COVENTRY Rugby are in fine form ahead of Saturday’s (2pm) final Championship Cup group stage game at Ealing Trailfinders after qualifying for the last eight in the competition.
A 37-12 bonus-point triumph at Bedford Blues last weekend, in which Max Trimble and Henry Purdy claimed two tries each at Goldington Road, plus a try from Pete White, ensured Coventry secured their place in the knockout stages with a match to spare.
Despite the final scoreline, it was anything but straightforward for Cov as hosts Bedford often architects of their own downfall in the encounter.
White and Trimble embarked on successful long-range drives to the try line, while Purdy took advantage of a Blues sin-bin to chalk his name on the scoreboard with Rory Jennings kicking the conversion.
James Lennon finally breached Coventry’s try line after the break to narrow the scores, but Jennings gave the visitors more breathing space from a long-range penalty.
Further scores from Trimble and Purdy, both converted by Will Maisey, who also added a penalty, put Coventry further in command.
Bedford’s Charlie Reed had the last laugh, but it did little to change the outcome.