By John Wilkinson HEAD coach Nick Walshe applauded Coventry’s mental fortitude after they toughed out a 24-21 win in dire conditions at Plymouth Albion.
Cov had to dig deep to secure the points after Albion, unbeaten at home for over a season, pulled back to level terms from 21-7 down – showing an attitude that Walshe found very satisfying.
“It was a really pleasing, character-building performance,” he said.
“To come here after having won the league the week before and put in a real shift shows how much it means to them to keep the Coventry season going.
“It took massive mental toughness to come here and take Plymouth’s record.
“Last week we put 50 points on Caldy and, before that, going away to Darlington Mowden Park when the weather was good and the pitch was great, we showed what we can do.
“We couldn’t play anything in the second half at Albion. We looked really good in the first half in bits and scored some nice tries, and at that point we thought we were going to push on.
“Unfortunately we didn’t, we made a couple of errors, and in the second half it was an absolute nightmare with the rain coming down – it just made it very difficult for both sides and it was a massive leveller, but the boys dug in and got the win which was most important.”
Added Walshe: “Even if you are just ten per cent off in intensity you struggle, and Plymouth were always going to be up for it, playing here with a big crowd and protecting their record on their home pitch.
“They probably had more motivation than us really, so that’s why it’s so pleasing that the boys responded the way they did.
“We’ve got four games to go with three if them at home – it will be nice to get back to Butts Park Arena, and I just hope the weather will cheer up.
“It would be nice to play in some good conditions where we can actually just keep playing the rugby we want to play.”
