Coventry Bears Rugby League had a cracking win this afternoon at home to Dewsbury Celtic.
The Bears who went into this Rugby League National Conference game won 38-16.
Coventry Bears got back to winning ways at home against a Dewsbury Celtic side that had defeated them on their away travels earlier in the season.
After a tense start Dewsbury opened the scoring on 17 minutes as the home defence failed to contain the visitors attack the resultant break led to Dewsbury scoring under the posts.
It took another 10minutes for the Bears to open their account. Coventry winger Tanaka Chamunokara broke down the left wing and the ball was slipped the ball to Bears 2nd row Brad Massey who crashed over the try line.
Coventry looked to have scored as centre Matt Cooper pounced on the ball from a Tom Tsang kick but the referee adjudged that he had knocked on. From the restart on the 20 metre line some smart thinking by Dewsbury full back Pat Fulston saw him race through a sleeping Bears defence to score on the right.
The Bears started to put some moves together and a clean break from a set play allowed loose forward Rob Brown to cut through and score close to the posts a successful conversion by second row Chad Grant levelled the scoring. Just before half time a penalty to Coventry was converted by Chad Grant to give the Bears the lead at half time and the acendancy in the game.
Half Time
Coventry Bears 12 Dewsbury Celtic 10
Coventry allowed the ball to go dead from the kick off but managed with some steely defence to keep the visitors at bay for the next ten minutes.
The Bears started to gain the upper hand and on 50 minutes they stretched their lead when Chad Grant broke through on the right, he was halted for a moment by Dewsbury just before the line but that didnt stop the follow up by Tom Tsang who recieved the ball and scored displaying some neat footwork in the process.
Another powerful set of drives from the Bears big pack led well by the deceptive play at hooker by Scott Clendenning-Fenton left the Dewsbury defence in tatters allowing Nick Thatcher to carve a path through the space in the middle to score. Chad Grant then added another try in quick succession Dewsbury failing to contain him one on one on the right and the Bears looked very comfortable.
Dewsbury to their credit fought back and Pat Fulston again showed a neat turn of foot to breathe life back into the visitors after an early kick into space gave him a lucky bounce.
At 28-16 Dewsbury were looking as though they might gain a bonus point, but they then had Liam Walmsley sent off for a high shot.
Two late trys from the Bears sealed a fantastic win when Prop Mike Venn powered his way over from close range after some quick plays down the left channel and then substitute and local Tile Hill Seventeen year old Adam Barnett sealed the win with a great hit and spin to break the line and score under the posts denying the Dewsbury outfit a bonus point.
Head coach Alan Robinson commented after the game
“This win sends out a message, that Coventry can compete and beat the best in the League. I have told my lads that they have shown through their actions today that if we stick to our plan and trust in our ability we need not fear anyone, we know we can score points and take teams apart when we want to, that was a full strength Dewsbury outfit so noone can take anything away from us today. We again, had a few players missing and I have to compliment the players who have moved positionally and others who have come in and shown me that they can step up. It gives me alot of confidence as a coach at this stage of the season that we have players that can do that. We also know now that we must keep performing and are under no illusion that next week we face another massive challenge at Kippax Knights in Castleford”
Final Score Coventry Bears 38 Dewsbury Celtic 16
Coventry Team
Nick Thatcher, Aaron Higgins, Matt Cooper, Rob Nicholls, Tanaka Chamunokara, Tom Tsang , Tim Leishman, Mike Venn, Scott Clendenning Fenton, Ken Dowding, Brad Massey , Chad Grant, Rob Brown, Andy McGrory, Nigel Mukarati, Tom Watts, Adam Barnett.
Coventry Tries Brad Massey , Rob Brown, Tom Tsang , Nick Thatcher, Chad Grant, Mike Venn, Adam Barnett.
Conversions
Chad Grant (3) Aaron Higgins
Penalty Chad Grant.
Game breaker
Chad Grants second half try that gave the visitors too much to do.
Man of the Match
Coventry Scott Clendenning Fenton
There was also a victory for Coventry Bears Ladies who came back to win at Nottingham Outlaws.