RUGBY UNION: AN EXCELLENT and thoroughly deserved 22-17 victory for Harbury over Coventrians saw them cement their eighth place position in the Midlands 4 West (South).
The match was dominated by a strong wind down the pitch but Harbury began brightly and forced Coventrians into conceding a number of penalties.
From these misdemeanors, Harbury gained useful field position and with the wind behind their backs pushed play deep into the Coventrians’ half and from a good backs move a clever chip ahead was brilliantly picked up by flanker Chris Millburn who outpaced the cover to touch down wide out.
Harbury added a further try mid-way through the first half when from a loose maul lock Spencer Smith showed real determination to force his way through despairing tackles to score beneath the posts.
Dave Rooney’s first conversion attempt drifted agonisingly wide but with the conversion in front of the posts the kick was easily added for a 12-0 lead.
Paul Evans thought he had scored a third try for the hosts but the referee was not convinced and instead Coventrians came back with a try of their own to reduce the deficit to just five points at half-time.
The second half very much favoured Coventrians with the wind behind them and they capitalised on this with a well taken try to draw level at 12-12 at the beginning of that half.
Harbury drew ahead with a Rooney penalty and Tony Gear seemed to have put the match beyond their opponents when Tony Gear using his pace took a well judged cross kick exceptionally well and went round the cover to touch down for a superb try again converted.
Now with a ten point lead, Harbury had to fight for their lives and with over ten minutes of extra-time played, Coventrians added a third unconverted try to trail by just five points, but a determined home defence allowed Harbury to emerge victorious.
