Bears homecoming a happy one

Coventry Bears 22 London Broncos Reserves 14

Friday, Butts Park Arena

Coventry Bears returned to their traditional home in the city centre after being ‘on the road’ for much of 2019, and after losing some key players in the close season.

Also gone from the Coventry set up was long serving Head Coach Tom Tsang, who returned in his new role with London Broncos to see his new young side go down in an entertaining encounter 22-14 against his former club.

Kicking off with a completely new spine running through the team, the Bears looked fit and strong after the sessions spent in their new training facility at Warwick school.

The home side were soon pressing hard and their reward came on nine minutes as Ryan Langton crossed over after the ball came to him after several passes along the line.

Brad Clavering added two points with the first conversion of the night.

There then followed a very evenly matched period with both sides attacking well, but defending better.

Chris Cullimore broke the deadlock for the home side and Clavering added two more to the scoreboard

Then, as the Londoners were pressing hard to get back into the game, the ball became loose on the far side of the pitch, thirty yards from the Bears try line.

Kieran Smith booted it upfield and chased after it followed by a pack of Broncos. He booted it again. And again, and again, before diving on it over the try line to put the Bears 16-0 in the lead.

The conversion was not forthcoming but the Bears still had a good lead as the half time hooter blew.

Both sides made changes for the second half and the first few minutes were quite scrappy.

The away side found their rhythm quicker and Tom Firth scored the first try of the half.

Five minutes later, Oli Firth ran almost the length of the field before passing to Joel Foshuene Gray, whose try like the previous one was not converted.

A comeback certainly looked on the cards as Charlie Hammond crashed over, with Rob Oakley’s conversion narrowing the gap to just two points, 16-14.

Coventry restarted the game with a long kick being fumbled by the Broncos.

Chris Cullimore kicked it over the line and pounced on it, and with the ensuing conversion the lead was restored to 8 points, and remained that way til the match ended.

This was a good game for the Bears, and the young Broncos showed promise, but this was a friendly, and a long season lies ahead.

MATCHFACTS

BEARS

1 Nathan Hill

2 Hayden Freeman

3 Alex Williams

4 Kadeem Williams

5 Reece Rance

6 Kieran Smith

7 Brad Sheridan

8 Will Budd

9 Chris Cullimore

22 Reece Williams

11 Brad Clavering

12 Harry Kaufman

13 Ryan Langton

Subs (all used)

14 Tyler Chant

15 Peter Ryan

16 Cameron Stewart

17 Jay Neath

18 Leon Harber

19 Zac Fellows

20 Darius Hamilton

21 Johnny Allen

22 Will Tully

Tries: Langton [9], Cullimore [33,53], Smith [38],

Goals: Clavering 3/4

BRONCOS

1 Ted Davidson

2 Joel Foshuene grey

10 Chris Ball

20 Josh Hodson

18 Alfie Edwards

6 Oli Leyland

7 Ryan Horseman

8 Chris Gayle

9 Tom Firth

4 Ramon Da Silva

11 Jacob Jones

12 Jordan Williams

13 Rob Oakley

Subs (all used)

14 Charlie Hammond

15 Alex Dreary

16 Delaine Bedward

17 Jay white

18 Rory Gray

19 Shaun Baker

20 Lawrence Haywood

Tries: Firth [43], Grey [48], Hammond [51]

Goals: Oakley 1/3

Penalty count: 7-9

Half-time: 16-0

Referee: Michael Smaill

Attendance: 453

SCORING SEQUENCE:6-0,12-0,16-0; 16-4, 16-8, 16-14, 22-14

BRONCOS MATCH REPORT

Bears homecoming a happy one