Coalville reached the semi-final of the Inter Cup for the second time in four seasons beating West Midlands side Earlsdon in a thrilling encounter in front of a crowd of 125.
Play started with both sides testing out their respective opponents with some spirited attacks, but it was the home side who drew first blood as a driving maul from a line out on the 22 got Sam Gadsby over the whitewash and George Blackburn added the conversion. Coalville stretched their lead when Matt Twigg eased through a gap in the visitors defence to touch down from 30 meters out. James Parker, Coalville`s number 8, then vacated proceedings with a hand injury with Danny Freer his replacement. Earlsdon opened their account 2 minutes later as the full back scampered through a non existent rear guard to score under the posts the conversion was good. A yellow card for each team followed, resulting in alterations through Shane Upton-Burton and Alex Collins for the hosts. Earlsdon upped their game and reduced the arrears with a penalty. However as half time closed in, the move of the match from Coalville ended with Myles Griffin being put in by Michael Richmond after the forwards marched the Earlsdon pack back 30 meters, Blacburn again adding the extra`s.
The visitors started the second period on the front foot as a dormant Coalville gave away a soft try to bring them within 4points of the hosts. Another driving maul, led by man of the match Stewart Tang, enabled Gadsby to claim his second try of the game quickly followed by a fine solo effort from Blackburn who waltzed through to touch down. On the hour mark Earlsdon again pegged the home side back with a converted try to set up a nervy final twenty minutes for Coalville but they held firm with a little bit of luck and a well struck penalty from Blackburn seeing them home.
Coalville are next in action away at Notts Casuals on the 10th Dec kick-off 2.15 pm