Hunslet Preview

This Sunday the Bears travel to Hunslet who have had a very strong start to the season and currently sit top of the table in Betfred League One. 

Tom Tsang commented ahead of Sunday’s match: 

“The disruption of last week's late cancellation was disapointing as we wanted to get straight into another match after an encouraging performance versus Doncaster. So with the delay it means that we are really eager for Sunday to arrive and for us to get back on the field.

The only positive we can take from the un-planned week off, is that we picked up a few injuries versus Donny, and that extra time has meant the majority of those are now cleared up. The only big doubt is Ollie Purslow who is yet to pass his return to play protocol after his concussion.

This week we loaned two players from Championship side Dewsbury Rams - Jacob Thomas and Toby Richardson - who have trained really well and will be in consideration. And of course we have the dual registration with York and London Broncos to call on if needed.

Hunslet are deservedly unbeaten and top of the league, so playing them away will be a big challenge, but it is one we are keen to take on - we feel we are capable of getting a win which would take us towards the top of the table.

We beat Hunslet the last game of 2018, so they will probably be wanting to get their own back from that match, but both sides look very different this year and so it should be a cracking match.”

Bears 19 Man Squad: 

Chris Barratt

Dan Gover

Dave Petersen

Elliot Hall

Errol Carter

Harry Kaufman

Hayden Freeman

Jacob Jones

Jacob Thomas

Kadeem Williams

Kam Pearce Paul

Kieran Sherratt

Marcus Stock

Mitch Shaw

Nathan Conroy

Peter Ryan

Reece Rance

Toby Richardson

Will Tully

Bears take two on loan from Dewsbury Rams

​We have taken the move to supplement our squad with two players from Championship side, Dewsbury Rams.

Bears Coach Tom Tsang said:

"After a few injuries picked up in our last two games, we felt it prudent to bring in some additional experienced players to our squad. The two will cover key positions and have already added value with their presence at training and have slotted in very well.

"Toby Richardson is a prop and can also play second row. He was a regular for Dewsbury in 2018, being very tough and is in great shape, meaning he can play for long minutes - a bonus now the interchanges have been reduced to 8 this year.

"Jacob Thomas is an Australian halfback who was a target of ours in the off-season but eventually signed for the Rams. We are happy to finally be able to see him in a Bears shirt. He is a skillful player and will help us in the absence of Nick Newman who picked up a 1 game ban from the match versus Keighley. "

Both players join us initially for 1 month but with a possibility of extension.

Toby Richardson  

Toby Richardson said:

"Joining Coventry will benefit me massively if I can secure a spot in the team, so I can get some quality minutes under my belt.I would like to help the team get as many wins as possible whilst I’m with the Bears and try my best to impress whilst on the field.
I think I can bring a lot of talk and enthusiasm to the middles at Coventry and I will be bringing my best for the club."

Jacob Thomas  

Jacob Thomas added:

"I'm really looking forward getting started with the Bears. For me it's an opportunity to come in and be a part of a team that has started the season well and I hope to help them continue their winning ways and pushing for promotion.
Being new to the game in this country I'm looking forward to getting valuable minutes and showing what I can do.
As a halfback I want to help bring composure and direction to the team. This is my favourite thing to do and I will bring that enthusiasm to every play."

Club Statement: Workington Town Postponement

CLUB STATEMENT 

Postponement: Coventry Bears v Workington Town

This weeks Betfred League One match on Sunday 17th March between Coventry Bears v Workington Town has been postponed. 

Due to last weeks postponed match between Workington Town and Siddal in the Coral Challenge Cup the RFL have ordered that we must postpone our scheduled league match this Sunday so the Coral Challenge Cup match can be replayed instead in Workington. 

We wish to apologise to supporters as it was not our decision to postpone our home game but due to operational rules the Challenge Cup takes precedent over the League so we have no other choice as an agreement could not be met to replay the match any other time. 

We have penciled in our league fixture versus Workington for Sunday 12th May at the Butts Park Arena 3 pm kick off and will fully confirm this in due course. 

We are very sorry for the inconvenience this may cause.

Bears bow out in Challenge Cup

Scoreline flatters opponents as Bears knocked out of the Cup

Doncaster 38 Coventry Bears 16,

Rugby League Challenge Cup

Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster

The final score does not give justice to a very close and evenly matched contest where the teams were separated by just four points at half time and still just 6 points with ten minutes to go.

It was the Bears who kicked off under the Docasterfloodlights and they were soon on the offensive.

And it was Kadeem Williams who opened the scoring, making it 0-4 for the visitors after Kieran Sherratt had caused problems for the Dons’ defence with a well placed kick. The two points did not materialise, and this was to be a problem throughout the game.

Midway through the half, the Bears were over the line againe, this time courtesy of Elliot Hall, who was on the end of a flowing move involving Conroy, Barratt and Pearce –Paul.

The Dons were next to score and a successful conversion narrowed the gap to two points with the score at 6-8.

With just six minutes to go until half time, the Dons took the lead with their second try, and most importantly their second conversion, and the score was to remain at 12 -8 as the half time hooter sounded.

So, a good solid performance against probably the strongest side in this round of the competition, could the Bears keep this up and maybe grab a place for themselves in the next round?

Some nifty play following a free kick set KadeemWilliams over for his second try, but the lack of a successful conversion meant it was all square at 12-12, despite the Bears having scored more tries.

The Bears were determined to regain the lead and almost did so but Will Tully was held up over the line.

The tide then begin to turn as the Dons crossed over the line to take the lead.

The Bears conceded again, but were in no mood to give up as Dan Gover powered over the line to put the score at 22-16 with just ten minutes remaining..

But that proved to be as good ad it was to get as the Dons turned on the pressure and gained a further 16 points with a three try and two conversions blitz to send them into the next round of the Cup.

But looking at the positives this had been a strong Bears performance against a side emerging as the strongest in League 1, and they can look forward to next Sunday’s home game against Workington with confidence.

Tom Tsang commented post match:  

 “Despite the loss there are huge positives to take from our performance. We demanded a reaction from last week and the players really turned up and gave it everything.

The scoreline really doesn't show how close the game was - at 60 minutes it was still in the balance. Unfortunately, we picked up 6 injuries in the game, 4 of them inside the first 55 minutes, meaning we had no healthy players available and we weren't able to make any substitutions after this point. Had this been different I genuinely believe we could have got the result we wanted.

We gave debuts to Euan Tiernan and Callum Merrett who both showed they can play at this level. Plus there were a number of other standouts including Kadeem Williams in the centre who improves every week and Kieran Sherratt who has probably been our most consistent player in the first month of games. 

Once again we have gone toe to toe with a heavyweight of League 1 and shown we are more than capable.

We will only get better from here”.

Coral Challenge Cup 3rd Rd Preview & Squad

Bears face Doncaster this Friday

Doncaster RLFC v Coventry Bears  

Friday 8th March  

7.45 pm Keepmoat Stadium  

Just over three weeks ago, the eyes of the Rugby League world, together with the BBC’s cameras were focused on the historic setting of Coventry’s Guild Hall.

The Rugby League Challenge Cup draw was taking place, and this was the round where the amateur clubs, often steeped in history and their communities, were put in a bag with the clubs of League 1, including our own Coventry Bears.

Now these smaller clubs can be tricky to play and would be keen to prove themselves, as was the case with Pilkington Recs and Distington, both of whom the Bears despatched at Butts Park last year before ultimately going out to then Superleague Widnes away from home.

For what seemed an eternity the Coventry audience waited for ball number 1 to be drawn, and so find out who they would be playing.

With only four balls remaining, Doncaster were drawn at home and then the Bears were next, setting them up for a tough away tie against one of the strongest and most fancied sides in League 1.

They will be playing at the Keepmoat Stadium, which like the Ricoh Arena will be one of the venues for the forthcoming World Cup.

Tom Tsang commented ahead of the match:

“We let our standards slip last week and paid the price, so we are grateful that we have the opportunity to make amends so soon and the players are focussed on producing a much improved 80 minutes.

We will look to make some changes to the matchday squad as there are lots of players in the squad pushing hard for selection and the time is right to provide that opportunity.

In saying that we don't want to make too many changes and disrupt our consistency and combinations.

We believe that on our day we have the ability to beat any team in our league. Doncaster are no different.”

19 man squad:  

Dante Morley Samuels 

Hayden Freeman 

Kadeem Williams 

Ollie Purslow

Jacob Jones

Chris Barratt

Kieran Sherratt

Callum Merritt

James Mason

Dan Gover

Peter Ryan

Alex Beddows

Elliot Hall

Kam Pearce Paul 

Errol Carter 

Mitch Shaw 

Nick Newman 

Euan Tiernan 

Nathan Conroy

Buy tickets for the match here and save in advance https://tickets.clubdoncaster.co.uk/

Bears strengthen off the field

Bears to strengthen back room staff with addition of two new roles.

Ben Whincup joins the team as Performance Analyst and will have roles on both game days and through the training week, tracking player performance through analysing games and producing statistical reports that the coaching team and players can use to tailor individual and team feedback.

Ben is the current Head Coach of University of Gloucestershire team and is also involved in the England University coaching pathway. His input will be invaluable in helping players develop and improve through the season. 

Ben said, "Coaching at Gloucester University, I know a number of the Bears current squad and they had nothing but good things to say about the club. Its a fantastic opportunity for me to be involved at this level and develop myself."

Matt McKelvey takes up the role of Sports Science assistant and will add value across a number of disciplines including Strength and Conditioning, nutrition and diet and recovery strategies. He will be a go to for the players who want specific advise in these and other areas. 

Matt is a final year Sport and Exercise Science student at Loughborough University and has experience delivering S&C and other peripheral services to sports teams. 

Tom Tsang said: "we are constantly trying to improve our environment for the players and provide the best off field support as possible, within the resource constraints that we have at the club.

"I have a degree in sport and exercise science myself and so have tended to do the gym programming, statistical analysis, nutrition and recovery advice etc myself. However it is much better to find dedicated staff for these areas so coaching staff are not stretched too thin. 

"Bringing Ben and Matt into the club allows us to provide an individual and specific service in these areas to allow us coaches to focus on doing just that. It will be a big improvement and allow us to take another big step forward in performance."

Bears seek Volunteer Kit Manager

Bears seek Volunteer Kit Manager

Coventry Bears require a Kit Manager to join their backroom staff for this season.

Candidate should ideally have an interest in Rugby League but this is not essential.

Experience of a similar role is advantageous, but not essential - training will be provided. 

Candidate needs strong organisational and communication skills whilst having a proactive and engaging manner.

You must be a team player and a reliable individual, with an ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Role Responsibilities and Key Duties:

·         To manage kit requirements on a match day

·         To prepare and set out the team dressing room ahead of all home and away fixtures.

·         To work with the backroom team to ensure all kit and equipment is ready for away games

·         To liaise with the Team Manager for match kit confirmation

·         To clean and tidy work area’s for example dressing room

The season runs from February through to the end of September, with matches being played at the weekend.

Role is on a voluntary basis. 

Interested please email ryan.cousins@coventrybears.co.uk with why you would like to be considered for the role.

Keighley Match Report

Keighley Cougars 40 Coventry Bears 8

Betfred League One

The Bears started well but conditions dictated the play and Keighley made better of the pitch and horrendous conditions in the second half to run away victors.

The weather for the most part evened the playing field in the games early stages and it showed as a Nick Newman penalty for a shoulder charge off the ball put the first points of the afternoon on the board after 18 minutes for the Bears.

On the back of his own 40-20, Nathan Conroy appeared to spill the ball on the line but the referee ruled that a Keighley hand had knocked it loose and this allowed Chris Barratt to then touch down and take the Bears to 0-8.

But the Cougars then started to dominate the middle and the introduction of Jack Coventry, Jamie Thackray and Lewis Wray from the interchanges bench followed and this swung the game in Cougars favour.

Immediately from the restart, the home side forced a knock on and from the resulting scrum the ball was worked to Macauley Hallett who sold the dummy and raced through the gap to score.

The try that would give Keighley a two-point lead at half-time also came from a scrum as Will Cooke took the ball out the ruck and handed off a defender to dive over in the corner with Benn Hardcastle adding the extras from the touchline.

HT Cougars 10 Bears 8

Following the first Keighley set off the half, Hayden Freeman stumbled under pressure and Davey Dixon picked the loose ball up to race round for the score.

And from the kick-off that followed, first Thackray, and then Billy Gaylor, broke through the Bears scrambling defence were unable to get back to prevent Hallett racing over for his second try off the afternoon.

The Bears were stunned and Keighley wouldn’t let go off their vice like grip on the game and Hardcastle and Josh Lynam linked up to send Jack Miller sliding over the whitewash.

Hardcastle then opted to take the two points on offer from 45 metres out after the official penalised the visitors for a ball steal in the tackle.

FT Cougars 40- Bears 8

Lingard’s side sealed their victory with two late tries, the first of which was a solo effort from Jack Coventry that saw the Prop plough through four defenders, taking three over the line with him, with a 30-metre run.

Then with two minutes remaining, James Feather cut straight through from the play the ball to score near to the corner.

Head Coach Tom Tsang said:

“The score line from the game is a fair reflection of how the two sides acquitted themselves in the conditions on the day. The team that made the fewest handling errors in the rain won. Once we went a couple of tries behind it was always going to be difficult as the weather limited how expansive we could play. A lot of what we do in attack is based on speed and playing up tempo which we weren't able to do. The mistakes meant more defending and weight of possession in favour of keighley told in the second half. We will definitely learn from the experience. “

The win against Newcastle didn't define us and we wont let this loss define us either.

This week the Bears travel to Doncaster for the 3rd round of the challenge cup.

Come and support the Bears and purchase tickets cheaper online here:

Buy Challenge Cup Tickets

Keighley Squad & Preview

Keighley Cougars v Coventry Bears 

Sunday 3rd March 2019

3pm Kick Off, Cougar Park

This weeks 19 man squad to face Keighley Cougars. 

Bears Squad:  

Elliot Hall

Hayden Freeman

Kadeem Williams

Kam Pearce Paul

Reece Rance

Matt Davies

Nick Newman

Peter Ryan

Nathan Conroy

Ollie Purslow

Jacob Jones

Chris Barratt

Kieran Sherratt

Sam Davis

Ben Gray

Dan Gover

Mitch Shaw

Alex Beddows

Euan Tiernan

Tom Tsang said:

“We have tried to keep the squad as close to last week as possible but there are a couple of forced changes. We will be without Rob Butler and Jimmy Meadows, but will welcome Sam Davis and young half Matty Davies into the squad. Mitch Shaw will make his League debut off the bench following a hand injury and will give good options at half and hooker. Will Tully is out with a concussion injury but Dan Gover is recovered from a back injury. Euan Tiernan has forced his way into the 19 man squad having impressed in a mammoth performance for Coventry University last week.”

Newcastle Thunder Match Report

COVENTRY BEARS 32 NEWCASTLE THUNDER 28

By Dave Musson, Butts Park Arena, Sunday 24 February

“The highest of highs.”

That’s what head coach Tom Tsang called the result that has everyone in rugby league talking about his Coventry Bears and, well, it’s a summary that it hard to argue with.

Hosting a big-spending and much-fancied Newcastle Thunder – keen to bounce back from their opening day defeat to Doncaster last week – few would have predicted the Coventry side to maintain their perfect start to the 2019 Betfred League One season.

But, that’s exactly what they did with a scintillating display that was every bit as sparkling and sumptuous as the balmy February sunshine.

A quick-fire brace from Elliott Hall, plus tries from Jacob Jones, Rob Butler, Hayden Freeman and Nick Newman secured a first-ever win against Thunder – and it was a win that was thoroughly deserved.

Tsang said: “There’s a lot of hard work has gone into that win today and for me – having been here for eight years and seen how we’ve developed and built – we’ve had a lot of tough times and a lot of good times, but that’s the highest high we’ve had.

“Newcastle are obviously tipped to be in the top two this year and for the boys to give them no respect and just rip into them from the first minute is exactly what we’ve been asking for.”

This was no scrappy win, nor was it a case of the Bears catching Thunder on an off-day; the Bears were magnificent throughout and played some of the most sensational rugby league the Butts Park Arena has ever seen, scoring six eye-catching tries.

Tsang added: “That’s the way we want to play and that’s how we’ve been training since November – it all came together and it was a perfect storm today. Everything just seem to fit in; it just shows that with work ethic and some pride in the shirt and the club, you can go a long way.”

It took just four minutes for the Bears to cross the Thunder line, with a somewhat bizarre try; second row Jones lined up a tackle only to emerge with the ball and 30 metres of clear space to race into.

The suggestion of an upset became much more real a few moments later, with Hall scoring two delicious tries in the space of three minutes.

His first came on 12 minutes, where he applied the finishing touches to a sweeping move that saw James Meadows and Chris Barratt combine to lay the try on a plate.

Three minutes later, Hall was in again; this time benefitting from being on the inside shoulder of Newman, whose clever side-step created space for a break, before drawing the defender and playing his colleague in.

Newman converted both of Hall’s tries to put the Bears 16-0 and in dreamland.

That shook some life into hotly-tipped Thunder – still smarting from their season opening defeat last week – who had drawn level within a quarter of an hour thanks to tries in each corner from Alex Clegg and Mo Agoro, and Evan Simons burrowing in from dummy half.

Undeterred, the Bears regained the lead four minutes before half time with another lovely try; Meadows’ silky footwork broke the line, and he popped the ball to the onrushing Butler who crashed over.

Even though big-spending Thunder drew level again three minutes after the restart – Liam Finn converting his own try – the Bears continued to dominate the game, and scored another pair of excellent tries before the hour mark.

First, Freeman flew down the left wing only to be halted by a desperate tap tackle from Agoro. However, a quick inside ball from Nathan Conroy to Kam Pearce-Paul created an overlap, and Freeman touched down in the corner.

Then, just after the hour, the match-clinching try – and arguably the best of the afternoon.

Conroy gathered his own delightful chip before scooping the ball to Newman, who dashed under the posts for a try that he converted himself to give the Bears a ten-point cushion.

It still wasn’t comfortable for the Bears - Liam McAvoy powered over to bring Thunder back to within four points, and then the Bears lost Butler to the sinbin for over-aggression at a tackle.

But the hosts held on for a famous win on their day in the unseasonably bright February sunshine.

Up next is a trip to Keighley next Sunday for the Bears – the scene of a club-record loss last season. Famously, the Bears got their revenge in the reverse fixture last July, and now go into this game as the form side.

However, coach Tsang was keen to keep a level head – in spite of his side’s fantastic start to the year.

He said: “I don’t want anyone associated with the club to get too carried away because one win doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of the season. We’ve proven to ourselves that we can win matches, now it’s just about holding onto that belief and working week-in and week-out.”

Bears: Elliott Hall, Hayden Freeman, Kadeem Williams, Kam Pearce Paul, Reece Rance, James Meadows, Nick Newman, Rob Butler, Nathan Conroy, Peter Ryan, Jacob Jones, Chris Barratt, Kieran Sherratt

Subs (all used): Sam Davis, Ollie Purslow, Will Tully, Ben Gray

Tries: Jones (4), Hall (12, 15), Butler (36), Freeman (54), Newman (61)

Goals: Newman 4/6

Sinbin: Butler (66) – aggression

Thunder: Lewis Young, Mo Agoro, Misi Taulapapa, Joe Brown, Alex Clegg, Remy Marginet, Liam Finn, Liam McAvoy, Evan Simons, Jack Aldous, Rhys Clarke, Aaron Ollett, Sam Luckley

Subs (all used): Harry Aldous, Jared Blanke, Conor Clayton, Alex Rowe

Tries: Clegg (21), Agoro (26), Simons (31), Finn (43), McAvoy (64)

Goals: Finn 4/5

*Photos by Dave Jessop*

Bears Supporters’ Club Man of the Match: Nick Newman

Penalty Count: 6-3

Half time: 22-16

Referee: Tom Crashley

Attendance: 360

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 16-0, 16-4, 16-10, 16-16, 22-16; 22-22, 26-22, 32-22, 32-28.

Captain Chris Barratt leads another attack (photo: Dave Jessop)