Barclay's late try banks the points; RUGBY UNION: Coventry and Warwickshire teams in weekend action.

Byline: Alan Pooles

A SUPERB injury-time try from Dave Barclay saw Newbold on Avon open their Midlands Two account with a 26-22 verdict that left Old Coventrians still seeking their first West (South) point.

The youngster picked up a clearance and hared past two attempted tackles to cross in the corner, completing a rousing recovery after OCs had extended their 17-16 interval advantage to eight points. Glenn Bond added three penalties to his conversion of Danny Facer's first-half try for Newbold. And it was Facer who hauled the home side into striking range when he put the finishing touch to a slick break involving Daz Dean, Ben Edge and Paulo Calverhal.

Disappointed OCs drew some consolation in an assured scrumhalf debut by colts graduate Matty Greenbank who weighed in with a penalty and two conversions. Sam Montague and Stu Lee supplied their first-half tries - the latter via a 40-yard interception - and the pack claimed a well-deserved pushover after the break.

Earlsdon had to be content with a 17-17 draw against Silhillians in a wind-dominated match of two halves.

The home side made the most of the elements to open up a 17-0 lead at the break, Tom Kendal pumping home an early penalty before upgrading opportunist touchdowns by Rory McPheators and Neil Saunders.

But Silhillians in turn cashed in on the conditions to balance the books, a penalty rashly conceded by Loz Gittings setting up the equalising try but their last-kick conversion attempt falling a metre short.

Berkswell & Balsall landed their first win of the season when they tamed neighbours Barkers Butts 27-23 despite finishing the match with two men in the sin bin.

Handsome tries by Jamie Knott and skipper Joe Cart gave Berkswell a 20-6 lead at the interval, Knott also helping himself to two conversions and two penalties, But Butts had the wind and slope in their favour in the second half and pegged the gap to four points before Roman Coombes carved his way through to claim the decisive try under the posts.

Kenilworth slipped off the National League pace when they slumped to a 45-22 home defeat against Luton, outgunned seven tries to three after a succession of costly defensive lapses.

Disrupted when Ian Phillips retired with a broken nose in the 12th minute they edged ahead when Mike Rust's powerful thrust to the right corner was expertly upgraded by Jamie Peacock.

But although Peacock's penalty kept them in contention, they fell 19-10 adrift by the interval and conceded two more converted tries before staging a revival that saw Adrian Hales and Sam Overton round off well-constructed moves.

Peacock converted the latter contribution but the visitors responded with two more tries to round off an impressive performance and leapfrog their hosts into fourth position.

Hinckley's 100-per-cent start to the season was wrecked when they suffered a 24-19 reverse that elevated visitors Ampthill into pole position.

Will Keeling registered the lone try in a surprisingly diffident display by the Leicester Road men, Joe Glover adding the conversion to his four penalties.

And they almost pulled a result out of the fire when they belatedly discovered some attacking momentum to spend the final 10 minutes of the game camped in Ampthill's 22.

Rugby St Andrews absorbed a late reshuffle to collect their first Midlands Three win of the season with a 26-0 success at Deepings - Simon Kilborn taking pride of place with a hat-trick of tries in the second period.

A Ryan Taylor try converted by James Ellerington gave Saints the half-time advantage they deserved for an impressive pack performance.

And although they didn't make full use of their second-half domination, Kilborn's opportunism plus a brace of Taylor conversions left no room for any argument.

Old Leamingtonians are still seeking their first Midland Three point of the season after succumbing 18-13 to a last-gasp Shipstonon-Stour try.

OLs trailed 8-5 at the interval despite Luke Staton's thrilling 30-yard dash to the line.

A well-worked pushover try for prop Craig Ellis and a David Canning penalty put them on level terms 15 minutes from time but despite some heavy pressure they were confounded by a late breakaway.

Coventry Welsh took possession of the John Roden Cup with a 29-3 victory in their annual showcase against Coventrians.

They held a 10-3 lead at half-time - Luke Horan converting Matt Carrier's try before slotting home a penalty - but sustained pressure eroded Coventrians' defensive resilience - Tony Joy, Carrier and Russ Brown Jnr snapping up late tries and Horan contributing four more points.

Nathan Nour claimed a hat-trick of tries as Welsh powered to a 60-0 win in the 2nd XV encounter, but Russ Brown Snr was spared having to fork out for the traditional jug when he unaccountably spilled the ball after crossing the line for the third time.

Russ Hughes, Darren Morgan, Clyde Jackson, Andy Gardner and skipper for the day Brett Horan also logged tries.

Keresley completed an early-season double against Copsewood when they saw off their Coventry rivals 22-6. Neil Hannah converted a lone first-half try from Brad Atkins - Copsewood retaliating with two penalties - and although yellow cards for Pip Wilkinson and Gaz Wyatt reduced the home side to 13 men at the start of the second period, Ant Collins set up a try for Hannah. Collins then crossed himself before again doing the groundwork for Hannah's second.

Earlsdon ousted Warwickshire 2nd XV Cup holders Nuneaton Old Edwardians with a 20-10 firstround triumph - Josh Meszar snapping up two first-half tries while Marcus Jones kicked the other points.

CAPTION(S):

FINAL FLING... Matt Alexandre shows the flair that earned him a hat-trick of tries as Barkers Butts Under-15s overpowered local rivals Stoke Old Boys 43-5 in their first game of the season. It was a perfect swansong for the centre who, after two seasons at Pickford Grane Lane, is returning with his family to South Africa. Matt Walker, Tyler Price, John McCarthy and new recruit Luke Aspley also claimed tries with Walker and Price adding two conversions apiece.