LONDON Irish head coach Tom Coventry paid tribute to the club’s supporters after Exiles crashed out of the Aviva Premiership on Sunday.

The hosts were beaten 32-25 by Harlequins at Madejski Stadium, leaving them six points adrift of Newcastle with only their final game of the season at Wasps to play (Saturday, 3.30pm).

A crowd of more than 9,000 were in attendance to see the last rites of a disappointing campaign, and Coventry said: “Our supporters have been marvellous, they were cheering us right up until the finish.

“I’d like to thank them for getting behind us all season. As long as we can give them everything that we have got, they can watch us play and be proud of the fact that we are giving something back and that is the key.”

He added: “At times in the year we have struggled to do that. There were times when I thought we let our supporters down and ourselves down, but as the year has gradually gone on we have had to be a little bit tougher.

“Ultimately we haven’t been good enough, haven’t been strong enough, haven’t been disciplined enough and we haven’t been able to show the rugby maturity you need to win games. That is why we finished bottom, and is a reflection of how well we have played.”