Coventry Bears 44 Warrington Wizards 34
Elimination Play off No2, Butts Park Arena, Coventry RFC, 15/09/12 6pm.
It was end to end stuff on Saturday night at the Butts Park Arena as the Coventry Bears booked their place in a National Semi Final defeating Warrington Wizards 44 to 34. A solid first half with some scintillating try’s from the Bears set a platform that took them through despite a second half fight back by the valiant Wizards.
Scoring was opened on 5 minutes when a Bears set play created a 3 v 2 overlap on the right hand side. The final pass came from Tom Tsang who passed to Richard Synott, who burst through the line and rounded the fullback to go under the posts to score. Conversion scored by Steve Coleman. Bears 6-0 Wizards
On 8 minutes however Warrington hit back and impressive 2nd rower Paul Allcock found space on the left from quick hands to go in from ten metres out to score. Bears 6-4 Wizards
Again the Wizards pressed their dominance on 11 minutes and slow defence from the Bears saw Alan Reddecliff break the line and throw a smart offload to Ryan Jones who goes in the corner to score. Bears 6-8 Wizards
This dominance in the opening exchanges was short lived however as three try’s from the Bears in under 10 minutes put the Bears in the driving seat.
The first came from Steve Coleman on 17 minutes after the Wizards gave away a penalty Coleman grounded the ball on the right despite the attention of three defenders.
Player/Coach Tom Tsang then scored two quick-fire try’s on 22 & 25 minutes. The first came from back to back penalties as the Bears were gifted field position.
Steve Coleman broke the line from thirty metres out and passed to Tsang in support, who raced under the posts to score. Conversion scored by Steve Coleman. Bears 16-8 Wizards.
The second then came from a quick passing move from the Bears which created an overlap and good hands from Brad Massey sent Ted Lang away. Lang then ran forty metres downfield before offloading to Tsang who was once again in support to score. Bears 20-8 Wizards
Sealing a great First half for the Bears the dynamic Lang then scored one of his own as a last tackle Wizards play saw them knock on ten metres from the Bears line. Jack Powley picked up the ball, and ran 30 metres before passing to Ted Lang in support. Conversion scored by Steve Coleman. Bears 26-8 Wizards
Half Time – Bears 26 Wizards 8
The Bears set a great platform in the first half but with the second half came some end to end stuff as both sides fought for dominance. A second half fight back from the Wizards wasn’t enough through as the Bears capitalised on to many Wizards mistakes to keep the game just out of reach of the Warrington side.
The first second half try came from a final tackle on 53 minutes as Warren Ayres barged over from five metres out and did well to ground the ball despite the attention of three Bears defenders, to score in the corner. Conversion scored by Graham Healey. Bears 26-14 Wizards
Bears winger Chris Dixon then collected a loose ball from a Wizards mistake and raced seventy metres to score in the corner on 61 minutes. Conversion scored by Steve Coleman. Bears 32-14 Wizards
Prop Dan Stubbs then stormed through the Bears defence from twenty metres out and showed a good turn of pace, crashing over the top of the Bears to score on 65 minutes. Conversion scored by Graham Healey. Bears 32-20 Wizards
The Wizards started to sense that a comeback might be on the cards but this was short lived as another knock on resulted in a try by Jack Powley after Ted Lang gathers the ball up. Powley racing 60 metres to score unchallenged on 68 minutes. Conversion scored by Steve Coleman. Bears 38-20 Wizards
Two more try’s from the Wizards followed as the Bears eased off the pedal and started to tire in the closing stages, the first came on 72 minutes as the Wizards got the ball back from a short kick off. A lovely flat pass from Graham Healey sent Alan Reddecliff under the posts to score from ten metres out. Conversion scored by Graham Healey. Bears 38-26 Wizards
The Wizards then really started to throw the ball around looking for another vital try. This time the ball found Paul Alcock who pushed off the challenge of the Bears defender to score in the corner on 78 mins. Conversion missed by Graham Healey. Bears 38-30 Wizards
In the final minutes two try’s from each side close the game. The first came from the Bears as the Wizards wildly threw the ball around looking to score again, Jack Powley incepted a cut out pass and from forty metres out went in to score. Conversion scored by Steve Coleman. Bears 44-30 Wizards
The last try of the game was scored again by the impressive Alcock as a Bears knocked on from the kick off giving the Wizards one more chance to score wide on the right.
Full time score Bears 44-34 Wizards
Game Star: Coventry Bears – Brad Massey
Worked tirelessly in defence and created a great platform in attack for the Bears to execute some damaging set plays.
Game Breaker: Ted Lang’s try on the 39th minute gave the Bears a healthy 18 point half time lead. This lead gave the Wizards too much to do in the 2nd half and was enough to see the Bears take the win.
Coventry Bears Team:
Tom Tsang, Tawanda Chipadza, Ted Lang, Chris Dixon, Rich Synott, Chris Stevenson, Scott Clendenning-Fenton, Mike Venn, Ryan Jenkins, Luke Srama, Steve Coleman, Brad Massey, Lee Sanders, Alex Brown, Tyronie Rowe, Tom Davies, Jack Powley.
Warrington Wizards Team:
Troy Brophy, James Rosson, Mike Stout, Ryan Jones, Craig Middlemore, Ian Stephenson, Graham Healey, Dan Stubbs, Hayden James, Paul Reynolds, Paul Alcock, Alan Reddecliff, Warren Ayres, Ben Walker, Chris Froggatt, Mike Leicester