LONDON Irish made it four Greene King IPA Championship victories from four this afternoon – but they were forced to battle mightily hard before earning a 21-17 come-from-behind success at Coventry.

Exiles began brightly, but it was the newly-promoted hosts – who had not lost at home for more than a year – who got the scoreboard up and running courtesy of an 11th-minute Jake Sharp penalty.

Irish replied almost immediately, however, and scored their first try of the afternoon two minutes later when a slick line-out move involving Teofilo Paulo and Blair Cowan was rounded off with hooker Dave Porecki dotting down. Stephen Myler made no mistake with the conversion and Declan Kidney’s men had a 7-3 advantage.

Coventry refused to back down, though, and wing David Halaifonua was only denied a potential score by a brilliant combination tackle from Cowan and Josh McNally.

In an end-to-end contest, Exiles centre Tom Stephenson then made a 30-metre break before Exiles were held up over the line, and the home side nearly scored at the other end only for Scott Steele to make a fine tackle on James Voss.

However, Coventry did move in front just before the half-hour mark when former All Black and Munster centre Sam Tuitupou raced through the Irish defence following a slick backs move. Sharp added the extras to put the home side 10-7 to the good.

London Irish hit back as they attempted to avoid going into the break behind, but despite sustained pressure in their opponents’ 22, they were unable to add to their tally and went into half-time with a three-point deficit.

It took just four minutes of the second half for Irish to level, though, the metronomic Myler landing a straight-forward penalty from 25 metres out, and shortly after he nudged Exiles in front with another successful kick.

Coventry would not lie down, however, and they launced wave after wave of attack at Exiles, with the visitors’ brave defence eventually causing the ball to be dropped on their five-metre line.

The outstanding Halaifonua then thought he had scored, only for the try to be ruled out for a forward pass, and the wing was then bundled into touch five metres short of the line.

However, play was taken back for a Coventry penalty which the hosts kicked to the corner, and an excellent driving maul concluded with replacement hooker Scott Tolmie crossing the whitewash to put his side in front on the hour mark. Sharp’s conversion made it 17-13 to the home side.

Irish, though, weathered the storm, and made their decisive move with 10 minutes remaining. Smart work in midfield allowed Myler to off-load to centre Brendan Macken, and he showed excellent pace to gallop clear and touch down for Exiles’ second try of the afternoon. Myler could not add the extras, but the visitors led 18-17.

However, the former Northampton man made no mistake with a penalty five minutes later, and Irish’s defence held firm for them to hold on to a gritty but deserved victory.

London Irish travel to London Scottish next Sunday (3pm).