Going Out in Style

WITH, AT THE time of beginning this, a couple of Championship issues awaiting resolution, we at least know Cov's fate at the rump end of this very, very odd season.

Having domestic duties to perform (in the shape of ferrying my 90 year old mum to the house for her birthday lunch), the slightly-delayed Athletic Ground kick-off came and went without my eyes on it, and indeed several scores eluded me too with the hosts already having crossed twice, and Buzz chipping in with his first of the afternoon for Cov.

When I finally tuned in, the deficit was quickly overturned with a well-worked (and well-overdue for the lad) Lous Brown try under the sticks, which, improved by the immaculate-on-the-day Tony Fenner, turned a losing position into a 12-14 lead.

Richmond are certainly no mugs though, and on their home turf in the sun were determined to make the visitors scrap for every point, and although Cov increased their lead close to the break with a beauty from Peters, it was never easy.

And that was underlined a couple of minutes after the restart when a solid Richmond maul resulted in a converted try, and a gap which had closed to a decidedly uncomfortable two points.

However, Cov were in no mood to be suckered and returned the compliment three minutes later with Burrows being guided over by his front-line compadres, and with Fenner once again imperious the lead was restored to a slightly more acceptable 19-28, and the bonus point confirmed.

Cov continued to attack from deep, with Louis Brown always a major threat even if he was being more closely shadowed than in the opening stages, although the old frailties still existed with line-outs not always going to hand, combined with some attritional ruck play by the uncompromising Richmond back row in particular.

A long Richmond penalty on the hour pulled the scoreline back to within a converted try at 22-28, but that was the last time the home side threatened to upset the odds, and Cov, with both sides now ringing the personnel changes, simply powered on.

Jeannot crashed over on 62 minutes, followed by a sumptuously-worked score for Josh Barton after seventy, and Cov were home and dry and had confirmed their fifth-place finish to the season.

Six tries, six conversions, and five points are probably as much as could be expected, but somehow I was left wanting slightly more.

Greedy, I know.

Elsewhere, Jersey sneaked home with a 32-31 win over Cornish Pirates, with the losers gaining a couple of bonus points and pulling slightly ahead of Cov in the table. Oh for that Fenner kick at Doncaster going over instead of striking the woodwork eh, meaning fourth place ahead of the Pirates – but if, if, if...

Bedford prevailed over neighbours Ampthill by thirty two to twenty eight, restoring a little pride, and allowing Jersey to sneak in above Ampthill in the standings. They'll be delighted by that (Jersey, not the Ampthill Mob).

Saracens of course were denied their opportunity to go top by that bounder Covid, but I expect it's only a temporary blip in their upwards trajectory.

And one final game persists as I write. It has no bearing on anything much apart from Yorkshire Pride, but currently stands at Doncaster 7-7 Nottingham. Can Nottingham pull off a shock?

We'll see.

Stop Press: Maybe not as Doncaster ease into a 14-7 lead!