So near yet so far. Bears gutted at loss.
Whitehaven RLFC 24 Coventry Bears 20
With just three minutes to go, Coventry Bears were leading 18-20 in a match where they had given everything against promotion contenders 'Haven on their own ground.
But that lead was reversed by their Player Coach Carl Foster who scored a hat trick in his last home game for the club, bringing joy to the home fans and agony to the small band of travelling Bears supporters and those following events on Twitter.
After a long trek to Cumbria, in the very heart of Rugby League territory, the game did not start well for the Bears as the hosts scored in the first minute courtesy of a Marc Shackley try which was duly converted by Dan Abram. This could have signalled the start of an onslaught by a team with serious playoff and promotion credentials with two games left of the regular season.
Rather than cave in, the Bears then composed themselves and defended magnificently against wave after wave of Whitehaven attacks, where Carl Foster was already an increasingly threat, but the Bears defence held him up over the line, so preventing another score.
Then on one of their attacks, 'Haven uncharacteristically dropped the ball and it was Kam Pearce Paul whi took full advantage, scoring on the counter attack. Ben Stead's conversion put the two sides level.
Then the Bears capitalised on another mistake as Hayden Freeman seized the ball and ran 60 metres to cross over the line, and once again Stead added two more points to put the score at 6-12. Could a real upset be on be cards?
It looked likely to stay that way until half time, but Foster had other ideas as he crashed over just as the hooter was sounding, and the successful subsequent conversion meant the two sides went in 12-12.
The home crowd no doubt thought that their team would come out and thrash a team from the Midlands but that was not to be the case.
Again, resolute defending kept the home side at bay, and it was Coventry, not Whitehaven which broke the deadlock.
A penalty given to the Bears was taken by Stead which gave a slender two point lead.
That lead was then extended following a dazzling run from Reece Rance which went on to place the ball over the try line in the corner of the pitch. It was not an easy conversion but Stead's aim was good yet again and now the Bears had an eight point lead with twenty minutes left. That upset looked likely once again....
However, Foster had other ideas as he powered over the line with two defenders hanging on to him to pull 'Haven back into the game.
But still the Bears were clinging on to a narrow lead with just three minutes left, when along came the inspirational Foster yet again as he broke Bears hearts with a third try, giving his side the lead for the first time since half way through the first half.
And that was that. So close, so very close, and once again the Bears showed that they are becoming competitive in this league.
After that home win against Keighley, and other close encounters, the Bears have clearly differentiated themselves from the strugglers at the foot of the table and increasing look capable of mixing it with the clubs in the middle of the table.
And the fact that players, coaches and fans were gutted to lose this one shows just how far the Bears have travelled this season.
The hope now is to round off a memorable season with a victory against Hunslet at Butts Park on Saturday, come on Bears!!!!!!!!!!