Thunder Preview

 

Newcastle v Bears Preview

Lets continue where we left off

The Bears are back on the road again this Sunday when they head to Newcastle Thunder, the northernmost outpost of League 1 Rugby League, just over four hours away.

This season, all clubs play each other twice, home and away, and it will be interesting tosee how the Coventry side which lost at home in April will now fare as they fulfill the return fixture.

The fans who went to the home game will remember two things; the loud, vociferous but good-natured Thunder supporters who came down to the BPA, and also the rain which came down before, during and after the match.

This meant that the two sides were starting in a quagmire with standing water on the pitch and a slippery ball, not ideal for flowing rugby.

And it was yet another of ‘those’ games, where their opponents buit up a 24 point lead before the Bears started scoring.

Doing much of that damage to the Bears was Theeropol Ritson, and their kicker also had a good game that day.

It wasn’t a dirty match, but two players were sin binned, including our own Chris Vitalini.

The final score of 18-32 shows the Bears narrowing the deficit to just 14 points after that poor start, not winning but dominating for most of the game, and whittling away at Thunder’s lead

So, on to this Sunday’s game, can the lads can continue where they left off?

This time the weather will be better too, no rain and for Newcastle a decidedly tropical 20 degrees with nice sunshine.

And fingers crossed the Bears will be better too, strengthened by their two Hull KR Dual Registration players who both shone in a much improved overall showing last weekend.

So as we enter the second half of the season, lets hop the Bears start getting those results, starting this Sunday.

19 Man Squad to face Newcastle: 

1. Jason Bass

2. Reece Rance

3. Kam Pearce Paul

4. Jacob Bass

5. Errol Carter

6. Paul Emmanuelli

7. Ben Stead

8. James Geurtjens

9. Joe Cator

10. Dan Gover

11. Brad Clavering

12. Chris Barratt

13. Chris Vitalini

14. Robbie Butler

15. Mal Lloyd Jones

16. James Mason

17. Zak Williams

18. Peter Ryan

19. Harry Chapman

Hunslet Match Report

Bears rediscover their fighting spirit

Hunslet RLFC 40 Coventry Bears 16

South Leeds Stadium, Sunday.

Match report by Mike Hyde

Yes, the Bears lost another game up in the heartlands of Rugby League, but this wasn’t a one-sided walkover for the team challenging for promotion in fifth place.

The Bears, in common with other clubs, have been on the receiving end of some high winning scores over the past few weeks, but the margin at the South Leeds Stadiumwas the second closest of Sunday’s League 1 games.

Bolstered by two Hull KR players, who are with the Bears under a Dual Registration agreement with their parent club, the Bears showed more of their customary grit from the kick off.

Although they found themselves six points down within the first five minutes, it was one of those players; Joe Caitor who grabbed a try on his Bears debut after 8 minutes.

The two sides then slugged it out at both ends and ironically it was on a sustained Coventry attack that the ball was lost andHunslet’s David Foggin-Johnston scooped it up and ran the full length of the field.

He scored a second try a few minutes later, but then the Bears ‘never-say-die’ attitude kicked in as Paul Emanuelli crafted a neat kick. Chris Barratt pounced on it for Bears second try of the afternoon and this time Ben Stead added the conversion, giving a respectable half time score of 18-10.

The Bears defence was caught off guard just twominutes intothe second half as Nathan Chappell crossed the line, with Sanderson successfully converting.

But the Bears were not about to give in, as James Mason scored a try in reply and Stead again converted, putting the score at 24-16 midway through the second half,  with the two teams appearing evenly matched.

However that was to prove a high water mark for the Bears as the Home side scored two tries with the game still ten minutes away from its conclusion.

But still the Bears wouldn’t surrender and they fought hard to get back into the game. However in a copy of what had happened in the first half, Nathan Chappel intercepted the ball on a Bears attack and ran the full length of the pitch to seal the game at 40-16.

The travelling Bears fans went away proud of their team, who had provided stiff competition for their opponents. and a resilience which will hopefully serve them well in the second half of the season.

Hunslet Preview

Reinforced Bears team travels to Hunslet.

On Sunday Coventry Bears, plus a dedicated following of supporters, will be making their way up the M1 once again to visit the South Leeds Stadium, home of Leeds ‘other club’ Hunslet.

The last few weeks have not been kind to the Bears as they suffered some heavy defeats. A policy of developing your own player base in a non-traditional area like Coventry will surely pay dividends in the future, but at times they have been exposed.

Ironically, this has been compounded by having key players away on student international duty!

Following Friday’s announcement that the Bears have signed a Dual Registrationn agreement with Hull KR, the team can immediately be strengthened with top class players keen to prove themselves not just to the Bears but to their host club.

Joe Cator and Brad Clavering are twoplayers made available from the Rovers for Sundays game at a place which has not been a happy hunting ground for the Bears in the past, losing 34-0 last season.

So, will the injection of quality players be the boost that is needed for a side which has talent but is still developing?

Squad

  1. Jason Bass

  2. Errol Carter

  3. Jacob Ogden

  4. Kam Pearce Paul

  5. Reece Rance

  6. Paul Emmanuelli

  7. Ben Stead

  8. James Geurtjens

  9. Joe Cator

  10. Chris Vitalini

  11. Brad Clavering

  12. Chris Barratt

  13. Ashley Bateman

  14. Zak Williams

  15. Dan Gover

  16. Mal Lloyd Jones

  17. James Mason

  18. Harry Chapman

  19. Brad Sheridan

Bears announce Dual Reg with Hull Kingston Rovers

Hull Kingston Rovers & Coventry Bears agree Dual Registration Partnership 

Hull Kingston Rovers and Coventry Bears have agreed a dual registration agreement to cover the remainder of the 2018 season.

The Robins will continue to work with current partners York City Knights alongside the Bears to provide additional opportunities for first team players to gain valuable game time and experienc in Betfred League One, with Coventry having the opportunity to select players from a full-time environment to strengthen their ranks.

Tim Sheens 

Tim Sheens 

 

Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Tim Sheens: “Our partnership with York works really well for us on a number of levels, but with a large squad to select from and several players due back from injury in the coming weeks, we wanted to explore another dual registration agreement to increase our options.

We’re conscious that both clubs have their own existing squads in place and it’s important that we work with them closely and communicate openly. When done properly, dual registration can be mutually beneficial for both parties so we’re looking forward to further strengthening our existing relationship with Coventry and supporting a team that is working really hard for the sport outside of the heartlands of the game in this country. 

We’ve always prided ourselves on the attitude shown by our players who have gone out on dual registration and we expect that to be the case once again with the Bears.”


Coventry’s first team head coach, Tom Tsang, said: “As a club we have made a commitment to developing young, local talent to allow us to be sustainable into the future. This is still without question our aim.

 “However, as the season has progressed, we have increasingly felt that in order to be able to achieve this, we need to introduce some more high quality and experienced players from whom our local squad can learn, allowing them to develop faster as a result.

“We are very grateful to Hull KR who have given us the opportunity to provide this injection of talent and I am sure all involved will benefit greatly. We have taken players from Hull KR in previous seasons – all of whom have kicked on and are now enjoying successful careers in the sport. We look forward to being part of that process again and these players aiding our squad’s development.”

As part of the new dual registration agreement, Rovers first team players Joe Cator and Brad Clavering will be made available to Coventry this week.

Tom Tsang 

Tom Tsang 

Oldham Match Report

Promotion chasing Oldham simply too good for the Bears

COVENTRY BEARS 0 OLDHAM 60

Mike Hyde, Butts Park Arena, Sunday

This was the first ever visit to the Butts Park Arena for Oldham, and after six consecutive wins they were determined to keepup that record and place pressure on the top two. They did just that with an eleven try blitz and a comprehensive all-round display. It was alsoone of those games where, try as they do, the Bears simply couldn’t get into the game.

Strength in depth allowed the visitors torest ever-present Danny Bridge, and also call on Dual Registration players from Super League Salford. The Bears had nosuch luxuries, such is life for a club developing the game and local talent away from the games heartlands.

After a spell of early pressure and some good passing moves a space was created for Oldham’s Ben Davies to cross from a few yards out and Paul Crook’s conversion followed.

On eleven minutes, a flowing move culminated with Benjamin West receiving the ball on the right wing and running intothe space created for his first try. This time Crook hit the upright and no more was added. Some flowing play followed from the visitors, but a forward pass prevented a certain try and the Bears were off the hook.

Coventry defended valiantly but then allowed Mathew Wilkinson to add an easy try from close quarters and the simplest of conversions was set up for Crooks.

Next over for Oldham was Craig Briscoe on 27 minutes, and the conversion put the score at 0-22.

The visitors were now in the ascendancy and Dany Langtree sliced through Coventry’s defence despite the best efforts of the two Bears hanging on to him as he powered over.

Danyal Rasool was the next name to go on the scoresheet over on the right, and although no extras were added, the score was now 0-32, and that margin remained as the half time hooter sounded.

The Bears came out with more spirit, andwere within five yards of the line before their last pass was intercepted and they found themselves scrambling back to defend desperately once more.

A tricky kick put Crook over as Oldham returned totry scoring ways with the half just six minutes oldto add to his increasing points tally.

James Guertjens did his best to inspire the Bears with some hard driving runs, but the home side’s attacks invariably broke down, and they found themselves on the back foot, with holes being torn into their defence.

After a rather soggy spell of play under the bright sun, Langtree added his second of the afternoon after a furious spell of pressure. Once again Crook made no mistake with the extras.

A dazzling run by fullback Kyran Johnson added to the Bears misery as he dived flambuoyantly over the lineand the conversion put the score on the half century mark.

The ninth name on the scoresheet was David Hewitt after a piercing run.

Briscoe added his second with five minutes remaining as Oldham recorded their seventh victory in a row, and Coventry Bears were left with just one league victory so far this season, and tough games coming up away at Hunslet and Newcastle.

MATCHFACTS

BEARS

1 Harry Chapma

2Jamahl Hunte

3Jason Bass

21 Kam Pearce Paul

5 Errol Carter

6Paul Emanuelli

7 Ben Stead

8James Guertjens

9 Zac Williams

10Peter Ryan

11 Ben Gray

12 Chris Barratt

13Chris Vitalini

Subs (all used)

14 Liam Rice Wilson

15James Mason

16Malakhi Lloyd-Jones

17John Aldred

Tries:

Goals:

OLDHAM

1 Kyran Johnson

28 Lee Kershaw

4 Jack Holmes

3 Matt Reid

30 Benjamin West

6 Paul Crook

7 David Hewitt

8 Phil Joy

9 Gareth Owen

18 Benjamin Davies

11 Craig Briscoe

12 Dany Langtree

24 Liam Bent

Subs (all used)

23 Luke Nelmes

20 Matthew Wilkinson

22 Danyal Rasool

29 Zack McComb

Tries:B Davies (4), West (11), Wilkinson (21), Briscoe (27,75),Langtree(33, 58), Rasool (37) Crook (46),Johnson (63), Hewitt (70)

Goals:Crook 8/11

Penalty count: 7-9

Half-time: 0-32

Referee: S Race

Attendance: 337

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10,0-16, 0-22,0-28, 0-32; 0-38, 0-44, 0-50,0-56, 0-60

Oldham Preview

First ever visit of Oldham to the Butts Park Arena

On Sunday, Coventry Bears face in-form Oldham in a BetfredLeague 1 encounter, another stern test for Tom Tsang and the team.

This will be the first ever visit by Oldham, a former Championship side, to Coventry, although the two teams have met before in 2015, in both League and Cup games but they were both away fixtures for the Bears.

The Bears didn’t play last week, and that gave time out for the team to regroup, rebuild and regain their focus after a series of defeats, some expected, but disappointing none the less. It should also give Head Coach Tom Tsang an opportunity to select from a fuller squad which has had its share of injuries and has also been thinned out by having players on Student International duty.

Oldham are looking strong this season. Whilst everyone’s eyes have been on Bradford, and a resurgent York Knights, Oldham have held their heads up in the following pack and come to Coventry having won their last six games.

By coincidence they scored 74 points in two of their last games, beating Hemel at home 74-6, and scoring 74 without reply in Llanelli against West Wales Raiders.

Perhaps more ominously they managed to beat fancied Doncaster 32-12 last weekend.

Oldham have a larger squad and are able to rotate players plus they have some on Dual Registration, two luxuries the Bears simply do not have.

So, once again, this is not going to be easy, but if everyone is fit and available, the Coventry side have more than enough capability to ruffle a few feathers and give their long established opponents a scare.

Bears Squad to face Oldham  

1. Harry Chapman

2. Jamahl hunte

3. Jason Bass

4. Kam Pearce Paul

5. Errol Carter

6. Paul Emmanuelli

7. Ben Stead

8. Jane Geurtjens

9. Zak Williams

10. Peter Ryan

11. Ben Gray

12. Chris Barratt

13. Chris Vitalini

14. Liam Rice Wilson

15. Mal Lloyd Jones

16. John Aldred

17. James Mason

18. Dan Gover

19. Brad Sheridan

 

COME ON BEARS!

NW Crusaders Report

Crusaders cruise to victory over Bears

North Wales Crusaders 42 Coventry Bears 6

Coventry Bears poor form in the League continued in Wrexham, where they were put to the sword by a resurgent Crusaders side who put in seven tries against one in reply for the Bears.

Three hundred attended the game at the Queensway Stadium in Wrexham, with a sprinkling of Bears fans making the trip.

The Bears were out of the starting blocks and looking keen to erase the memories of recent disappointing games, but it was invevitably the home side who scored first as Tom Johnson crossed the line. The Bears replied with some pressure and some effective kicking from Ben Stead which had the home side troubled.

Crusaders regrouped as Ollie Ashall sped down the wing to extend their lead, and Tom Johnson added a second try for himself to put the score at 18-0.

A glimmer of hope came for the Bears as the home side were reduced to 12 men following a dangerously high tackle. Reece Rancefound himself on the end of Kam Pearce-Pauls pass to score for the Bears on the 35th minute putting the score at a respectable 18-6 at half time.

However, that was as good as it was going to be for the Bears as Wrexham repeated their first half performance with a series of four well-worked tries from Lyons, Bloomfield, Moor and Ashall once more.Tommy Johnson also had a faultless kicking game converting all of his sides seven tries.

The second half almost ended on a high note for the Bears as Pearce Paul sprinted to the line, only to be intercepted at the last second by Cru’s Aaron Moore.

The Bears have no fixture planned for next weekend, giving Head Coach Tom Tsang and his players time to reflect and regroup.