RUGBY UNION: A MESSAGE of intent was sent out by Coventry at the weekend after Rowland Winter’s men defeated Birmingham Moseley 50-11.
In front of a strong crowd of exactly 2,100, Coventry excelled on home turf – outscoring Birmingham Moseley by eight to one on the try count.
Travelling Moseley fans only had the opening minutes of the game to celebrate as James Dixon put the visiting side ahead with a penalty in the opening part of the game.
But Coventry soon stamped their authority on the match from there onwards.
Moseley’s lead lasted just four minutes as flanker Loti Makaafi drove over the line while Maisey couldn’t judge his kick in time with the wind as Winter’s side led 5-3.
Coventry extended their lead to nine points when Nile Dacres added Coventry’s second try before Maisey made no mistake second time around with the conversion.
A pair of tries before the close of the opening half helped Coventry’s cause as Stokes and Brazier went over the line to hand Coventry a commanding 26-6 lead.
Any hopes of Moseley mounting a spirited comeback after half-time were quickly quashed when Coventry’s Stokes started an attack down the right side from inside his own half.
Possession moved through several pairs of hands before Grove, against his former team, completed Coventry’s fifth try in the right corner.
Moseley had their moment on 50 minutes when driving Knox back over his line, but the dominant home forwards won the scrum penalty with any danger cleared.
Flanker Jack Preece – also a former Moseley man – added salt to Birmingham and Moseley’s wound when touching down on 63 minutes to further extend the home side’s lead.
Home supporters didn’t have to wait long for a sixth try when Maisey fed Stokes a ball to put the game beyond doubt.
Though Moseley made several changes, two Coventry tries followed – first on 75 minutes through replacement hooker Scott Tolmie, and then Bel Palmer moments before the final whistle.
Maisey converted both, the second bringing up Cov’s second half century of points in consecutive weeks.
Rowland Winter’s men were met by a standing ovation at the end of the game after the club recorded 17 tries and 110 points from their opening two games of the season.