BEARS SHOW CLASS TO DEFEAT ALL GOLDS

Dan Price who bagged two trys and a field goal in the match

COVENTRY BEARS 33

GLOUCTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS 20

Report by James Oddy

Picture by David George

Coventry’s last home game of the season, played under beautiful late summer conditions, was a fitting end to their home campaign as they produced some stunning rugby. Wearing away colours or red and black, they got off to a flyer with a try by Hayden Freeman after the All Golds allowed a high bomb by Danny price to bounce, Jay Lowbein regathering and shipping it out wide.

The All Golds almost struck back as they broke via Brad Kislinberg who released Kadeem Williams, but the wingman was bundled into touch. The All Golds, after two penalties, challenged the Bears line, but it again came to nothing. A knock on from the home side and another penalty led to Jack Mitchell squirming over under the sticks after the ball had gone to ground to finally get All visitors off the mark.

The game then settled down as both teams ran and tackled hard. The Bears eventually worked themselves into some field position, and, from 5 meters out, Price stepped and dummied passed four All Golds defenders to cross.

The Bears were in again, after Joel James, who was increasingly taking charge, broke down the left channel to release Jamal Hunte, the wing showed searing pace to round Jack Oren. The home side then turned on the style, Lowbein, after receiving an offload from Jason Bass, chipping over Phill Cowburn to go in under the sticks. A penalty for offside on the hooter was then slotted over by James to send the home side in happy.

The All Golds clearly regrouped at half time, the impressive Steve Parry scooting from dummy half through some terrible defence to put them back in with a shout. Parry then nearly added to it, going from dummy half again but being held up. Coventry then seemed to wake up, jack Morrison blasting his way up field, and after a penalty as he was held down; the ball was worked out to Bass to go over in the corner.  

The game see sawed again, the Bears making repeated errors, allowing Josh Allison to release Oren to just dive other in the corner. The Bears again dropped the ball in the tackle, All Golds spreading the ball wide to put in Williams, via Micthell and Hyde.

The Bears were flagging, but a knock when fielding a kick from Oren turned the tables, Dan Price slotting over a drop goal to put the game to bed. Price then added a try after James grubberd delicately behind the onrushing All Golds defence. 

It was a brilliant result for the Bears as they continued to be in the reckoning for the League one shield, despite having a number of key players missing. Head coach Tom Tsang was pleased with what he saw.

“Im not sure which I’m more pleased about: beating Crusaders last week or winning today.” He commented after the match. “ At any point in the season, playing the All Golds at home is the biggest game of the year for us. They are our local rivals and there are a number of players who have now played for both clubs. We are both clubs waving the flag for RL outside the heartlands and to have a rivalry like this is great for the game. Today we had to make some significant changes with 6 first team regulars missing, including Matt Reid, Eddie Medforth and Charlie Omara our three top try scorers and Richie Hughes our captain, so it was always going to be a tough ask to get the win. But the guys in the 17 all stepped up and everyone today contributed to a great victory. I thought our discipline at times was poor and we allowed All Golds more field position than they deserved but apart from that we were the better side throughout.”

BEARS

1 Jason Bass

2 Hayden Freeman

 3 Jono Milizewski

4 Grant Beecham

5 Jamahl Hunte

6 Danny Price

7 Joel James

8 Alex Beddows

9 Jay Lowbein

19 Trae O’Sullivan

18 Andy Unsworth

12 Chris Barratt (Capt)

10 Jack Morrison

Subs (all used)

25 Harry chapman

17 James Geurtjens

20 John Aldred

24 Dylan Bale

Tries: Freeman (02)  Price (31, 75) Hunte (34) lowbein (37) Bass (54),

Goals:  James (4/6) field goal; Price (72)

Man of the Match DAN PRICE

ALL GOLDS

1 Phill Cowburn

2 Jack Oren

3 Josh Allison

4 Brad Kislingburg

5 Kadeem Williams

6 Jack Mitchell

7 Kieran Hyde

8 Ollie Purslow

9 Steve parry

10 Harrison Elliot

11 Emerson Whittel

12 Lewis Reece

13 Joe McClean

Subs

14 Luke Stephens

15 Richard Jones

16 Morgan Evans

17 James Waller

18 Jake Joynt

Tries:  Mitchell (16) Parry (44), Oren (59) Williams (66)

Goals: Hyde (2/3), Mitchell (0/1)

Penalty count: 9-7

Half-time:  22-6

Referee: J.Roberts

Attendance: 392