By Paul Smith 
Six second-half tries including a Jimmy Martin brace saw Coventry retain the Harry Walker Memorial Trophy with a 61-21 success over old rivals Birmingham Moseley.
Cov scored nine tries in total to which the visitors responded with a first-half Aquile Smith double and a late consolation for prop Ethan Priest while blue-and-whites’ no.10 Theo Mannion finished with seven successful conversions.
Alex Rae took the chance to give all fully-fit members of his squad a run-out against a visiting side who named former Cov favourites Adam Peters, prop David Langley plus Sam and Isaac McNulty in their starting line-up.
And a number took the opportunity to catch the eye in front of a bumper crowd of 1608 on a day when Cov’s lineout dominated throughout and their superior power and fitness delivered 54 points in a 33-minute mid-game salvo.
When the visitors won an early penalty in front of the home posts it was sent to the corner only for Aaron Hinckley to break to halfway when Cov stole the resulting lineout.
Moseley were first on the scoreboard through pacy winger Smith who ran a good support line following Tuoyo Egodo’s chip ahead before Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley added the extras.
When fly half Tommy Mathews pinned the visitors deep in their own 22 with a precise touch finder Rhys Anstey almost forced his way over before being swallowed up by the cover.
However, an equalising try did soon arrive and it was winger Ryan Hutler who wriggled over from close range following Daf Tiueti’s half-break and offload.
After Cov’s new no.10 added the extras, experienced Moseley full back Sam Pointon went very close to putting his side back ahead when he regathered his own chip ahead only to lose the ball in contact a metre from the home line.
But Moseley did soon have their noses in front through an outstanding individual score created and finished by the pacy Smith who sped 60 metres along the left touchline before recovering his own well-placed kick to claim a try that Maxwell-Whiteley upgraded.
Cov were now showing signs of attacking fluency and as a result they went into the break with a seven-point advantage after hitting the visitors with two converted scores in as many minutes.
The first stemmed from a powerful Tiueti carry which enabled Barton to send no.8 Chester Owen charging through a gap to the visitors’ posts from just outside their 22.
And full back Steff Davies claimed Cov’s third try when he applied the finishing touch to a David Opoku diagonal break and offload.
Theo Mannion who had recently replaced the injured Mathews converted both and he was joined by a raft of pre-planned replacements after the break.
Recently-signed Munster back-rower Dan Okeke was enjoying a prominent debut and Cov’s next score followed his burst from the rear of a lineout that left Jimmy Martin with enough space to go under Moseley’s posts for a try that Mannion improved.
When the visitors overthrew an attacking lineout, Cov’s backs went wide from inside their own 22 before Martin and Charlie Robson combined to send the supporting Suva Ma’asi over for another seven-pointer.
Martin then switched to defensive duties to make a vital interception deep in his own half and after Tiki Nayalo spotted space ahead of him new skipper Tom Ball hacked ahead and won the race to the bouncing ball to touch down.
Mannion converted and Cov’s fly half quickly split the uprights on two further occasions after Tom Hitchcock picked off a stray midfield pass and raced 60 metres to the posts then Ball and Fin Ogden released Martin for his second score.
Obi Nkocha was the popular scorer of Cov’s ninth try which again involved a hack through after Ogden offered support but enough time remained for the spirited visitors to have the last word through prop Priest and an Ollie Rowberry conversion.
Coventry First Half: Steff Davies; Ryan Hutler, Jake Henry, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, David Opoku; Tommy Mathews, Josh Barton; Jevaughn Warren, Jordon Poole ©, Vilikesa Nairau; Dan Green, Rhys Anstey; Daniel Okeke, Aaron Hinckley, Chester Owen.
Coventry Second Half: Charlie Robson; Charlie Whorrod, Tom Hitchcock, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, James Martin; Theo Mannion, Will Lane; Toby Trinder, Suva Ma’asi, Matt Johnson; Obinna Nkwocha, Rhys Anstey; Daniel Okeke, Tom Ball ©, Senitiki Nayalo.
Replacements: Fin Ogden, Will Conduit
Birmingham Moseley: Sam Pointon; Aquile Smith, Elliott Creed, Isaac McNulty, Tuoyo Egodo; Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley, Freddie Painter; Ethan Priest, Sam McNulty, David Langley; Callum Allen, Harry Barnes, Adam Peters, Morgan Dawes, Ollie Stedman.
Replacement forwards: LewisHolsey, Ryan Roach, Ben Pogson, Ben Betts, Peter Haynes, Finn Smith, Santiago Edwards, Harry English
Replacement backs: Tom Miles, Tadgh Murtagh, Ollie Allsopp, Austin Nevitt, Ollie Rowbery
Referee: Jonathan Cook
Half-Time: Coventry Rugby 21-14 Birmingham Moseley
Attendance: 1608
Scorers:
Coventry:
Tries: Hutler (23), Owen (38), Davies (40), Martin (49) (66), Ma’asi (53), Ball (62), Hitchcock (64), Nkwocha (70)
Conversions: Mathews (23), Mannion (38) (40) (49) (53) (62) (64) (66)
Birmingham Moseley:
Tries: Smith (10) (29), Priest (75)
Conversions: Maxwell-Whiteley (10) (29), Rowbery (75)
