The Coventry Jets are still looking for their first victory after a 56-40 on a soggy afternoon in Farnborough. Their hosts, the Farnham Knights, earned their first ever victory against the Jets largely thanks to four touchdowns from Kingsley Ejigou. Coventry scored their first domestic points after being shutout in their only other game by the Bristol Aztecs.
Dominic Olney earned MVP honours with a two touchdown haul, whilst Josh Hughes chipped in with his first score for the club. Martin Ringeisen and James Gascoigne both scored on their debuts and veteran running back Tony Perkins finished off the scoring. Coventry flew out of the gates with a spellbinding first quarter, leading 20-0 after Olney and Hughes broke into the endzone either side of Gascoigne’s 35 yard return of a blocked punt.
As good as the first period was for the Jets the second period was the absolute opposite. Taking over near their own goal line, Coventry’s offence was manhandled and forced backwards for a safety to get the Knights on the board. As well as conceding the two points, Coventry had to kick the ball back to their hosts and Gareth Bentir-Davis further punished their error, returning the kick back to the 10 yard line where Ejigou powered in for his first score of the day.
Perkins fumbled the ensuing kick off and Ejigou went straight back to work, this time scoring from 20 yards out to pull Farnham within five. Joe Thompson threw a lengthy touchdown pass to Scott Spearink for a 21-20 lead as the Knights gained an advantage they would never lose again on the day. Ejigou completed a hat-trick of touchdowns shortly before the break to ensure that the Jets endured a miserable, sodden half time.
Fumbles proved a huge problem for Coventry once again and a spillage on the first play of the second half allowed Thompson to waltz into the endzone to stretch the deficit to 15. Ringeisen capped an impressive debut with 2 yard dive into the endzone to pull the Jets within seven. However, the respite was short-lived as Ejigou romped home, covering 80 yards on two carries. Olney kept the Jets in the contest with a superb catch and run into the endzone.
Spearink took the ensuing kick back to Coventry’s one yard line with Bentir-Davis finishing the job on the next play to end the third quarter with the Knights leading 49-34. Spearnik snagged his second long touchdown reception early in the fourth as Farnham sent in back-up quarterback Richard Francia. Perkins did manage a consolation touchdown for Coventry with the game already out of reach late in the fourth quarter to leave the final score 56-40.
Head Coach Gerry McManus was full of praise for his young squad “we’ve come a long way already and are starting to put things together. There are still many things that we need to iron out but we’re getting there.”
McManus doesn’t have much time to work as the Jets host the Tamworth Phoenix on Saturday the 11th of June at Pinley RFC. Kick off is 16:00 and is preceded by the juniors at 12:00 as they meet their Phoenix counterparts. Entry is £2 for adults, £1 for under 16s. For more details on the Coventry Jets and to find out how you can be part of their 2011 campaign, please visit their website www.covjets.com or follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/CoventryJets