The Coventry Jets slumped to a 20-7 defeat in a game they will feel that they should have won.
The victorious Lancashire Wolverines, who leap-frog the Jets into second place, managed only a paltry 107 yards of offence but it was more than enough as Coventry turned the ball over eight times and were inept in their opponents redzone.
Thomas Singleton-Wells scored the Jets only touchdown on a 28 yard pass from Joe Brammer to give him three scores in as many games but it was nowhere near enough as the hosts self-destructed every time it looked like they were back in the game.
A promising opening saw the Jets’ defence look their usual stingy self, stopping the visitors cold, but Coventry’s offence stalled at midfield and a blocked Josh Hughes punt handed the Wolverines possession at the Jets’ 16 yard line.
Just when it looked like they’d done enough Neil Sullivan was left uncovered in the back of the endzone to snare Jack Barton’s pass and a 6-0 advantage. The resulting point after try was blocked.
Dominic Olney returned the kick off 54 yards to set Coventry up for an immediate response but the Jets fumbled the snap and Lancashire reacted quickest to cover the loose ball.
The pattern would be repeated throughout the game as Coventry found themselves with great field position but time and again they’d suffer some form of miscue and the chance would be gone. The Wolverines punished Coventry with a four play drive that covered some 59 yards and ended with Barton’s second touchdown pass of the game, a 13 yarder to Richard Cole. Christopher Astley’s kick this time was good and the Jets had dug themselves a 13-0 hole midway through the first quarter.
Brammer responded with passes to Sam Hyde, Tony Perkins and, finally, Singelton-Wells for the score. Elliott Strong converted the kick to drag the Jets to within six as the first period ended. Lancashire didn’t move the ball at all in the second quarter but the Jets put together two good drives, the first ended in their opponents half with a Chris Anderson interception and the second, a 10 play drive, ended with the half-time whistle as the Jets were knocking on the door. Sandwiched in-between the two stanzas was Anderson’s second interception.
Coventry looked to continue their dominance of the second period but gave the ball away on a fumble immediately from the restart. The Wolverines took over at the Jets sixteen but were forced backwards before Olney popped up with a timely interception, his fourth of the season. Coventry couldn’t capitialise and soon punted the ball back. Three incomplete passes meant that Lancashire had to return the ball to the Jets but Singleton-Wells couldn’t cover the punt and the visitors took over at Coventry’s four yard line. Barton punished the mistake with his third touchdown pass of the game, this time picking out Astley from close in. He would then add his second point after kick to stretch the lead to 20-7.
The Jets next blunder saw them drive to Lancashire’s five yard line before Brammer was once again picked off by Anderson. The possession was short and ended with a punt but on the very next play Olney made a 13 yard reception before seeing the ball stripped with the Wolverines recovering at their own 22 yard line. Once more though, the Jets defence stood tall and an 11 play drive resulted for the Jets, however, as they drove down to their opponents two yard line they couldn’t force the ball over for the score.
Yet again it was left to the defence to get the ball back and Clinton Slater obliged with his first sack and forced fumble. Defensive standout Mufaro Dune picked up the loose ball and rumbled down to the Wolverines’ 16 yard line but a fourth interception heralded another redzone failing for the Jets, who were fast running out of time. A George Eremi sack did force a punt from the visitors but a fifth interception, and a ninth turnover, saw the final nail well and truly driven into the Jets’ coffin.
After four straight games the Jets, currently third with a 2-2 record, have two weeks off before they attempt to bounce back against the top-ranked Nottingham Caesars. Brammer followed up last week’s solid outing with a further 215 yards passing but Coventry’s lack of a running game in the second half gives cause for great concern as they look to get their playoff push back into gear. For further details of how to follow, or join, the Jets visit their new website www.covjets.com or follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CoventryJets.