Match report: Coventry 47 Fylde 3

The visitors were totally committed and matched their illustrious hosts on a gluepot of a pitch with an excellent crowd of 1,350 in attendance in miserable conditions.

Fylde defended their line bravely and attacked dangerously when they had the opportunity.

Their cause was ultimately undermined by three sinbinnings, going down to 13 players at a crucial time at the start of the fourth quarter.

Coventry steamrollered the Lancastrians from then on and scored five tries from the 63rd minute onwards.

The game started with both teams battling it out for control on the very muddy surface.

Although separated by the whole of National One, Fylde belied their status as they competed fiercely for possession and territory against the putative champions.

At the end of the first quarter, Coventry pinned Fylde back in their own 22-metre area.

A series of scrummages collapsed and, in the 18th minute, referee Callum Sharp awarded a penalty try for a 7-0 lead.

Once again, play was pretty even for the next 15 minutes before, in a period of Fylde possession in the Coventry half, they earned a penalty.

Greg Smith converted it well and reduced the deficit to 7-3.

This spurred Coventry to raise their game and they were soon back close to the Fylde line.

Another scrum collapsed and a second penalty try was awarded; worse still, hooker Ben Godfrey was shown a yellow card.

Although Coventry had a 14-3 lead at the interval, Fylde were still in contention.

The opening period of the second half was equally well contested by the underdogs with Gregory back in the action.

The game turned on a sequence of events beginning in the 60th minute.

Replacement lock Nick Ashcroft entered the fray with Fylde once again defending their own line.

Two minutes later, referee Sharp decided that Fylde had once more offended and awarded the third penalty try, with Ashcroft adjudged to be the sacrificial lamb for the second yellow card.

Even worse was to follow a couple of minutes later when Fylde winger Henry Hadfield was also sinbinned and the Lancastrians were down to 13 players.

Coventry exploited this advantage remorselessly when replacement hooker Nilsen was driven over from close range.

Fly-half Maisey converted for a 28-3 lead.

The floodgates opened and the league leaders extended their lead with tries by full-back Tom Emery and lock George Oram before a seventh and final effort by replacement Patrick Ryan rounded off the scoring.