Hornets fall to enthusiastic Coventry

A disappointing display saw Hornets fall to a 38-30 defeat to an enthusiastic Coventry Bears side at Butts Park Arena.

Hornets made the journey without captain Sean Penkywicz, Gavin Bennion and centres Ben Calland and Jack Higginson due to injury. 

Danny Yates returned to the side named at fullback, while Lee Registe was set to make his official debut from the bench. 

It was the home side who broke the deadlock on six minutes, after player-coach Dave Scott supported a break and scored under the sticks, converted by his half-back pairing in Dan Coates.

Hornets hit back just six minutes later, as Ryan Forshaw spotted a gap to go through the defence and he found a charging Luke Fowden in support to score next to the sticks.

Rob Fairclough then gave Hornets their first lead of the afternoon with a beautiful dummy close to the opposition’s half to slide over under the sticks, both converted by Josh Jordan-Roberts for a 12-6 scoreline. However, the half-back soon limped from the field with a leg injury, which saw Lewis Sheridan move to the halves, Shaun Ainscough to centres and Registe entered the field from the bench to make his official debut for the club on the wing.

Kadeem Williams hit back for the hosts out-wide, before Ainscough powered over for a 18-10 scoreline. Liam Welham then scored for Coventry, before Fuifui Moimoi scored his second of the season as he was the first to collect a grubber kick to score under the posts for a 24-16 score at the half-time break.

Coventry again were first to score in the second half through full-back Nathan Hill on the 45th minute, who went over from dummy-half. Callum Marriott then crossed six minutes later after a good set from hooker Declan Sheridan, who fed the forward through a gap close to the line for a 30-20 score.

Ryan Forshaw was sent for 10 by the official on the 62nd minute for a high tackle, which saw the home side play their best and get a roll on. First, Harry Kaufman scored for Coventry on 66 minutes before Matty Welham crossed on the following set to give the hosts a 32-30 lead.

Hornets tried to play out-wide to reclaim the lead late in the game, but a loose pass saw the home side race 60 metres through Dave Scott to secure the two league points on offer with a 38-30 score.

Hornets: Yates, Ainscough, L.Sheridan, Galbraith, Bloomfield, Forshaw, Fairclough, Hesketh, Ogden, Fowden, Syme, Marriott, Jordan-Roberts.

Subs: D.Sheridan, Moimoi, Taira, Registe.

Tries: Fowden (12’), Fairclough (18’), Ainscough (29’), Moimoi (34’), Marriott (51’).

Conversions: Jordan-Roberts 5/5. 

Attendance: 232