Oh, and there was one result tonight, in a friendly: Saracens Storm 71, Ealing 'A' 21

From what I saw of the team sheets, the Ealing side was mostly academy, while Saracens had some internationals peppered in.

I imagine it was for those who turned up.

Hartpury 0 - 3 Pirates

Jersey 0 - 0 Blues

Hartpury 0 - 3 Pirates

Jersey (1 try) 7 - 0 Blues

Hartpury (1 try) 7 - 3 Pirates

Jersey (1 try) 7 - 0 Blues

Hartpury (1 try) 7 - 10 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (1 try) 7 - 0 Blues

Hartpury (1 try) 10 - 10 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (1 try) 7 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Hartpury (1 try) 10 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (2 tries) 14 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Penalty try from 5m maul - not sure if there was a yellow

Hartpury (1 try) 10 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (3 tries) 19 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Hartpury (2 tries) 17 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (3 tries) 19 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Hartpury (2 tries) 17 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (3 tries) 19 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Yellow for Blues at 5m maul for Jersey so go to 14

Hartpury (2 tries) 17 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (BP) 26 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Are we 13? Commentators said 14?  Not sure it is exactly same old same old.

HT Hartpury (2 tries) 20 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (BP) 26 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Jersey down to 14 for yellow card

Stedman was binned for the pen try and commentators didn’t pick it up.

HT Hartpury (2 tries) 20 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

HT Jersey (BP) 26 - 7 (1 try) Blues

HT Hartpury (2 tries) 20 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

HT Jersey (BP) 26 - 7 (1 try) Blues

HT Hartpury (2 tries) 20 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

HT Jersey (BP) 26 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Hartpury (2 tries) 20 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (BP) 26 - 7 (1 try) Blues

Hartpury (3 tries) 27 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (BP) 26 - 14 (2 tries) Blues

Hartpury (3 tries) 27 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (BP) 26 - 14 (2 tries) Blues

Hartpury (3 tries) 30 - 13 (1 try) Pirates

Jersey (BP) 26 - 21 (3 tries) Blues

Hartpury (3 tries) 30 - 18 (2 tries) Pirates

Jersey (BP) 26 - 21 (3 tries) Blues

Hartpury (3 tries) 30 - 18 (2 tries) Pirates

Jersey (BP) 33 - 21 (3 tries) Blues

Ultimately that is the difference. Jersey have scored every single visit into 22, with 3/3 tries from maul attempts. Blues tried and failed a couple of mauls and have barely won a throw on their own lineout. Not gonna win many games if that continues 

*Think it may be 24*

Not a lot you can do from 5m out when you play a side who always focus on the maul as their key weapon, where the Blues focus on other things with their limited time.

No other team in the league consistently concedes as many maul tries as us. Today, it cost us 4 tries and 3 yellow cards (during which jersey scored one of their 2 non maul tries). As I’ve said before, it’s really hard to win games when the other team are guaranteed 14-21 from mauls (albeit we did get one today).

Also sounded like the lineout was a shambles. We must’ve lost about 10 on our own throw and changing the hooker didn’t make much difference. We were missing our best lineout operator and it functioned ok in pre season so hopefully that was a one off.

1 game in, we have played away at one of the toughest places - not many win in Jersey, against a team known for its maul (I would say the best in the league at it) and also for their strong defence to which we scored 4 tries.

We seemed to lose a lot of players today very quickly to cards from the commentary, which sounded harsh refereeing as I didn't hear a lot of penalties being awarded against us.

On the flip side as well, we may concede a lot of maul tries but also how many other teams consistently run in the amount of tries from their own half.  Both require training, reality is there is no relegation and we are not aiming for top spot, so enjoy the tries we score.

Good comeback from Richmond

After going down to 13 men Mond were transformed. Outplayed by Nottingham till then. It’s a funny old game.

Ampthill were only on top for the 1st 20mins but scored 5 penalties, taking points on offer in the first half was the difference between sides in teh end.

So Ampthill shouldn't have come so close to losing after being 18:0 up, but on the other hand Coventry really should have made their dominance of possession tell long before the 60+ minute they finally flopped over the line.

Excellent win for Ampthill because Coventry came in to this with momentum and obviously fancying their chances but they went away with 1 point.

But I'd guess Coventry will be top half end of the season and Ampthill bottom half, Cov will batter some sides into submission this year.

I predicted a pirates win, but I did think that pury were better this year than in the past when they played Ealing, so surprised, but not shocked.

People of a certain age, or those who have a working knowledge of rugby history - I have a foot in both camps - will know that Cov used to be one of the top names in English rugby, with a high-calibre fixture list, several trophies & multiple England caps to show for it. Although it’s quite a while - 33 years I think - since they were in the top flight, I think it’s fair to say that some Cov supporters took a while to fully adjust to their ‘new’ status at level 2, then level 3, & now back to 2 again. That may explain why these supporters (who are almost certainly a minority) struggle with the whole ‘mutual respect’ rugby value when it comes to certain opposing clubs…

I can very much agree it is a minority at Cov - on one of my previous visits I have to say I and my fellow supporters were verbally abused by a disgruntled supporter in the stand. He did save this for the final whistle when he turned around from further down the stand questioned our parentage with a few choice F's and Jeffs and then scuttled away quickly before he could explain himself to my rather large travelling companion who wished to ask him his rationale for such behaviour - that and one other occasion where I witnessed a Cov supporter try and assault one of our supporters under the stand in the Bar (the other Cov supporters in the bar very quickly ejected this person and were very apologetic to my fellow supporter - they demonstrated the true behaviour of Coventry fans). I was at the Cov - Knights game two weekends back and witnessed no ill manner / behaviour from Cov supporters then which is the norm I would say.

Is that the only non-rolling maul try you can find? 

'Some', yes.

I've followed Cov since about '66, so certainly come into that 'certain age' category. However, I just as certainly don't allow my postings here or there to nudge into the territory described.

As the idiot that runs the Cov Unofficial, I must admit I'm somewhat irked by some of the comments, and can assure you that anything beyond decency is removed instantly. Nothing  has been yet this week though. 

I am hoping to persuade one of our occasional contributors, who has a refereeing background to put together a small piece based on his view of proceedings (if he has time), so perhaps watch that space. I can guarantee it will be absolutely balanced.

Defending prop goes under attacking lock, and drives up until the lock is lifted against the maul and toppled out. As he's lifted lock appeals to AR (facing wrong way for ref) that he is being lifted by the leg. AR shrugs and does nothing.

I have clear photos of the incident.

The other way to stop it is don’t give away needless penalties around the half way line. If I was a coach, I’d be furious at these types of penalties. I understand ones in the 22 where there is something to be gained, but I can never get my head round why players hold on or give away various other breakdown penalties in the middle of the field. There was no danger, and you’re now left defending a maul in your 22. Just let them have the ball/turnover if necessary. We at least have some control over that so I would focus on discipline around the half way line than maul defence.

Compared to the mighty Cow, who were the Saracens of the 70s we, Ampthill, are a jumped up shower.

But anyone who criticises Paul Turner's coaching abilities is a fool, he has been the best coach in every league Ampthill have come up through and is arguably still the best, his record speaks for itself.

The travelling fans at Ampthill were lovely from what I could see, there were loads of them, they were pretty vocal and took defeat in good part. But these will be the hard core of Covid fans and so probably big rugby fans in general.

https://m.rugbynetwork.net/main/s425/st202282.htm" rel="nofollow - https://m.rugbynetwork.net/main/s425/st202282.htm

Onojaife is also important player for Blues stealing and disrupting lineouts off the opposition who was missing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGKhXemxg2c" rel="nofollow - Jersey Reds v Bedford Blues tries - YouTube

Indeed. There seem to be a number posters there regularly intent on portraying themselves in a very poor light. 

'Number' of posters - or just one or two who post regularly?

I think the overall viewpoint from Cov fans was that they were poor for much of the game against what was a limited but effective game plan from Ampthill.  More frustration at their own team than critical of Ampthill. 

Some people, though, should perhaps leave it a day or two before posting their reactions...