Coventry 30 Pertemps Bees 29
Don't be confused by the scoreline; a typical local derby this was not.
Normally packed with big tackles, yellow cards and more handbags than the Ritzy dancefloor on a Saturday night, Coventry and Pertemps Bees confounded all the pre-match predictions of blood and thunder to deliver a thor-oughly entertaining spring-day knockabout.
W here everyone had expected the two packs to lay into each other, in every sense of the expression, instead as good neighbours should, they took it in turns and shared possession like old friends.
In the first half, Bees were allowed to weave their patterns and did so to such effect that they scored three tries in 20 minutes, producing such high-quality handling that it was difficult to see why they started the day only two points and two places above the National One relegation zone.
Wing Aaron Takarangi scored twice to suggest reports of his demise are somewhat premature and Dave Knight looked a rejuvenated force at full-back, racing through some powder-puff tackling to go 50 metres under the posts.
In previous matches with Coventry, he'd have either been clothes-lined or shot by a sniper, but this was not that sort of day. Knight should also be commended for his chip and off-load that gave Takarangi his first opening.
Led by the splendidly truculent Alex Davidson, the visitors' octet was in total control and, helped no end by some atrocious kicking from hand by Coventry, built up a half-time lead of 22-14.
But at half-time, the hosts recognised the need to fight fire with fire and turned to a couple of their bigger units, Ben Gulliver and Richard Protherough.
Gulliver came on and, within ten seconds, had reclaimed the opening kick-off and placed Davidson in a head-lock, no doubt aware of the effect it would have on the Welshman's suspect temperament.
Eight minutes after that, Davidson was substituted, called off before he got himself sent off, meaning Bees had lost one of their dominant performers. And so they accepted the role of obliging guests and let their hosts hold the stage for the next half-hour. Coventry began by chipping away with the odd penalty, as their opponents' discipline went, before James Moore scored the game's decisive try 11 minutes from the end.
That gave them a 30-22 lead and it appeared as though Bees would be making the short journey back to Solihull empty-handed.
Then, in a delightful cameo, visiting prop Adrian Olver came on against the side he captained last year. How the home supporters howled 'Knock On!' when the veteran scampered down the blind-side to claim his team's fourth try.
That not only secured a try bonus, it handed Bees a loss bonus too, the end result meaning they dropped a place in the league but moved further away from the trapdoor. In effect, they had drawn the game but their director of rugby, Phil Maynard, was bitterly hurt by the loss.
"I am gutted about it," he said. "I thought we deserved more but that just sums up our season."
Indeed, the main reason why his side are in such trouble at the foot of the table is not so much a lack of effort or skill, but the habit they have of ensuring minimum returns from their endeavours.
With Exeter, Penzance and Bedford to play in coming weeks, they need not just to stop that trend but to reverse it altogether.
For their part Coventry have 39 points, stand in seventh - 13 points clear of relegation - and are surely safe. They can look towards next season with a reasonable amount of optimism.
Particularly if they can hold on to key performers like their man of the match Tom Johnson and Moore, who may not be the most natural winger but is worth a place in the side with his 80 per cent goal-kicking ratio.
Johnson is growing more assured by the match on the blindside flank and is developing into a real pack leader. If Coventry can keep hold of him and captain Hendry Rheeders, they have the makings of a very fine back row.
Yet it was Bees' openside Cae Trayhern who caught the eye the most. Rarely can an individual have performed so well and ended up losing.
The former Pontypool man was tireless around the fringes and oozed class with ball in hand. One second-half break, from inside his own 22, covered 50 metres and was more befitting of an out-side centre.
And his cover tackle on Dave Millard, just before Moore went over, was inspirational. On this form, Premiership clubs might want to take a look at him. He could be leaving National One, whether Bees do or not.
