Doncaster Preview

Bears facing a determined Dons side

Coventry Bears v Doncaster RLFC

Butts Park Arena Sunday 5th August 3pm kick off Butts Park Arena

Match preview by Mike Hyde

The Bears are back in action on home turf again this weekend when they take on Doncaster RLFC or the Dons as they are more affectionally known.

Last weekends game was a tough one for the Bears, losing 68-6 against York. But as the season progresses towards its closing stages, York are looking like the best team around when everyone’s eyes had been on Bradford Bulls. Indeed, York had beaten the Bulls away from homein their previous outing, so defeating the Bears was always on the cards.

Those of a glass half empty disposition would see that game as the end of a run of four wins in a row, but those of us with more of a glass half full perspective would point to an unbroken run of three home wins, with Sunday’s game having the potential to be a fourth!! 

And if we throw in the two home wins in the cup, then the Bears home form starts to look quite solid, certainly better than their travels on the road.

The Bears should also now have their student international contingent not only back, but fully rested, recovered and in contention for places on Sunday.

So, we all know about the Bears recent adventures, and theirnot so recent heavy defeats in the first half of theseason, but what about the Dons?

The Dons are are very much ‘in the pack’ of clubs in the wake of all conquering Bradford and York, currently lying in 6th place in a League 1 table where just two points separate the five teams ranging from third to seventh place, so they will not just be looking for a win, but an improvement in their points difference which could make all the difference between a playoff place or not.

The top team [Bradford or York] goes up automatically while those in second to fifth place enter the play offs, so their current position isn’t good enough. And they are on form, albeit beaten recently by Bradford and York.

The away fixture against the Dons was way back in February, and Hull F,C.’s Miloudi was in spectacular form, scoring four tries as the Dons beat the Bears 70-10.

Could the resurgent Bears possibly turn around a 60-point margin? Well, just look what they did against Keighley. 

Bears Squad From: 

Ben Stead

Cam Stewart

Chris Barratt

Chris Vitalini

Dan Gover

Dante Morley Samuels

Harry Chapman

Hayden Freeman

Jacob Ogden

James Geurtjens

James Mason

Jason Bass

Kam Pearce Paul

Kieran Sherratt

Mikey Russell

Paul Emmanuelli

Peter Ryan

Reece Rance

Liam Rice-Wilson