The second BIG 3 match versus South Wales Hornets almost became the victim of a deluge on Saturday, but not the type handed out by the weather in the past month. On Thursday night, vandals broke into the Bears’ Butts Park Arena home and disconnected a main water hose, flooding a third of the pitch and leaving the club frantically finding a venue for the match. Copsewood Sports and Social club stepped forward and the game was thankfully on.
From the kick off, the clash looked to be a close-fought affair. Both sides testing each other out with some good play and strong running yards. The Bears did seem to have the best try-scoring chances on the right flank, but the Hornets sliding defence left no space for the Bears attack.
It took twenty five minutes for the deadlock to be broken. The Hornets gifted great field position giving the Bears back-to-back penalties. Half back Scott Clendenning-Fenton using his familiar step to wrong foot the defence and score. Steve Coleman stepped up to convert and the Bears were 6–0 up.
The try seemed to stun the Hornets as four minutes later the Bears posted another try. Debutant Paul Hannah put in some strong running, putting the Bears on the front foot. Tawanda Chipadza then broke through to make a 60 metre dash, offloading to Thomas Charles Davies in support to score. Coleman again added the conversion taking the home side to 12 points.
The Hornets weren’t about to submit though, and some consistent play and testing kicks put the Bears under pressure. A high kick into the corner, left by the Bears defence, bounced allowing Hornets’ Daydd Hellard to pounce and score. With the conversion missed and on thirty four minutes, the match moved into half time fairly balanced at 12–4.
Half time Coventry Bears 12 – South Wales Hornets 4.
At half time, the Bears team talk must have had significant impact, as the home side moved up a gear in the second half. On forty four minutes, prop forward and captain Mike Venn burst through, running the left wing for 50 metres before offloading to Paul Hannah for a well deserved try. Venn’s winger-like efforts enjoyed by the Bears supporters. 16–4 to the Bears.
Only two minutes later, new signing Tyrone Rowe scored a stunning solo try, fielding a Hornets kick then beating a number of defenders to race the length of the pitch to score. Coleman converted taking the Bears to 22 points to 4.
Both sides continued to trade yards and testing kicks, with try-scoring opportunities on both sides. The robust Bears defence looking the stronger of the two sides, scrambling well especially on the Bears own try line.
On fifty seven minutes, a swift passing move from the home side saw a two-to-one overlap on the right channel, Tawanda Chipadza scything through the gap to score. Despite Coleman missing the conversion, the Bears must have sensed the game was won at 26–4.
The Hornets doggedly fought on, and again the Bears defence held strong, with a number of forced errors and sixth tackles made denying the South Wales side. On seventy two minutes, with the Hornets defence starting to tire, Chipadza broke the line, showing pace to out run the defence to score a 60 metre try. Coleman was good with the boot, moving the score to 32–4.
Ben Vivian was next to get onto the scoresheet, Mike Venn making good metres, drawing in three defenders before offloading to Vivian to race 20 metres and score under the posts. Coleman converted and the Bears nudged the 40 mark at 38–4.
Discipline throughout the match was exemplary, the only blight being a single incident on seventy nine minutes. Tawanda Chipadza hitting his tackler under the eyes of the referee and touch judge, resulting in a red card.
This could have been the wrong sort of finale for a good match, and the Bears seamed to think so. A spectacular tackle over the Bears line saw a certain try held up, and from possession Tyrone Rowe showed his devastating attacking skills to rifle through the Hornets defence and race 90 metres to score. Coleman, after a good day with the boot converted and the final score saw the Bears win through on 44–4.
Full time Coventry Bears 44 – South Wales Hornets 4.
Coventry Bears team: 1. Tim Leishman, 2. Tawanda Chipadza, 3. Thomas Davies, 4. Ashley Johnson, 5. Tobias Rochester-Bremmer, 6. Chris Stevenson, 7. Scott Clendenning-Fenton, 8. Mike Venn (capt), 9. Luke Srama, 10. Elliot Hurst, 11. Stephen Coleman, 12. Thomas Charles Davies, 13. Ben Vivian, 14. Tyrone Rowe, 15. Mark White, 16, Paul Hannah, 17. Tom Tsang.