Argentine international Luis Criscuolo was the hero with a drop goal which gave Coventry victory in the third minute of stoppage time against their old rivals.

It was a cruel end to Lions' fourth straight defeat and they now face a massive task to haul themselves off the bottom of the league table.

Coventry's coach Derek Eves admitted his side played well below par but was clearly grateful for the victory which puts his side in sixth place.

Rugby led the first half by 14-11 and the match was dominated by the placekickers as playing conditions became slippery in the rain and high winds - handling was at a premium.

Coventry snatched an early lead when Eves elected to take a tap penalty instead of a kick at goal and Steve Gough put over Julian Horrobin in the corner.

Rugby responded quickly with a try from Paul Bale after good work by scrum half Dan Bailey. The kickers then took over. Gough kicked two for Coventry but Martyn Davies did likewise for Rugby and then Dean Morgan dropped a goal to give them a half-time lead.

Davies and Gough exchanged penalties before Lions lost their back row pair Paul Thompson and Alwyn Davies to the sin bin.

While they were still down to thirteen men Gough levelled the scores with his fourth penalty and a drawn game looked the likely outcome until in stoppage time Gough's drop goal attempt was charged down, the ball was fed to Criscuolo and he sent his kick soaring between the posts.

RUGBY LIONS:
M Davies (Evans 75 mins); Janiskowski, Gillooly, Vaega, Bale; Morgan, Bailey; Rees, Burdett, Wingham (Revan 47 mins), Kinsey, Field, A Davies, Thompson, Ellis

COVENTRY:
Kilford; Gallagher, Criscuolo, Curtis (Robinson 40 mins), Smallwood; Gough, Dawson; Sharp, Addleton, Crane, Whitley, Fountaine (Ayres 67 mins), Horrobin, Crofts, Eves