Weekend Review - Nayalo helps Coventry move up to third

COVENTRY moved back up to third in The Championship as a dazzling second-half display helped them past Ampthill 34-6, with No. 8 Gnr Senitiki Nayalo playing the full 80 minutes for the hosts.

A Tobi Wilson try gave Cov the lead, but they trailed 6-5 at the break thanks to a pair of Gwyn Parks penalties.

However, it was one-way traffic in the second period as wing Jimmy Martin bagged a brace and Jordan Poole and Will Wand also touched down, Tongan international Pat Pellegrini adding three conversions and a penalty to complete the scoring.

Sgt Matt Dawson (Int Corps) was a second-half substitute in Cambridge’s 57-7 defeat to table-topping visitors Ealing Trailfinders.

Having taken a second-minute lead through a converted Kwaku Asiedu try, it proved a tough afternoon for the Blood and Sand, who trailed 31-7 at the interval after Biyi Alo, Matt Cornish, Lloyd Williams, Ollie Newman and Andrew Davidson crossed the whitewash, ex-England man Billy Twelvetrees with three conversions.

Bobby de Wee went over for another seven-pointer before Sgt Dawson entered proceedings on 48 minutes, but he was unable to stem the tide as Ealing completed victory with further tries from Reuben Bird-Tulloch, Mike Willemse and Dan O’Brien, Twelvetrees twice more on target from the tee.

LCpl Pita Ratukadreu (REME) played the opening 44 minutes of Plymouth Albion’s 34-12 National One defeat at Blackheath.

Tries from Tom Stradwick, Billy Harding and Andrew Denham, the latter converted by Tom Ffitch, helped the hosts race into an early lead, Albion getting on the board right at the end of the first half when Gabe Mead touched down.

Blackheath regained control as Jake Lloyd – on his 200^th appearance – and Jake Hennessy crossed, Ffitch adding to both before Tom Putt converted a Torin Clarke effort.

Club were not to be denied, however, and Fftich’s penalty five minutes from time completed the scoring.

Words © Richard Ashton