CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE PREMIERSHIP, MIDLANDS DIVISION
Sunday 18 May 2008
Derby City scored a 43-32 win over Gloucestershire Warriors at Haslams. In a highly entertaining game, three tries in the ten minutes before the interval set City up for their first win over the Warriors. The Warriors had started strongly building a 14-6 lead with tries from Ben Constantine, Andy Claydon and Jack Petelo to one from City’s Chris Buckley. Crucially Ben Hough could only convert one and when Paul Worthington kicked his second conversion after Dave Fitchett’s try, there were only two points between the sides. Stephan Fourie’s interception try stretched the Warriors’ lead but James Turner, Buckley and Ian Gilmour all scored, Worthington converting two, to leave City 28-18 ahead at the break.
In a second half that was nip and tuck all the way, that lead was crucial for City as Alan Bryan pulled a score back for the Warriors before Jim Wild and Turner replied for the home side. Marc Graham gave the Warriors hope with a length of the field try but Gilmour’s drop goal stretched the lead to three scores and Ryan Manning’s try sealed the points. Petelo’s second try in the dying minutes goaled by Hough was scant consolation for the Warriors.
Bedford Tigers impressive start to the season continued with a 46-6 thumping of Birmingham Bulldogs at Moor Lane. An opening salvo of four tries put them firmly in control and despite the bulldogs’ best efforts, they were never going to close the gap.
Zander Peden’s early try set them on the way and before the break, Graham Magill, Sam Richbell, Jamie Goss and Peden again had all added tries, Peden converting one. The Bulldogs’ sole reply was an Adam Walker touchdown converted by Mike Jones.
The Bulldogs defended hard in the second period, but the effort took its toll and the Tigers finished off the win with further tries for Matt Hughes, Darren Pickards, Chris Aubury and Paul Robson. Peden added four more conversions to finish with 18 points.
Struggling Leicester Phoenix were blown away by the Coventry Bears who scored 14 tries in an 80-4 win. The Phoenix’s bright start soon died out and the Bears opened the scoring through Ben Powis who dribbled the ball almost the length of the field for the opening try. Tim Farndon added two further tries for the Bears and with tries from Matt Allsopp, Matt Cooper (2), Scott Clendenning –Fenton and Graham Healey the home side went into the break leading 40-0.
Two minutes into the second half Chris Brown went over under the sticks before Powis and Matt Fielder scored to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Jamie Howe broke the one way traffic with a well-worked try for the Phoenix but it was little consolation as Alan Robinson charged through to score before Peter Parker and Fielder completed the scoring. Graham Healey added 12 goals to his first half try.
ROUND FOUR
Birmingham Bulldogs 06 – 46 Bedford Tigers
Bulldogs: Tries; Adam Walker. Goals; Mike Jones 1 from 1.
Tigers: Tries; Zander Peden (2), Graham Magill, Sam Richbell, Jamie Goss, Matt Hughes, Darren Pickards, Chris Aubury, Paul Robson. Goals; Zander Peden 5 from 9.
Coventry Bears 80 – 4 Leicester Phoenix
Bears: Tries; Ben Powis (2),Tim Farndon (2), Matt Allsopp, Matt Cooper (2), Scott Clendenning-Fenton, Graham Healey, Chris Brown, Matt Fielder (2), Alan Robinson, Peter Parker. Goals; Graham Healey 12 from 14
Phoenix: Tries; Jamie Howe. Goals; Mark Sloan 0 from 1.
Derby City 43 – 32 Gloucestershire Warriors
City: Tries; Chris Buckley (2), Dave Fitchett, James Turner (2), Ian Gilmour, Jim Wild, Ryan Manning. Goals; Paul Worthington 5 from 8.
Warriors: Tries; Ben Constantine, Andy Claydon, Jack Petelo (2), Stephan Fourie, Alan Bryan, Marc Graham. Goals; Ben Hough 2 from 6, Jack Petelo 0 from 1.
Nottingham Outlaws – Bye
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD WINNERS
Birmingham Bulldogs v Bedford Tigers
Bulldogs: Will Wright
Tigers: TBC
Coventry Bears v Leicester Phoenix
Bears: Matt Cooper (Second row)
Phoenix: Jean Botha (Stand off)
Derby City v Gloucestershire Warriors
City: Ian Gilmore (Stand off)
Warriors: Jack Petelo (Prop)
MIDLANDS PREMIER DIVISION LEAGUE TABLE
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | Pts |
| Coventry Bears | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 164 | 33 | 131 | 6 |
| Nottingham Outlaws | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 142 | 28 | 114 | 6 |
| Bedford Tigers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 158 | 46 | 112 | 4 |
| Gloucestershire Warriors | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 115 | 15 | 4 |
| Derby City | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 99 | 140 | -41 | 4 |
| Birmingham Bulldogs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 107 | -53 | 0 |
| Leicester Phoenix | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 290 | -278 | 0 |
(NB: If tied, final positions decided by scores between tying teams not overall points difference)
TOP SCORERS (after 4 Rounds):
Tries:
7 – Zander Peden (Bedford Tigers)
6 – Paul Calland (Nottingham Outlaws)
6 – Ben Thornton (Nottingham Outlaws)
5 – Stephan Fourie (Gloucestershire Warriors)
5 – Jamie Goss (Bedford Tigers)
5 – Mike Jones (Birmingham Bulldogs)
5 – Ben Powis (Coventry Bears)
4 – Ben Constantine (Gloucestershire Warriors)
4 – Matt Cooper (Coventry Bears)
4 – Martin Edwards (Nottingham Outlaws)
Goals:
22 – Graham Healey (Coventry Bears)
16 – Ben Thornton
14 – Chris Potts (Bedford Tigers)
14 – (incl 2 field goals) Paul Worthington
6 – Zander Peden
Points:
56 – Ben Thornton (6 tries, 16 goals)
48 – Graham Healey (1 try, 22 goals)
40 – Zander Peden (7 tries, 6 goals)
38 – Paul Worthington (3 tries, 12 goals, 2 field goals)
28 – Chris Potts (14 goals)
24 – Paul Calland (6 tries)
24 – Mike Jones (5 tries, 2 goals)
22 – Stephan Fourie (5 tries, 1 goal)
20 – Jamie Goss (5 tries)
20 – Ben Powis (5 tries)
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Chris Wilson
Media Manager, Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC
Tel: +44 (0)1684 850903
Mobile: + 44 (0)7905 931033
Email: gloswarriors2004@aol.com
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The Gloucestershire Rugby League is an organisation for local rugby league clubs in Gloucestershire. Our main activity currently is to promote rugby league through the County and give useful information about our sport to the public of Gloucestershire.
