CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE PREMIERSHIP, MIDLANDS DIVISION
Saturday 7 June 2008
The Gloucestershire Warriors suffered their fourth defeat of the season at the hands of the Coventry Bears as they fell to a 48-28 loss in Coventry.
However, the scoreline does little justice to the Warriors who were by no means 20 points inferior to their opponents in a game that had periods of stifling defence and then of searing attack from both sides as they battled for superiority.
It was the Bears’ superior finishing in the final quarter that earned them the points but they were made to work hard by a Warriors side showing grit determination and plenty of skill in cold and overcast conditions.
Graham Healey opened the scoring for the home side, dancing through a static defence for a try he converted himself after seven minutes but that was the only score until the dying moments of the half as the teams traded territory with excellent defence.
Ben Constantine powered his way over for the Warriors for an unconverted try but two Bears scores in reply seemed to have put them in the driving seat as Mark Hyslop and Stuart Arnett-Clark capitalised on Warriors errors to score.
Justice was served before the interval as Alan Bryan forced his way over for a try converted by Tom Bozzard with the last play of the half to leave the Warriors trailing by just four points.
Whatever was said in the huddle at the break worked in sensational fashion for the Warriors as they started strongly. Bozzard sent Jake Perry-Gardiner away from halfway for a classy try under the posts and then Bozzard himself forced his way over after the Bears were caught offside at the restart and with Bozzard converting both, the Warriors suddenly led 22-14.
However, if you poke a stick in a bear’s cave you’d better be prepared for what comes out and the Warriors were hit with a three try burst with Jonny Nicholls, Dean Thompson and Arnett-Clark all went over and with Healey adding the goals, suddenly the Bears led by 10 points.
The Warriors pulled a try back, Ronnie Haines cleverly saw space out wide and kicked across for Perry-Gardiner to catch and score a simple try, well converted by Andy Claydon from wide out, to cut the deficit to four points.
However, the Bears responded again with three tries in the final few minutes, Matt Fielder exploiting a lack of numbers down the Warriors’ right before Ben Powis scored a quickfire double the same way to round off the win for the home side who readily accepted that the scoreline flattered them.
Teams:
COVENTRY BEARS: Mark Hyslop, Matt Fielder, Tony Wildsmith, Dean Thompson, Stuart Arnett-Clark, Graham Healey, Scott Clendenning-Fenton, Rhiddian Booth (Capt.), Matt Allsopp, Tim Farnden, Tim Stevens, Jonny Nicholls, Aaron Jarvis. Replacements: Ben Powis, Dave Hartley, Craig Lee, Joe Smith, Lee Ashford.
Scorers: Tries; Graham Healey (7), Mark Hyslop (34), Stuart Arnett-Clark (37, 57), Jonny Nicholls (49), Dean Thompson (54), Matt Fielder (68), Ben Powis (77, 79). Conversions; Graham Healey 6 from 9.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS: Justin Andrews, Josh Pettifer, Stephan Fourie, Ronnie Haines, Jake Perry-Gardiner, Ben Hough (Capt.), Andy Claydon,, Simon Taylor, Tom Bozzard, Dennis Kenna, Alan Bryan, Steve Parker, Ben Constantine. Replacements: Dan Price, Ed Stallard, John Archer, Bryce White, Tom James.
Scorers: Tries; Ben Constantine (31), Alan Bryan (40), Jake Perry-Gardiner (42, 64), Tom Bozzard (45). Conversions; Tom Bozzard 3 from 4, Andy Claydon 1 from 1.
Referee: John Butler (Southern RLRS)
Star Man: Ben Constantine
Penalties: Bears 6 Warriors 10.
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 6-4, 10-4, 14-4, 14-10, (HT), 14-16, 14-22, 20-22, 26-22, 32-22, 32-28, 38-28, 44-28, 48-28, (FT).
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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.
