Coventry Rugby produced a statement display at the Nick Newbold Stadium, brushing aside Worcester Warriors in a breathless encounter to secure third place and a home quarter-final against Hartpury next weekend. In a game overflowing with attacking quality, David Opoku-Fordjour stole the headlines with a scintillating hat-trick as Coventry ran riot in front of a buoyant home crowd.

There was a palpable sense of occasion as Worcester got the game underway in Coventry. The visitors made the brighter start, pinning Coventry deep inside their own half. An early penalty offered Worcester the chance to take the points, but they instead opted for a tap-and-go close to the line. Coventry’s defence stood firm though, eventually winning a relieving penalty of their own.

After weathering the early pressure, Coventry struck clinically. Api Bavadra burst through the midfield before linking brilliantly with David Opoku-Fordjour, who finished in trademark fashion in what was his final regular season appearance before joining Sale Sharks. 5-0.

Worcester responded positively and looked set to level the contest following another penalty deep in Coventry territory. The hosts initially held firm with a superb hold-up over the line, but Warriors continued to probe. Billy Twelvetrees attempted to force a wide pass under pressure, only for Josh Barton to read it perfectly. The scrumhalf intercepted and sprinted the length of the field to double Coventry’s advantage. 12-0.

The game was flowing now and Coventry’s backs looked electric whenever they attacked from distance. Mackenzie Graham and Opoku-Fordjour combined superbly to almost create another, only for the ball to spill forward inches from the line.

It did not take long for the third score to arrive. Josh Thomas spotted space brilliantly and fired a looping pass over the Worcester defence for Jack Reeves to stroll over untouched in the corner. A blistering opening quarter from Alex Rae’s side had them firmly in control at 19-0.

Worcester eventually found a foothold in the contest. A penalty pinned Coventry deep in their own 22 and, after sustained pressure, Josh Bassett scored from close range to get the visitors on the board. 19-7.

The Warriors continued to build momentum and another five-metre lineout produced a second score for Bassett. Coventry initially appeared to have halted the maul, but Worcester kept it moving just enough to satisfy the officials before the winger grounded again. Suddenly the lead had been cut to five. 19-14.

Coventry did well to steady themselves before the interval, taking a narrow but deserved lead into the break in an absorbing contest. 19-14

The second half began in ideal fashion for the hosts. Jack Reeves immediately broke the line to send Coventry deep into Worcester territory and, from the ensuing phases, Opoku-Fordjour crossed for his second of the afternoon after Cov exploited an overlap out wide. 26-14.

Moments later, Coventry struck again. Senitiki Nayalo charged onto a superb line from Josh Thomas before offloading to Opoku-Fordjour, who danced over for a brilliant hat-trick score. 33-14.\

The game had become wildly open. Tom Bacon did brilliantly to snuff out danger at one end before Coventry transitioned rapidly into attack. However, Juan González intercepted on the left wing and raced clear to keep Worcester alive at 33-21.

Coventry quickly restored control. Tommy Mathews slotted a straightforward penalty before Allan Ferrie capitalised on loose handling near halfway to power over for another try. Tom Bacon soon joined the scoring too, finishing a sweeping attack to send the Nick Newbold crowd into raptures as the score moved to 50-21.

To their credit, Worcester never stopped attacking and Will Trewin rounded off an excellent move late on. But Coventry still had more to say. Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi powered over from a driving maul. With shouts of ‘we want 60’ from a jubilant crowd, Jack Reeves duly obliged. Scoring his second in athletic style, by diving in the corner in the dying moments to complete a dominant 64-28 victory.

It was a ruthless attacking display from Coventry, who overpowered Worcester across the park and head into the playoffs full of confidence ahead of next weekend’s quarter-final against Hartpury. It was fantastic to see the Nick Newbold packed to the rafters, same again next week!

Man of the match: Who else but the hattrick hero, David Opoku-Fordjour. He was lightening quick across the park today. Creating dangerous plays and always being a support player for other players’ breaks. 

Goal kicking 

Josh Thomas- 4/5

Tommy Mathews- 4/4

Billy Twelvetrees- 4/4

Try Scorers:

Coventry Rugby- David Opoku-Fordjour (6’, 45’, 48’), Josh Barton (10’), Jack Reeves (16’, 79’), Alan Ferrie (65’), Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi (75’)

Worcester Warriors- Josh Bassett (27’), (33’), Juan González (59’)

Line-ups:

Coventry Rugby- Aristot Benz-Salomon, Jordon Poole ©, Matt Johnson, Senitiki Nayalo, Mackenzie Graham, Allan Ferrie, Tom Ball, Morgan Strong, Josh Barton, Josh Thomas, Jack Reeves, Api Bavadra, Oli Morris, David Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Bacon 

Finishers- Murray Davidson, Keston Lines, Eliot Salt, Sam Harding, Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi, Sam Maunder, Tommy Mathews, Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti 

Worcester Warriors- Billy Keast, Archie Vanes, Fraser Balmain, Hallam Chapman, James Tyas, Tim Anstee, Matt Kvesic ©, Hugh Bokenham, Lloyd Williams, Billy Twelvetrees, Josh Bassett, Rory Taylor, James Short, Jake Garside, Juan González

Finishers: Austin Wallis, Cam Miell, Ashley Challenger, Matt Rogerson, Thabo Ndimande, Will Lane, Tiff Eden, Will Trewin