 11:39
And he and his officials each wore a pink shirt, too. That takes some bravado. Maybe he was paying us back for having been forced to wear such a colour.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: tonker (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 12:25
credit to doncaster for imposing their forward orientated game on cov. they were more patient with the ball, albeit less expansive, and it worked.
cov worked hard but seemed to be lacking physicality especially in the back line. non the less there were chances to win but cov could not take them.too many errors handed possession to donny far too often..
hard to pick anyone out tho white & ram played well.
difficult games on paper coming up, so need to improve quickly if we are not to slip further down the league.i'm already looking at harpury's fixtures/results, as the others below us seem to be improving.
cov worked hard but seemed to be lacking physicality especially in the back line. non the less there were chances to win but cov could not take them.too many errors handed possession to donny far too often..
hard to pick anyone out tho white & ram played well.
difficult games on paper coming up, so need to improve quickly if we are not to slip further down the league.i'm already looking at harpury's fixtures/results, as the others below us seem to be improving.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Egg Timer (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 13:51
Quote:Alinta
For me the Man of the Match was Tim Wigglesworth, he was Donny's best player by a country mile.
Why?
I felt he had a pretty good game and is probably the best referee we've seen this year, with maybe the exception of Christophe Ridley
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Moosemagic (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 15:32
Halifounoa being taken out in the air? Penalty given, but no card. I am shore Rhys that at one of your ref sessions you stated that it is an automatic card, sir just needs to decide which colour.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: timdouglas1 (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 16:12
I accept the referee made some strange decisions, especially the amount of high tackles that were missed, but what lost Cov the game was management of the ball. I lost count of how many times we knocked on, and why are we trying the Hollywood pass, when ball retention should be key? As I was leaving, I heard some people hurling questions, and possible abusive remarks toward the referee, but come on, we are better than that. Maybe a citing could be put forward from Cov for the player being taken out in mid air, but what difference will it make. I believe he should have received at least a yellow card, and maybe Doncaster down to 14 could have made a huge difference, but the result is in the bag now, so we move on to the Pirates next week. I hope Sammy plays, as I feel we are missing his physicality, and just my opinion, Jimmy Gibbons is a must in the front row
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Nige H (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 17:41
Talking of the ref... did anyone notice the number of off sides given against either team?.
I can’t recall any, there must have been a couple, right? Or did both teams become the best behaved ever??
Nige
I can’t recall any, there must have been a couple, right? Or did both teams become the best behaved ever??
Nige
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: HoboAl (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 18:47
Quote:timdouglas1
I accept the referee made some strange decisions, especially the amount of high tackles that were missed, but what lost Cov the game was management of the ball. I lost count of how many times we knocked on, and why are we trying the Hollywood pass, when ball retention should be key? As I was leaving, I heard some people hurling questions, and possible abusive remarks toward the referee, but come on, we are better than that. Maybe a citing could be put forward from Cov for the player being taken out in mid air, but what difference will it make. I believe he should have received at least a yellow card, and maybe Doncaster down to 14 could have made a huge difference, but the result is in the bag now, so we move on to the Pirates next week. I hope Sammy plays, as I feel we are missing his physicality, and just my opinion, Jimmy Gibbons is a must in the front row
Well said.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Egg Timer (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 20:49
The ref took the advice of his assistant that the high take out was a penalty only - for me it was a card, and the reserve ref thought the same. It will be reviewed.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: timdouglas1 (IP Logged)
Date: 13/01/2019 23:58
Sam, I detest seeing an official berated after a game, this is the reason I stopped going to football, but it must be fair to say I was disappointed with his display
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Egg Timer (IP Logged)
Date: 14/01/2019 07:59
And everyone is entitled to their position, but I would assert that the referee will make less mistakes than any of hte players, and will see things from a different perspective at ground level than we do from 15m back and 4m high. That said, some of the comments I hear serve only to show the lack of knowledge that exists around the laws of the game in general.
I said earlier though, the two of us on the side looked at each other and said "yellow card", but the AR told the referee who was unsighted by other players that it was a penalty only. nThere was a discussion around it in the dressing room afterwards whe the match reviewer mentioned it, so it will be reviewed on the video.
Hope that helps.
I said earlier though, the two of us on the side looked at each other and said "yellow card", but the AR told the referee who was unsighted by other players that it was a penalty only. nThere was a discussion around it in the dressing room afterwards whe the match reviewer mentioned it, so it will be reviewed on the video.
Hope that helps.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: HoboAl (IP Logged)
Date: 14/01/2019 08:03
I think 14's reaction showed he knew a card was expected.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Rob C (IP Logged)
Date: 14/01/2019 08:12
Quote:Nige H
Talking of the ref... did anyone notice the number of off sides given against either team?.
I can’t recall any, there must have been a couple, right? Or did both teams become the best behaved ever??
Nige
The reason for this Nige is that Mr Wigglesworth and his team completely ignored the offside line at rucks and mauls which Doncaster - to their credit - took full advantage of.
Funnily enough one of the TV commentators at the weekend - Ben Kay I think - mentioned that assistant referees need to do far more to help referees where this is concerned as it's killing attacking play.
Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: AdminBTCov (IP Logged)
Date: 14/01/2019 12:01
A few pics now added to the article above (and I took the liberty of adding the Man of the Match too - in my humble opinion, that is 
)
)Re: Donny Disappointments
Posted by: Mark7070 (IP Logged)
Date: 14/01/2019 19:56
If there hadnt been so many handling errors especially in the first half i doubt if the size issue would of been mentioned as we would of been out of sight by half time .
There is a case for a more bulky back line, i see no issue with White and Kessel re size, a scrum half needs fast hands not be a railway sleeper and Whites hands especially are right up there with the fastest.
There is an issue at 10 , Will can be found out occasionally, maybe Fenner will be given time there too which then gives 12+13 potential to upsize as a partnership.Rob Knox, Sam T could be an interesting combo... Heath when fit will no doubt be in the mix. David H fits thr size bill.... But i think im right in saying he is a wing/F.B by trade although i feel there is also a question to his 100% commitment to the cause.
We witnessed preseason something thats not been seen since, fearless full speed smash attack, is it that he isnt fully fit or lack of confidence , or perhaps if rumours that he is only here this season due to a contract elsewhere then that causes issues.
The wings and F,B positions are a tad leaky with occasional missed tackles but if we get enough ball wide which is a major issue lately in part due to tactics then the present players score plenty .
Next seasons retentions and recruitment needs to be a little more focused on what we exactly need not just headcount that might do a job
There is a case for a more bulky back line, i see no issue with White and Kessel re size, a scrum half needs fast hands not be a railway sleeper and Whites hands especially are right up there with the fastest.
There is an issue at 10 , Will can be found out occasionally, maybe Fenner will be given time there too which then gives 12+13 potential to upsize as a partnership.Rob Knox, Sam T could be an interesting combo... Heath when fit will no doubt be in the mix. David H fits thr size bill.... But i think im right in saying he is a wing/F.B by trade although i feel there is also a question to his 100% commitment to the cause.
We witnessed preseason something thats not been seen since, fearless full speed smash attack, is it that he isnt fully fit or lack of confidence , or perhaps if rumours that he is only here this season due to a contract elsewhere then that causes issues.
The wings and F,B positions are a tad leaky with occasional missed tackles but if we get enough ball wide which is a major issue lately in part due to tactics then the present players score plenty .
Next seasons retentions and recruitment needs to be a little more focused on what we exactly need not just headcount that might do a job
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