A GRITTY performance saw Coventry overcome Cinderford 15-11 in National League One and come away from what is a notoriously difficult venue with four points.
Conditions proved difficult for both sides after an early downpour at the Beavis Memorial Ground on Saturday and consequently the match did not prove to be a classic with both sides making plenty of mistakes and handling errors.
And four yellow cards, two for each side, did not help the continuity.
Gerraint Davies and Lance Randall were sent to the sin bin for Cinderford while Sam Pailor and replacement Louis Silver were the recipients of yellow cards for Coventry after pulling down a line out and delaying a penalty being taken respectively.
But once again Coventry’s success came down to the trusted boot of skipper Cliffie Hodgson who punished Cinderford with five penalties from five attempts.
Try scoring opportunities were at a premium in the wet conditions. Will Hurrell came closest for the visitors near to full-time only to lose possession on the try line.
It was left to Cinderford to claim the only try with George Evans being driven over from a line out to leave matters at 11 -16 going into the final minutes.
And despite there being ten minutes of added time the home side failed to score another try.
The one negative was that Sam Pailor ended the match with a dislocated finger and several others including Hodgson, required attention.
The win leaves Coventry in sixth position nine points behind leaders Ealing Trailfinders.
Coventry are next in action this Saturday when Scott Morgan’s side host Richmond.