Coventry Bears 48 Kippax Knights 22
The Coventry Bears returned to the Butts Park Arena and to the delight of the large crowd of over 300 supporters celebrated their homecoming with a win.
The Bears started the game the brighter and on 10 minutes a break by Coventry 2nd row Chad Grant through the middle was followed by a hopeful punt ahead and top scoring loose forward Si Perry scooped to score near the posts.
4 minutes later a second try was scored by the home side when Bears winger Tanaka Chamunokara broke through the defence and the flying winger was on hand later in the move to score in the left hand corner.
Kippax responded and with the conversion trailed by 4 points.
After 25 minutes, the Knights were rocked when sub David Jessey was red carded by Referee Tom Mather for a high shot on Coventry scrum half Scott Clendenning Fenton.
Before the break Coventry University centre Rob Nicholls scored a try in the corner only for Kippax to respond with a well worked try of their own.
Half Time
Coventry Bears 14 Kippax 10.
The second half was just 4 minutes old when following a move from left to right Bears winger Aaron Higgins stretched the Bears lead even further. The Bears had emerged from the dressing rooms with the wise words of head coach Alan Robinson ringing in their ears, clearly they had taken note and Bears stalwart Scott Clendenning Fenton broke clear and sent Si Perry in for his 12th try of the campaign.
The Bears looked to have the game sewn up when Higgins added his second of the afternoon. This was reinforced when from the kick off 2nd row Chad Grant collected the ball on his own 20 and raced to score again for the Bears.
With the Bears leading 34-10 it should have been all over but to the Knights credit the fought back with two converted tries.
With the Bears looking a little shaky Stand off Tom Tsang steadied the ship by jinking his way through the middle to score under the posts.
Aaron Higgins completed his hat trick of tries with another length of the field dash and the Bears scoring was completed when prop Rhydian Booth forced his way over the line.
It was Kippax however, that had the last word and a final unconverted try saw the game finish at Coventry Bears 48 Kippax Knights 22
Alan Robinson commented:
Im pleased with the win, but we know defensivley we have some things to work on. It was a great day for everyone involved with the club the coventry supporters can to watch and really enjoyed the game which is great for us hopefully we can build on that now for next weeks game against Bramley.
Coventry Team
Alex Sweeney, Tanaka Chamunokara, Stephen Coleman, Rob Nicholls, Aaron Higgins, Tom Tsang, Scott Clendenning Fenton, Rhydian Booth, Alex Brown, Mike Venn, Chad Grant, Brad Massey, Simon Perry,
Subs (all used) Ashley Hutchinson, Barry McGuffog, Rob Brown, Harry Kaufman.
Coventry points scorers
Tries
Aaron Higgins (3,) Simon Perry (2), Tanaka Chamunokara, Rob Nicholls, Chad Grant, Tom Tsang, Rhydian Booth,
Sent Off David Jessey,
BBT Man of the match
Coventry Stephen Coleman
Kippax Lee Williamson
Game Breaker. 4 tries early in the second half sealed the game for the Bears