DEWSBURY 34 COVENTRY BEARS 30
Coventry Bears went down to a close defeat in their second game of the season in the CO-OP Rugby League National Conference.
This was the second away game of what is a succession of three away games which the fixture schedule has throw up, presenting Coventry with a very challenging start to the season in a league at a much higher level than they played in last season. This game saw the Bears travel to the traditional heartland of rugby league in West Yorkshire where many players and fans regard teams from south of Sheffield as southern sofites.
However Coventry Bears were only just beaten at Dewsbury Celtic on Saturday. In a cracking end to end game the Bears just missed out as the home team held on. The Bears had shocked the Celtic side when centre Barry McGuffog scored a try from the right wing after just 5 minutes and Dan Poulton was successful with the conversion.
Coventry Bears then turned the ball over on several occasions and the home side seized the opportunity and gradually gained a foothold on the game scoring three times, one of the tries being an 80 metre interception.
The Bears often looked dangerous but lost possesion close to the try line. Then at last on 36 minutes Simon Perry breached the Celtic defence to score a try and with Poulton successful with the conversion again, Coventry were just two points behind at 14-12 at half time.
Coventry Bears had the advantage of playing downhill in the second half on this sloping pitch and Bears Head Coach Alan Robinson fancied the chance of a shock win. However it was Celtic who were first to score in the second half were the first to score.
The Bears responded in the best way possible by scoring with 2nd row Simon Perry scoring his second try of the afternoon.
The game was now finely balanced but again Celtic scored, and then Bears responded to reduce the deficit back to two points in this nip and tuck game. Following an adventurous kick down field Aaron Higgins, making his Bears debut, touched down as the Celtic defence made a mess of clearing the danger.
In the 65th minute the Bears regained the lead as Stand Off half Dan Poulton scored under the posts and converted.
Celtic bounced back and once again took the lead with a try and a successful conversion.
The Bears were then victims of referring decisions going against them for the second week running - and the season is only two weeks old! They had two tries disallowed, first the touch judge ruling that Aaron Higgins was pushed into touch in the act of scoring. Then Coventry playmaker Stephen Coleman seemed to have won the game for the Bears but the referee adjudged that he was held up over the line.
A last minute penalty was awarded to Celtic and they successfully kicked it. Dewsbury were then seen to be relieved to hear the final whistle.
Head Coach Alan Robinson was disappointed to lose such a close game ‘This was a good test today and its disappointing not to come away with the win, we have some returning players next week and are improving each week, with a little more concentration we can do better. Im happy that we have come here and shown we can compete with a seasoned side such as Dewsbury and that is a big positive"
Coventry Team
Tom Tsang, Rob Knox, Barry McGuffog, Andy McGrory, Tanaka Chamunokara, Dan Poulton, Steve Coleman, Rhydian Booth, Alex Brown, Chad Grant, Brad Massey, Simon Perry, Matt Cooper, Ash Hutchinson, Mike Venn, Sam Montague, Aaron Higgins.
Coventry point scorers
Tries
Perry (2), McGuffog, Poulter, Higgins.
Conversions
Poulter (5 from 5)
Coventry Bears BBT man of the match was second row Brad Massey
Next week Coventry Bears again travel to Yorkshire when the visit Featherstone Lions.