The Coventry Jets finally got their season up and running with a 34-0 victory over the London Cobras in the team's first ever meeting. Jeremy Simms led the way and was outstanding on both sides of the ball, scoring two touchdowns on offense and making big contributions on both defense and special teams. Kofi Campbell also made two trips to the endzone and Courtney Pope kept alive his streak of scoring in every game with a fourth quarter reception from Lorne Sam.
With the entire first half dominated by the defenses, neither team moved the ball well and combined for less than 100 yards in the first quarter. Simms set the tone for the Jets with a crunching hit on Emmanuel Mukoro, jarring the ball free and forcing a punt on the visitors opening possession.
It wasn't until the two minute warning that either time troubled the scoreboard. Sam was handed good field position by the Jets' defense and made short work of converting it with two passes to Simms, the second of which was a 28 touchdown. Alan Steel split the uprights with his kick for the extra point to hand Coventry a 7-0 lead heading into the break.
Simms handed his side a near perfect start to the second half, returning the opening kick off 87 yards to the Cobras' three yard line where Campbell crashed in for his first score. Steel again converted the kick to double the Jets' lead at 14. Steel would go on to convert four of his five kicks with his final effort being blocked. London were unable to respond as their next drive ended in an Adam Biggs interception, one of three on the day for the Jets but there could have been more as Nic Bec found himself under constant pressure.
Coventry's third touchdown was similar to the first, Sam hit Simms from 23 yards this time as the Cobras defence, admittedly short on numbers, began to wilt in the evening sun at the Butts Park Arena. Heading into the game as the Premier Division's number one defense, the most points the Cobras had previously conceded had been 17, the Jets would go on to double that number.
Desperation set in for the Cobras as they tried to mount a response, Ian Jacquet's fake punt ended in disaster though as Biggs saw it coming and held the runner up long enough for Josh Gordon to come through and force his second fumble of the day. David Saul, who also had nine tackles and an interception, was on hand to collect the lose ball and gift the Jets excellent field position once again.
Two passes later Sam had his team in the endzone again, Pope's sixth touchdown reception of the season was his shortest, coming from just two yards out. Bec was unable to move his side downfield and Simms came up with his first interception of the season returning it 40 yards to set up Campbell's two yard touchdown dive. There would be no further scoring as Coventry completed their first shut out of the season. The Cobras didn't get any closer to the Jets' endzone than the 34 yard line as they were held to just 90 yards of offense.
Simms ended the game with six tackles, one interception and a pass defended as well as 102 yards receiving and 169 yards on returns, Head Coach Gerry McManus heaped praise on the all round performance "In the history of this team I've been lucky enough to witness some incredible individual efforts, from Tony Perkins practically winning the 2005 final for us to Dax Michelina's MVP performance in Britbowl XXII but Jeremy today was simply spectacular. It's a team game though and everyone worked hard to get this result."
McManus will lead his team out again on Sunday the 11th of July as they face the Farnham Knights at Farnboro' Rugby Club. The Jets will be looking to keep their winning streak alive in the early kick off next Sunday and they'll be up against some familiar faces in the shape of Louis and Christopher Cooke. The Cambridgeshire pair left the Jets in June to head south and join the Knights. Christopher, the elder of the pair will be looking to apply pressure to Lorne Sam whilst Louis will be charged with helping to cool down the Jets' red hot receivers.
Your next chance to see the Jets at the Butts Park Arena will be the Saturday night game versus the Sussex Thunder, the 19:00 kick off will be played under lights and will be preceded by the Jets Youth team facing the Nottingham Caesars. The action gets underway at 15:00 and entry prices are £5 for adults, £2 for Under 16s with a family ticket that covers 2 adults and 4 children for just £10. For further information on the Coventry Jets visit their website www.coventryjets.co.uk or follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/CoventryJets.