DONS DEFEAT BEARS

Bears Dan Gover is halted by the Dons Defence

COVENTRY BEARS 4 DONCASTER RLFC 46

BUTTS PARK ARENA, SUNDAY

MIKE HYDE

That glorious July with four victories and members of the team on International duty seemed a distant memory as the Bears were defeated by a powerful and experienced Doncaster side closing in on the promotion play-off places.

The Bears kicked off and were soon on the offensive but were held up over the line by the Dons defence, that proved to be their best chance of the half and fans were left wondering how the shape of the game may have been different had the Bears taken a surprise early lead..

The two sides were evenly matchedas the game got going, testing each other for the first ten minutes, but then in a more expansive move, the Dons got the ball out to their right wing and then back again into the centre for Jordan Howden to score the first of the afternoon, with Matty Beharrell adding a couple more points.

It was another flowing move seven minutes later which saw the ball eventually passed out to Richard Owen to finish things off with a try. The conversion attempt hit the post.

The Dons were now on top as Jason Muranka broke through the home defence before Conor Bower sprinted over for his first try of the match with nearly twenty minutes gone. The successful conversion saw Doncaster building up their lead to 0-16.

Frankie Mariano was the next to cross over for the Dons after another characteristic flowing move across the park.

The Bears did all they could to slow the onslaught, but were unable to prevent Aron Bishop-Jones crossing over in the left corner which was looking very vulnerable.

As half time approached, Dons’ Brad England made a spectacular incisive run from deep in his own half to be held up by the dogged Bears defence. He was stopped, but his team mate Ryan Boyle concluded matters with a try, which was subsequently converted.

The game was effectively over as the half time hooter blew but both sides had something to prove as they came out again, the Dons wanted more points for their difference, and the Bears wanted to salvage some pride and not be nilled at home.

The Bears achieved their objective within two minutes of the restart, as Mikey Russell jinked around the Dons players before diving over to get the Bears first points. A missed conversion meant there were no mor, but would this herald a comeback against all odds?

The answer was no as the match then entered a soggy spell, broken only when Conor Bower added his second for the visitors.

The Bears attempted to fight back again, but it was the Dons who had the upper hand now.

Russell Spiers crossed over for the visitors next to extend their score further.

The final try was a close-in effort by Brad England, but for the third time in the afternoon, the conversion attempt hit the post.   

The Bears had retained their dignity, but the Dons go marching on, maybe slightly miffed at not adding a few more precious points.

MATCHFACTS

BEARS

 1 Jason Bass

 2 Hayden Freeman

 3 Jacob Ogden

21 Kameron Pearce-Paul

 5 Reece Rance

 6 Paul Emanuelli

 7 Ben Stead

 8 Dan Gover

 9 Liam Rice-Wilson

10 Chris Vitalini

11 Kieran Sherratt

12 Chris Barratt

13 Jason Mason

Subs (all used)

25 Mikey Russell

18 James Guertjens

16 Peter Ryan

17 Cameron Stewart

Tries: Russell(44)

Goals Stead 0/1

DONS

 1 Richard Owen

 5 Sam Doherty

19 Conor Bower

 4 Jason Tali

 2 Aron Bishop-Jones

 6Jordan Howden

29 Matty Beharrell

 8 Russell Spiers

 9 Kyle Kesik

14 Conor Scott

28 Frankie Mariano

11 Brad England

12 Jason Muranka

Subs (all used)

10 Ryan Boyle

13 Jordi Hedges

16 Karim Maradi

23 Ross Osborne

Tries: Howden (9), Owen (16), Bower (19, 51), Mariano (21), Jones-Bishop(32), Boyle (38), Spiers (39,68), England(78)

Goals: Beharrall 3/10

Penalty count: 12-9

Half-time: 0-30

Referee:  S RACE

Attendance: 300

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-16,0-24, 0-30;  4-30, 4-36, 4-42, 4-46