Gnr Senitiki Nayalo (7 Para RHA) got a first try since his return from injury on Saturday, with his score the first of nine which Coventry put past London Scottish in their Championship clash at Butts Park Arena.
Gnr Nayalo tapped a penalty close to the visitors’ line, and while the Exiles’ defence was set they were powerless to stop the big backrower driving over the whitewash.
After weeks of narrow wins and a number of defeats, Coventry needed a fillip heading into their final three matches of the Championship campaign, and this is what they got with a dominant performance throughout the 80 minutes, winning 62-12.
Coventry host the Army Senior Men next Saturday afternoon (KO 1500hrs) with tickets available via the club’s website.
There were comfortable wins for the Army’s women representatives in the Premier 15s this weekend, too.
Harlequins continued their play-off push with a bonus point win away to basement dwellers DMP Durham Sharks.
Bdr Bethan Dainton (RA) and SSgt Jade Mullen (AGC (SPS)) started the game at number eight and full back respectively, as Harlequins set about their business from the off.
A try two minutes in set the tone, with a second coming six minutes after that. DMP did reply with a first quarter try, but with Quins getting their bonus point with less than half-an-hour on the clock any questions about the final outcome were quickly forgotten.
The 24-5 lead remained until the break, with Harlequins scoring two more tries in the opening five minutes of the second half, and went on to win 48-5.
On the other side of the Pennines Capt Gemma Rowland (RA) and her Wasps team mates had an even bigger win over the league’s other Sharks from Sale.
Wasps knew that only a maximum haul would be enough to keep them in the hunt for a top four spot, and like Harlequins they had a bonus point inside the first 30 minutes. A 27-0 half-time lead became 39-0 in the first six minutes after the re-start, and while Sale did get a consolation it was an interruption in the one-way flow, Wasps heading home with a 53-7 final result.
With three games remaining Harlequins are now one point behind Bristol in the chase for an all-important home semi-final, while Wasps remain six points behind Exeter, who sit in the final play-off spot.
These two teams go head-to-head at the CBS Arena in Coventry next Saturday (KO 1230hrs).
Elsewhere Capt Nikki O’Donnell (QARANC) made a bit of history by becoming the second woman to take the whistle in National League One, and while there were no controversial moments it was nevertheless an exciting match to be in charge of, Birmingham Moseley holding off a late charge from Leeds Tykes to win 30-27.
Tickets for the 2022 Inter-Services Championship matches against the RAF (March 26th, Kingsholm) and the Navy (April 30th, Twickenham) are now available.
CLICK HERE for information about the RAF game
CLICK HERE for information about Army Navy
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks. Header and Featured Image © John Coles
