Bears improve versus Cougars
Young Bears winger Jason Bass had a mom performance
Coventry Bears 10 Keighley Cougars 42
Kingstone Press League One Round 14
Butts Park Arena, 12/07/2015 K.O 3PM
Keighley Cougars bagged a comprehensive 42-10 win against a defiant Coventry Bears in the Butts Park Arena Sunshine.
COUGARS opened the scoring in the seventh minute, with a great run down the left wing from Paul White, conversion successful. Not long after Keighley went down to twelve men as Josh Lynam was sinbinned for a dangerous tackle, this allowed Coventry to take advantage and scored from a powerful run from Morrison and stretching over the line to score, levelling the scores at 6-6. Coventry lost the ball from the kick off right in front of their line, which meant Keighley were at the right end of the field and quick passing along the line enabled them to cross over in the left corner for Rikki Sheriffe.
Coventry were playing a good game, fast and strong runs from the team and a great break down the left from Jason Bass made Coventry a lot of yards. Defence soon turned into attack for Keighley and a break down the middle and an offload to Tahraoui saw them held up over the line with strong defence from Coventry. But Keighley soon crossed over the try line with a dive over the line after nice passing from Josh Lynam, bringing the score to 16-6.
Keighley were playing a tough game and a lot of tackles were deemed dangerous, Coventry had numerous strong sets but were unable to cross over the line. Another penalty in front of Keighley’s try line made it easy for them to cross over in the left for Whites second of the day. Seconds before the hooter went for half time, Cougars crashed over from a great offload from Tahraoui sent Brook over the line. Bringing the score to 26-6.
Keighley were the first team to cross the line in the second half with a gliding run through Coventry’s defence for Josh Lynam. Coventry soon replied with a great break down the middle from Parker saw them right near their try line and Jason Bass crashing over in the corner. However this was cancelled out, Handforth’s break from half way and a neat pass on the inside to beat the fullback saw Tahraoui over the line. Cougars hadn’t quite finished the scoring with a solid run from Feather saw him cross the line straight through Coventry’s defence. Bears stopped a few tries from Keighley just before the final whistle with some dogged defence, overall the Bears were much improved and played a good game of rugby against the 1st placed team in the League.
Coventry Bears
1 Andy Winfield (28)
2 Chris Dixon (2)
3 Dan Parker (30)
4 Ben Parry (5)
5 Jason Bass (45)
6 Joel James (39)
7 Cameron Boutler (7)
8 Jack Francis (27)
9 Richie Hughes (24) Capt
10 Jack Morrison (17)
11 Liam Thompson (29)
12 Chris Barratt (12)
13 Matt Cooper (26)
Subs (all used)
14 Dylan Bale (14)
15 Alex Beddows (16)
16 Nick Taylor (3)
17 Tom Hall (38)
Tries: 2
Goals: ½ Dan Parker
Field Goals: N/A
Keighley Cougars
1 Jesse Sheriffe (1)
2 Paul White (5)
3 Rikki Sheriffe (30)
4 Ollie Pursglove (17)
5 Hamish Barnes (32)
6 Adam Brook ()
7 Paul Handforth (7)
8 Scott Law (8)
9 James Feather (9)
10 Neil Cherryholme (15)
11 Josh Lynam (28)
12 David March (13)
13 Ash Lindsay (11)
14 Brendon Rawlins (12)
15 Matthew Bailey (19)
16 Paul March (26)
17 Samir Tahraoui ()
Tries: 8
Goals: 3/6 Paul Handforth, 2/2 Adam Brook
Field Goals: N/A
Men of the Match
Coventry Bears: Jason Bass
Keighely Cougars: Josh Lynam
Penalty count: 3-8
Half-time: 6-26
Referee: S. Mikalauskas
Attendance: 441
NEXT MATCH: This coming weekend the Bears are away to Rochdale Hornets and will look to build on this performance. The team hope to welcome back, Simon Phillips, James Geurtjens and Morgan Evans. A number of other players will return to full fitness this week and be in contention for selection.
NEXT HOME GAME: Sunday 2nd August versus York City Knights, 3pm kick off, Butts Park Arena.
Pictures by Tim Nunan
