Bears face Doncaster this Friday

Doncaster RLFC v Coventry Bears

Friday 8th March

7.45 pm Keepmoat Stadium

Just over three weeks ago, the eyes of the Rugby League world, together with the BBC’s cameras were focused on the historic setting of Coventry’s Guild Hall.

The Rugby League Challenge Cup draw was taking place, and this was the round where the amateur clubs, often steeped in history and their communities, were put in a bag with the clubs of League 1, including our own Coventry Bears.

Now these smaller clubs can be tricky to play and would be keen to prove themselves, as was the case with Pilkington Recs and Distington, both of whom the Bears despatched at Butts Park last year before ultimately going out to then Superleague Widnes away from home.

For what seemed an eternity the Coventry audience waited for ball number 1 to be drawn, and so find out who they would be playing.

With only four balls remaining, Doncaster were drawn at home and then the Bears were next, setting them up for a tough away tie against one of the strongest and most fancied sides in League 1.

They will be playing at the Keepmoat Stadium, which like the Ricoh Arena will be one of the venues for the forthcoming World Cup.

Tom Tsang commented ahead of the match:

“We let our standards slip last week and paid the price, so we are grateful that we have the opportunity to make amends so soon and the players are focussed on producing a much improved 80 minutes.

We will look to make some changes to the matchday squad as there are lots of players in the squad pushing hard for selection and the time is right to provide that opportunity.

In saying that we don't want to make too many changes and disrupt our consistency and combinations.

We believe that on our day we have the ability to beat any team in our league. Doncaster are no different.”

19 man squad:

Dante Morley Samuels

Hayden Freeman

Kadeem Williams

Ollie Purslow

Jacob Jones

Chris Barratt

Kieran Sherratt

Callum Merritt

James Mason