Whitehaven Preview

 Bears V Whitehaven preview.

It seems like you have to wait ages to see a Bears game, then just like buses, three come along together.

And this third consecutive home game is against Cumbrian side Whitehaven, after the memorable Cup win against Pilkington and Easter Friday’s mudbath against NewcastleThunder.

A couple of years ago, Whitehaven were plying their trade in the Championship, but this is their second season in League 1, and they are keen to get back to where they feel they belong.

Their start to the season has been quite mixed, they had a good win 14-12 against neighbours Workington over Easter, and they have beaten Hemel Stags [as did the Bears].

They have also lost away at Doncaster [again just like the Bears], and alsoat home to recently relegated Oldham.

Last Season, the Bears played away at Whitehaven’s Recreation Ground and it was one of those performances so characteristic of last year’s campaign as they trailed 34-6 at half time.

Maybe they needed more time to recover from the five hour coach journey up the M6, but Tom’s team didn’t get going until after half time. The final score of 44-12 shows that the Bears had the upper hand in the second forty minutes, outscoring their hosts. But there are no prizes for just winning the second half!

Back to this season and the Bears, although losing, put in a very competitive 80 minutes against Thunder, and confidence should be high as their cup run continues.

It was disappointing for fans to see JamahlHunte carried off on Good Friday to add to existing early season injuries, but the team showed a real togetherness, far more than at this stage last season.

On Sunday it will be ‘Haven, or the Marras as they are also known,enduring a long coach journey before playing.

Could this be the game where the Bears get a result against one of the traditional Northern teams at Butts Park? 

Bears 19 Man Squad:  

Coventry Bears 19 man squad:

1.       Alex Beddows

2.       Ben Gray

3.       Chris Vitalini

4.       Dan Gover

5.       Dante Morley Samuels

6.       Harry Chapman

7.       Harry Kaufman

8.       Hayden Freeman

9.       James Geurtjens

10.   James mason

11.   Jason Bass

12.   Joel Thomas

13.   Kam Pearce Paul

14.   Lewis Lord

15.   Liam Rice Wilson

16.   Paul Emmanuelli

17.   Rhys Gant

18.   Richie Hughes

19   Zak Williams