League 1 Campaign Kicks Off for the Bears
Coventry Bears start this season’s Kingstone Press League 1 campaign with a trip up the M1 to Doncaster, a team they have only played once before.
Last year, the Bears were the home side as they went down to a strong Doncaster side by a margin of 20-32 in favour of the Dons, who went on to gain a top four finish and mount a strong challenge for promotion.
They will be tough opposition again, having kept most of last season’s squad but also strengthened their team to include some former Super League players, plus they will be playing at the impressive Keepmoat Stadium, which they share with Doncaster Rovers.
Meanwhile, Coventry Bears have had a disappointing pre-season, losing two warm up games and exiting both cups at the first hurdle. It may be something of a cliché in sporting terms, but the league is most important and means everything now as the real season starts.
So, will Tom Tsang’s men finally gel together and start showing the form they are capable of for a whole 80 minutes, rather than in patches?
Here’s what Bears Head Coach Tom Tsang had to say;
"The early games of the season have shown we are a little behind schedule in terms of synergy and cohesion in the new combinations we have put together.
Last week against Hunslet we showed some promising signs, especially early in the contest, despite the obviously disappointing result.
Doncaster away is a really tough way to start the league as they have recruited well and should be pushing for promotion this year.
We need to start the game as we did last week and maintain intensity throughout while getting comfortable doing the basics and working hard for each other.
If we do that then we will give ourselves opportunities. I’m looking to build on the positive showings from our local lads such as Dan Gover and Hayden Freeman who led the way for us last week."
Doncaster v Coventry Bears. Rugby League Kingstone Press League 1. Venue Keepmoat Stadium Doncaster. Kick off 3pm Sunday 5th March.
Bears Squad selected from:
Charlie Omara, Hayden Freeman, Eddie Medforth, Jason Bass, Will Roper, Jamahl Hunte, Joe Prior, Cian Timmins, James Geurtjens, Billy Gaylor, John Aldred, Matt Reid, Chris Barratt, Kieran Sherratt, Mikey Russell, Alex Beddows, Dan Gover, Matt Meek, Brad Smith, Jack Morrison.