Bears v Ironmen Preview

Coventry Bears v South Wales Ironmen

Match preview

By Mike Hyde

Bears hope to end on a high note

The curtain finally comes down on the Bears third season in League 1 this Saturday, and after a frankly disappointing season on the pitch, will be looking to end on a high note.

Their opponents South Wales Ironmen will also be looking to end on a high, as this is their final game before losing the Ironmen brand and also the South designation as they have moved to Llanelli where they will in future be West Wales Raiders Raiders.

Rugby League in South Wales has a long history and Wales has produced many legendary players, such as Billy Boston andJim Sullivan.

Club Rugby League has had a chequered history, as exemplified by South Wales Scorpions, who started in Neath, before stints as tenants in Caerphilly, Mountain Ash and Maesteg, before taking up residence in Merthyr Tydfil this season and being rebranded as the Ironmen.

And it was the Ironmen who narrowly beat the Bears 24-22 in South Wales earlier in theseason.

With a nomadic past and an uncertain future, it was good news when successful amateur club, West Wales Raiders effectively took them over and relocated them to Llanelli, where they own their own premises and can give the team a better, more stable future.

However, there has been some fallout from the move West and Coventry Bears now have two former Scorpions/Ironmenplaying for them, Zac Williams and Paul Emannuelli, toadd a little more spice to Saturda’ys game.

The Bears narrowly lost last weekend against Oxford, but the previous week won away from home against the other Welsh side, North Wales Crusaders, and are looking forward to a good crowd at the Butts Park Arena.

Rugby League fans can also enjoy a game of football at no extra cost as Coventry United play Bromsgrove before the match. 

Bears season ticket holders can show their membership to have free access to Cov Utd also.  

Please join us post match for our end of season awards the club will be open til late.  

Bears Squad for today:  

Mikey Russell

Hayden Freeman

Matt Reid

Jason Bass

Jamahl Hunte

Paul Emmanueli

Brad Delaney

Brad Brennan

Billy Gaylor

Alex Beddows

Kieran Sherratt

Chris Barratt

Zak Williams

James Kelly

Paddy Jones

Jack Morrison

Jacob jones

Harry Chapman

Dan Gover