Oldham Match Report

Oldham's quality subdues fighting Bears.

Oldham 58 Coventry Bears 6, Sunday, Vestacare Stadium, Oldham.

photo by Oldham. 

The Bears travelled up to one of the traditional big names of Rugby League on Sunday but we're beaten by a side determined to keep in the promotion hunt and regain their place in the Championship.

The hosts took an early lead as Jack Holmes crossed over the line for a try.

It was eleven minutes into the game before the next score, and this time it was Craig Briscoe which added to the lead in what was a close game with the Bears looking capable of causing damage.

And then in twenty one minutes, the Bears had the reward they deserved as Ben Stead got the ball out to Dante Morley-Samuels out on the wing to open the Bears account.

Stead took the conversion, and brought the score to 10-6.

As end to end play ensued, Oldham's Jack Holmes broke the deadlock to restore the margin in favour of the home side.

Still, the Bears were in with a chance, but then Matt Wilkinson delivered two killer punches as he scored two tries in quick succession just before the break.

Oldham's Paul Cook was having a good kicking game and his two conversions put the score at 28- 6, which both flattered the hosts and effectively put the game out of the Bears reach.

Any possibility of a Bears revival was extinguished as Luke Hooley and Ben West scored tries early in the second half.

As expected, the Bears continued to put up a fight and for periods were still the equal of their opponents, but then tiredness crept in and mistakes started to happen.

Oldham, conscious of the need for a good points difference in the tight run up to the final play off places were ruthless and punished the Bears with two more tries, bringing their total to ten to the Bears one.

The Bears had nothing left to offer but still left to a good round of applause from the sporting Oldham crowd.

The Bears return to the Butts Park Arena this Sunday to take on old rivals North Wales Crusaders.

Oldham Preview

OLDHAM RLFC V COVENTRY BEARS 

Sunday 2nd September 
Vestacare Stadium | KO : 15:00

Referee: J Mcmullen

Touch Judges: A Williams & I Arnold

Reserve Referee A Marsh

Bears Head Coach Tom Tsang commented: 

Before the Bank Holiday, we had a tough game against West Wales, in which we picked up a number of injuries. Unfortunately the week off wasnt quite long enough for a number of those injuries to heal. Not for the first time we have had the depth of our squad tested.

Missing are:

Chris Vitalini (elbow)

James Geurtjens (international duty with Netherlands)

Paul Emmanuelli (neck)

Ben Gray (wrist)

Rhys Gant (shoulder)

Dan Gover (knee)

Kameron Pearce Paul (head)

Jacob Ogden (Ankle)

Final Squad to face Oldham Away: 

1 Errol Carter

2 Hayden Freeman

3 Jason Bass

4 Dante Morley-samuels

5 Reece Rance

6 Liam Rice Wilson

7 Ben Stead

8 Peter Ryan

9 Zak Williams

10 Mal Lloyd Jones

11 Kieran Sherratt

12 Chris Barratt

13 Ash Bateman

14 Brad Sheridan

15 Cameron Stewart

16 Harry Kaufman

17 Richie Hughes

West Wales Raiders Match Report

Bears secure hard fought win against Raiders.

West Wales Raiders 18 Coventry Bears 28

Coventry Bears made a welcome return to winning ways as they chalked up their sixth League 1 victory in Llanelli at the weekend.
West Wales Raiders remain at the foot of the table, but they certainly gave the Bears a scare with a determined performance better than their position suggests.
The match was one which the Bears expected to win, but they faced a team fielding six players from the Bears former rivals Gloucestershire All Golds, while in return the Bears had five players from the principality named in their squad.
The Bears were first to score courtesy of Hayden Freeman who nicely latched on to a Ben Stead kick to bag the first try after seven minutes, and Ben Stead's conversion put the score at 0-6.
Then it was Liam Rice-Wilson's turn to cross the line and another conversion, this time by Paul Emanuelli, doubled the lead to a comfortable 0-12.
But then the home side showed some of the determination they have shown in defeat to pull themselves back into a game by now strewn with errors and niggles.
Steve Parry scored their first try and a second was added a few minutes later by Sam Baker. Both were converted and the score was now level at 12-12 and remained this way til half time.
For the struggling Raiders this was a landmark occasion as they have never not been losing at half time. Could this first ever victory come at the expense of the Bears?
The worries of Bears fans were eased as the team came out and were soon quashing the Raiders hopes of an upset thanks to a try from Ashley Bateman, which Emanuelli duly converted.
The lead was further extended as Hayden Freeman crossed over for his second of the afternoon .
Now with four tries against the Raiders two, the match looked like it was falling into the Bears' laps, but no, the Welsh resistance was still capable of striking and causing damage.
And their reward was a third try, and now the score stood at a nail-biting 18-22. Another try now from the home team could have been a fatal blow for the Bears.
But the Bears dug deep and showed their composure and professionalism as Kieran Sherrat's try sealed the game  and it ended with a ten point margin in favour of the Bears at 18-28.
For Raiders this was probably the best performance of their existence in the league, but in the final analysis it was a case of 'job done' for the Coventry team.
It had been tight, not pretty at times, but this was a good win, before the break in fixtures for next week's Rugby League Challenge Cup Final.

West Wales Preview

Bears looking to return to winning ways in Wales

Match Preview West Wales Raiders v Coventry Bears Stebonheath Park Sunday 

Coventry Bears will be making their way to Llanelli on Sunday to face bottom club West Wales Raiders on Sunday. This is a game the Bears can expect to win after suffering three losses in a row.

However, this trio of defeats pales into insignificance when compared to what is happening to the Raiders. Put simply, they have lost every game this season, are rock bottom of the league table with a pointsdeficit over 21 games of 1552.

The Raiders were one of the teams the Bears beat during their winning streak in July, putting 64 points against them on a warm Wednesday evening with just six being scored against the Bears.

Last weekend they lost 130-0 at home to York, once again setting an unenviable record.

The Bears have had it tough since joining League 1, but have thankfully been spared this sort of humiliation.

It is not easy playing a sport away from where the main pool of talent is located, but both sides are looking to the future and to developing local talent, with the Bears already some way down that path. And the set up at Stebonheath Park, with a tidy ground and clubhouse which they own, is a good foundation for the future once this nightmare season is over.

Tom Tsang will be taking nothing for granted, but for once the Bears really are firm favourites to come away with a win.   

Bears 19 man squad has been announced and a number of players return to considabley strengthen the squad: 

1. Dante Morley-samuels

2. Hayden Freeman

3. Jason Bass

4. Kam Pearce Paul

5 .Reece Rance

6. Paul Emmanuelli

7. Ben Stead

8. Chris Vitalini

9. Liam Rice Wilson

10. Pete Ryan

11. Kieran Sherratt

12. Chris Barratt

13. Ben Gray

14. Zak Williams

15. Dan Gover

16. Mal Lloyd Jones

17. Ash Bateman

18. James Geurtjens

19. Cam Stewart

Workington Match Report

Bears show fighting spirit

Workington Town 40 Coventry Bears 16

A 200 mile, five hour drive up the M6 is not the best preparation for a physical game like Rugby League, and the Bears got off to a decidedly shakey start before recovering their composure and keeping the scoreline respectable on Sunday. And this was accomplished despite having seven players unavailable due to injury or other commitments, which had given coach Tom Tsang a selection headache going into the fixture.

Town, who are third placed in the League, did most of the damage in the first twenty five minutes. James Newton scored the first points for Workington following some good play by their bog forwards.

Their next try was a skilfull solo effort from Jamie Doran who tricked his way past three Bears defenders.

And then the real damage was done by James Hambley who scored two tries, the first on fifteen minutes the next on twenty four.

In between those two tries, the Bears managed to summon up their strength as Ben Stead kicked the ball for it to land just in front of the Workington posts where he ran onto it, picked it up and scored a fine try. He also completed the job by taking and scoring the conversion himself.

However, after twenty four minutes, the hosts had 24 points on the scoreboard, and that point-a-minute score rate looked very ominous, especially given Town’s position in the league and their need to have the best possible points difference going into the playoffs. 

The Bears did manage to put the brakes on, and no more points were added in the first half, with the score staying at 24-6.

Workingtonperhaps showed their frustration in the early part of the second half as two of their players were sinbinned for foul tackles. Rather than being weakened by this, the eleven remaining men worked together to put Tom Curwen crashing over for a try.

Then as their numbers increased to twelve, Oliver Wilkes added the home side’s sixth try.

A spectacular run by Ben Morris left the Bears defenders floundering in his wake as he scored Workington’s final try of the afternoon.

‘Never say die’ has become a hallmark of Bears’ performances trhis season, and Hayden Freeman lived up to this as he picked up a loose ball kicked it over a Town defender and pounced on it over the line. Ben Stead added two more with the conversion.

And that wasn’t the end, as Bears fullback Jason Bass battered his way over the line with a minute to go, leaving the score at 40-16 on a day when things could have been much worse after a bad start.

Next weekend the Bears hope to return to winning ways when they visit bottom club West Wales Raiders. 

Workington Preview

Injury-hit Bears first Cumbria away day this weekend at Workington

Workington Town v Coventry Bears Sunday 12th August

Match Preview

On Sunday, the Bears will be playing at one of the Cumbrian outposts of the game against Workington, situated on the sea facing edge of the Lake District.

This will be the Bears first trip up to Cumbria this season, although sides from that hotbed of the game featured three times in the early part of the season at Butts Park.

There was the memorable televised cup tie against Distingtonwhich the Bears won 18-8 back in February. They lost to Whitehaven in April and most disappointingly to Workington 4-52 in May, at the height, or perhaps that should be the depth, of their run of bad results.

What made it disappointing was that many fans remembered vividly the encounter at homer against Workington in the 2017 season, where the Bears were incredibly close to winning but lost 28-29 in the last few seconds.

That could have been a memorable victory, the first against a traditional Northern team, but it wasn’t to be, and we had to wait over a year until the game against Keighley for that landmark to be reached.

Coming closer back to the present, it was no surprise that the Bears winning streak came to an end against all-conquering York City Knights two weeks ago, but gave a glimpse of what they are capable of in the second half against Doncaster, but still lost due to a poor first half performance.

Town have won five out of their last six games, most recently beating Keighley, and they are handily placed in third position in the table behind York, so we know they are a good side.

The task facing the Bears then is a tough one, a lomg road trip, up against a team in form, and looking to pull back a 48 point deficit.  To make matters more difficult, Tom Tsang is missing several key players;

Zak Williams (sternum)

Mal Lloyd Jones (tooth)

Ash Bateman (undiagnosed breathing problem)

Harry Chapman (holiday)

Errol Carter (International duty for Turkey vs Serbia)

Jacob Ogden (Ankle)

Mike Russell (unavailable)

The squad that will be travelling is: 

1. Dante Morley Samuels

2. Hayden Freeman

3. Jason Bass

4. Kam Pearce Paul

5. Reece Rance

6. Paul Emmanuelli

7. Ben Stead

8. James Geurtjens

9. Liam Rice Wilson

10. Peter Ryan

11. Kieran Sherratt

12. Chris Barratt

13. Cam Stewart

14. Brad Sheridan

15. Dan Gover

16. Chris Vitalini

17. James Mason

Bears seek University Scholarship players

Bears seek to recruit more Coventry University Scholarship players

Coventry University are seeking to recruit new players through their highly successful Sports Scholarship scheme. The scheme which has been running for a number of years has gained new found popularity since Coventry Bears entered League One as there is now a clear pathway to professional Rugby League through the scheme.

Coventry Bears Alan Robinson commented:

'As a former student at Coventry University I want to keep a firm pathway from University Rugby League to the Bears. University RL is a hotbed of talent and one which we like to keep a close eye on, we have a large number of students in our ranks, and as a professional club we have much more to offer potential students coming to Coventry to study.'

"In 2016 former Wigan Academy player Kieran Sherratt was accepted onto the Coventry University Sports Management Degree course, one of the best of its kind in the world. Since then we have had Peter Ryan, Dan Gover and Dante Morely-Samuels all enroll at Coventry in 2017 for degree courses and go on to represent their country at University level and the Bears in League One"

The Bears relationship with Coventry University has gone from strength to strength and it’s something that has been a strong foundation for their recruitment, so much so in fact Bears Head Coach Tom Tsang is now taking over the reigns of Coventry University Head Coach as James Geurtjens returns to Australia at the end of the year. 

Coventry University player Dan Gover who has been a regular performer for Coventry Bears this season

Tom said:

"The University is now actively recruiting players for 2018/19 and there is no reason why a new player straight from College or Sixth form could achieve a scholarship and indeed a contract with Coventry Bears for next season. The scheme is also open to more mature students already at other Universities who may have played a high level of sport and are seeking new qualifications such as a Masters.This year we have had a total of 12 players involved in the University 4 nations, 10 playing and 2 coaching in and we are very proud of that".

Potential Scholars must qualify for a course at the University before having the opportunity to be considered for a scholarship.

Gemma Lavery - Head of Sport and Physical Activity at Coventry University

"We are thrilled with the strong development, engagement and relationship that we now have with the Coventry Bears.  We are proud, committed and passionate to support Alan and the team now and for many years to come".

Tom Shakespeare – Sports Scholarships Officer at Coventry University

“Our close relationship with Coventry Bears offers an excellent platform for talented Rugby League players to compete in professional sport alongside academic study providing a true dual career environment. The primary focus of our sports scholarship scheme is to enable the student athlete to reach their full sporting and academic potential through a tailored programme of support services, flexible study options and lifestyle advice. This support has also recently been recognised by the Sport England backed TASS Dual Career Accreditation further highlighting our commitment and ability to support talented student athletes towards their dual career aspirations.”

Can Coventry University make you an offer? CLICK  HERE

For the Coventry University Website CLICK HERE

For available courses CLICK HERE

Scholarship information page where you can download the application form CLICK HERE

Read about the UK No 1 Coventry University Sports Management Masters Course CLICK HERE

For more information on Scholarships please contact Tom Shakesphere Coventry University Sports Development dept on: on t.shakespeare@coventry.ac.uk or +44 (0)24 7679 5979.

FOR COURSES WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR CLEARING AT COVENTRY UNIVERSITY CLICK HERE

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Current Coventry Bears Players who are University Internationals:

England: Ben Stead, Harry Chapman, Dante Moreley-Samuels, Dan Gover, Jason Bass, James Mason (4 Nations Champions 2017/18)

Ireland: Peter Ryan

Wales: Liam Rice-Wilson, Ash Bateman, (Players) & Paul Emanuelli and Chris Vitalini (Coaches of Wales)

The England Universities side which won the 4 Nations this year. Bears, Ben Stead, Harry Chapman, Dan Gover, James Mason and Jason Bass all pictured.

DONS DEFEAT BEARS

COVENTRY BEARS 4 DONCASTER RLFC 46

BUTTS PARK ARENA, SUNDAY

MIKE HYDE

That glorious July with four victories and members of the team on International duty seemed a distant memory as the Bears were defeated by a powerful and experienced Doncaster side closing in on the promotion play-off places.

The Bears kicked off and were soon on the offensive but were held up over the line by the Dons defence, that proved to be their best chance of the half and fans were left wondering how the shape of the game may have been different had the Bears taken a surprise early lead..

The two sides were evenly matchedas the game got going, testing each other for the first ten minutes, but then in a more expansive move, the Dons got the ball out to their right wing and then back again into the centre for Jordan Howden to score the first of the afternoon, with Matty Beharrell adding a couple more points.

It was another flowing move seven minutes later which saw the ball eventually passed out to Richard Owen to finish things off with a try. The conversion attempt hit the post.

The Dons were now on top as Jason Muranka broke through the home defence before Conor Bower sprinted over for his first try of the match with nearly twenty minutes gone. The successful conversion saw Doncaster building up their lead to 0-16.

Frankie Mariano was the next to cross over for the Dons after another characteristic flowing move across the park.

The Bears did all they could to slow the onslaught, but were unable to prevent Aron Bishop-Jones crossing over in the left corner which was looking very vulnerable.

As half time approached, Dons’ Brad England made a spectacular incisive run from deep in his own half to be held up by the dogged Bears defence. He was stopped, but his team mate Ryan Boyle concluded matters with a try, which was subsequently converted.

The game was effectively over as the half time hooter blew but both sides had something to prove as they came out again, the Dons wanted more points for their difference, and the Bears wanted to salvage some pride and not be nilled at home.

The Bears achieved their objective within two minutes of the restart, as Mikey Russell jinked around the Dons players before diving over to get the Bears first points. A missed conversion meant there were no mor, but would this herald a comeback against all odds?

The answer was no as the match then entered a soggy spell, broken only when Conor Bower added his second for the visitors.

The Bears attempted to fight back again, but it was the Dons who had the upper hand now.

Russell Spiers crossed over for the visitors next to extend their score further.

The final try was a close-in effort by Brad England, but for the third time in the afternoon, the conversion attempt hit the post.   

The Bears had retained their dignity, but the Dons go marching on, maybe slightly miffed at not adding a few more precious points.

MATCHFACTS

BEARS

 1 Jason Bass

 2 Hayden Freeman

 3 Jacob Ogden

21 Kameron Pearce-Paul

 5 Reece Rance

 6 Paul Emanuelli

 7 Ben Stead

 8 Dan Gover

 9 Liam Rice-Wilson

10 Chris Vitalini

11 Kieran Sherratt

12 Chris Barratt

13 Jason Mason

Subs (all used)

25 Mikey Russell

18 James Guertjens

16 Peter Ryan

17 Cameron Stewart

Tries: Russell(44)

Goals Stead 0/1

DONS

 1 Richard Owen

 5 Sam Doherty

19 Conor Bower

 4 Jason Tali

 2 Aron Bishop-Jones

 6Jordan Howden

29 Matty Beharrell

 8 Russell Spiers

 9 Kyle Kesik

14 Conor Scott

28 Frankie Mariano

11 Brad England

12 Jason Muranka

Subs (all used)

10 Ryan Boyle

13 Jordi Hedges

16 Karim Maradi

23 Ross Osborne

Tries: Howden (9), Owen (16), Bower (19, 51), Mariano (21), Jones-Bishop(32), Boyle (38), Spiers (39,68), England(78)

Goals: Beharrall 3/10

Penalty count: 12-9

Half-time: 0-30

Referee:  S RACE

Attendance: 300

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-16,0-24, 0-30;  4-30, 4-36, 4-42, 4-46

Doncaster Preview

Bears facing a determined Dons side

Coventry Bears v Doncaster RLFC

Butts Park Arena Sunday 5th August 3pm kick off Butts Park Arena

Match preview by Mike Hyde

The Bears are back in action on home turf again this weekend when they take on Doncaster RLFC or the Dons as they are more affectionally known.

Last weekends game was a tough one for the Bears, losing 68-6 against York. But as the season progresses towards its closing stages, York are looking like the best team around when everyone’s eyes had been on Bradford Bulls. Indeed, York had beaten the Bulls away from homein their previous outing, so defeating the Bears was always on the cards.

Those of a glass half empty disposition would see that game as the end of a run of four wins in a row, but those of us with more of a glass half full perspective would point to an unbroken run of three home wins, with Sunday’s game having the potential to be a fourth!! 

And if we throw in the two home wins in the cup, then the Bears home form starts to look quite solid, certainly better than their travels on the road.

The Bears should also now have their student international contingent not only back, but fully rested, recovered and in contention for places on Sunday.

So, we all know about the Bears recent adventures, and theirnot so recent heavy defeats in the first half of theseason, but what about the Dons?

The Dons are are very much ‘in the pack’ of clubs in the wake of all conquering Bradford and York, currently lying in 6th place in a League 1 table where just two points separate the five teams ranging from third to seventh place, so they will not just be looking for a win, but an improvement in their points difference which could make all the difference between a playoff place or not.

The top team [Bradford or York] goes up automatically while those in second to fifth place enter the play offs, so their current position isn’t good enough. And they are on form, albeit beaten recently by Bradford and York.

The away fixture against the Dons was way back in February, and Hull F,C.’s Miloudi was in spectacular form, scoring four tries as the Dons beat the Bears 70-10.

Could the resurgent Bears possibly turn around a 60-point margin? Well, just look what they did against Keighley. 

Bears Squad From: 

Ben Stead

Cam Stewart

Chris Barratt

Chris Vitalini

Dan Gover

Dante Morley Samuels

Harry Chapman

Hayden Freeman

Jacob Ogden

James Geurtjens

James Mason

Jason Bass

Kam Pearce Paul

Kieran Sherratt

Mikey Russell

Paul Emmanuelli

Peter Ryan

Reece Rance

Liam Rice-Wilson 

York City Knights Preview

In-form Bears travel to York

York City Knights v Coventry Bears League 1 Sunday Bootham Crescent York

Match Preview by Mike Hyde

On Sunday two teams who have been in the news and doing great things in League 1 play each other for the second time this season.

Last time around the game was at Butts Park and the Bears were in the midst of a miserable run of 13 consecutive league defeats.

No wonder then that York, with their strong support and determination to get into the Championship beat the Bears 18-58 that day back in May. Indeed to score 18 points against them  was a remarkable achievement looking back.

Since then the Knights have become stronger and the title race is now very much one with two teams in it, and last week York confirmed their credentials and ambition by beating favourites Bradford Bulls at Odsall Stadium 28-30 in what looks like the game of the season in the third tier of Rugby League. That result puts York on level points with Bradford, but behind on points difference.

Some pundits predict the several outcomes at the end of the season, from first place down to sixth could be decided on points difference, and some of those heavy scores against West Wales Raiders, Hemel Stags, and at times even ourselvesmay have a bearing on who goes up and who stays down.

So while York were overcoming the Bulls last weekend, the Bears were on game three of their four match winning run, beating strong Northern team Keighley Cougars 30-20 on the hallowed, if somewhat scorched, turf at the Butts.

One amazing fact about this is that the Bears overturned a humiliating 98-6 scoreline inflicted by Keighley in the previous game between the two sides.

And that 30-20 result was bettered on Wednesday as the Bears handed out a 64-6 thrashing to West Wales Raiders.

Confidence at the Bears is high, they have clearly differentiated themselves from the strugglers at the bottom, and now sit with the Skolars, Thunder and Crusaders in the table.

A few weeks ago, few would have given the Bears chance of not conceding a cricket score against York. But then nobody would have dreamt they would be going into this game on the back of four consecutive league wins!

Yes it will still be tough, but expect those Bears to be full of confidence, playing good rugby and surprising a few more folk   

Final Squad vs York Away

1 Jason Bass

2 Hayden Freeman

3 Jacob Ogden

4 Kam Pearce Paul

5 Dante Morley-samuels

6 Liam Rice Wilson

7 Ben Stead

8 Chris Vitalini

9 Zak Williams

10 Mal Lloyd Jones

11 Kieran Sherratt

12 Chris Barratt

13 Ash Bateman

14 Sam Davies

15 James Geurtjens

16 James Mason

17 Dan Gover

18 Peter Ryan

19 Harry Chapman