Bears 38 Rochdale Hornets 30: Rampant Bears need fear no opposition on this showing

Coventry Bears 38 Rochdale Hornets 30

Sunday, Butts Park Arena

Report by Mike Hyde

As the teams lined up just prior to kick off, a wondrous sight appeared in the distance. The Midland Pullman, the rarest and fastest luxury train on the UK’s rail network, glided majestically by on the embankment.

Its glorious paint scheme matched the light blue of Coventry Bears. Was this an omen, a portent of great things to come?

It certainly was…

The game started with much-fancied Rochdale having the better of early plays, but some fierce tackling from the Bears held the visitors at bay.  The pressure continued, the only respite being a drop out kick, this was tough for the home side.

Then, out of the blue, the Bears struck; first a slick series of passes over 75 yards saw Dave Scott score the first four points, easily converted by Dan Coates putting the Bears into an early six point lead.

Further Bears pressure followed, but Hornets were soon to be back in contention, and a gap saw Luke Fowden power over the try line and Joshua Jordan Roberts’ conversion equalled the scores. This was to be a tight game.

Soon, Hornets were gaining the upper hand and desperate defending was needed. But Rob Fairclough was able to make a diagonal incision from close quarters to put the Hornets into the lead for the first time, further increased with another successful conversion.

A lost ball, quick succession of passes, and Bears’ Kadeem Williams was over the line on the far left, but no extras were added, so the visitors were still in the lead.

Hornets’ skilful offloading and intricate passing from close quarters finally put Shaun Ainscough just over the line  and Roberts third conversion was again successful. The visitors lead was stretching further. Oh dear.

The Bears’ response was rapid.  And this time it was the home side’s fluent passing that was behind Bear Liam Welham’s try, converted again. This was close.

Surprisingly, it was speed rather than power which saw veteran cult figure Fui Fui Moi Moi add to the visitors’ tally with four minutes left until half time and a good kick saw the margin widen to 8 points. Could the Bears possibly get back into this game?

They certainly came out looking determined, and within three minutes full back Nathan Hill was over the line from close quarters.

But the Hornets reply was swift and decisive as Callum Merrit crossed over on the right, converted yet again. Ebb, flow, ebb, flow.

This was now a tough and tense encounter. And sure enough, tempers were becoming frayed and a brawl erupted on the half way line, surely this would result in a sending off for Rochdale?

But no, play was stopped but no punishments were handed out. The home crowd weren’t happy.

It also allowed the ill feeling to continue with further fouls, punches and brawling and this time Hornets’ Forshaw was sinbinned.

The Bears seized the opportunity to claw themselves back into the game, and an overlap gifted Harry Kaufman a try, duly converted.

Then, Matty Welham was over the line and the subsequent conversion  put the Bears into the narrowest of leads. It had been nearly an hour since the Bears had been in front, but now they had a two point lead. Could they hang on?

The tension mounted as the game was on a knife edge, and Hornets looked on top and about to clinch it, but then in a moment which decided the match, an interception and long range attack saw Dave Scott increase the Bears lead, with bonus points following from Coates.

A tense five minutes now followed before the home fans erupted with elation, relief, pride and probably a few other emotions the hadn’t felt during the long bleak year of Covid.

This was a victory, a historic victory against a side with great pedigree, but will surely by no means be a rare victory this season. Come on you Bears.

MATCHFACTS

BEARS

  1 Nathan hill

20 Kadeem Williams

  3 Matty Welham

  4 Liam Welham

23 Reece Rance

  6 Dan Coates

  7 Dave Scott

  8 Peter Ryan

  9 Chris Cullimore

15 Will Budd

11 Jack Dawson

16 Sam Bowring

12 Kieran Sherratt

Subs (all used)

14 Elliot Townsend

21 Harry Kaufman

19 Brad Ho Jo

13 Ryan Langton

Tries: Scott [8], Williiams [23], L Welham [30], Hill [42], Kaufman[62],  M Welham [68], Scott [75]

Goals:  Coates 5/7

HORNETS

15 Daniel Yates

  2 Shaun Ainscough

  6 Lewis Sheridan

30 Lewis Galbraith

  5 Dale Bloomfield

29 Ryan Forshaw

  7 Rob Fairclough

16 Adam Hesketh

19 Callum Ogden

18 Luke Fowden

12 Jordan Syme

  8 Callum Marriott

11 Joshua John Roberts

Subs (all used

14 Declan Sheridan

17 JFui Fui Moi Moi

13 Jovilisi Taira

23 Lee Registe

Tries: JJ Roberts [15], Fairclough[18], Ainscough [30] Moi Moi [36], Merritt [53]

Goals: JJ Roberts5/5

Sinbin Forshaw 65

Half-time: 16-24

Referee:  A.  Sweet

Attendance: 232

SCORING SEQUENCE: 46-0, 6-6, 6-12, 10-12, 10-18, 16-18, 16-24; 20-24, 20-30, 26-30, 26-30, 32-30, 38-30

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