Coventry Bears

Redditch Ravens 40 Carvell Coventry Bears Academy 32
Carvell Coventry Bears Academy had only 13 players on the teams sheet and every last man of them can hold their heads up high in defeat as they battled on all 80 minutes and for last ten minutes were down to 10 as 3 injured players on the sidelines could only look on as the tenacious 10 fought on.
Coventry opened the scoring as early as the 2nd minute when Jonathon Tipton converted a penalty given for a Redditch indiscretion
to take a 2 nil lead. Redditch Ravens were soon back in it as Kenny Hadley made a storming break to offload at the last second to flying winger Robbie Parker who duly beat his opposite number from 30 metres out to score under the posts which was converted by Gareth Thomas to give the Ravens a 6 – 2 lead.
An enterprising Coventry side were to hit back 5 minutes later with a try by 2nd rower Craig Lee and converted by Jonathon Tipton. Neil Lightowler caught the Ravens defence napping when he strolled over for a try converted yet again by Jonathon Tipton to give the Bears a 14 – 6 lead.
On 25 mins an innocuous kick on the last tackle into the corner was failed to be gathered by the Ravens defence allowing Alex McDonald to gather the ball and touchdown for the Bears 3rd try of the game converted by Jonathon Tipton.8 minutes later the Bears were to further extend the lead when points machine Jonathon Tipton was to score under the posts which he also converted to give the Bears a 20 pts cushion.
The half time whistle was to blow with a score of Redditch Ravens 18 Carvell Coventry Bears 26.

The Ravens opened the 2nd half scoring on 50 minutes when after a fine break from their own half. Tom Solomon was on hand to sprint 55 metres to score under the posts. Two minutes later Solomon scored his 2nd try to give The Ravens the lead for only the 2nd time in the game 28 – 26.
The next 20 minutes was played at a furious pace as both defences held firm, and the superior numbers began to play a part as Cov were now down to 11 men as 2 were unable to take a further part in the game due to injuries. Two final tries by the Ravens should have finished the Bears, however a never say die Coventry side now down to 10 men were to have the better of the play. In the last 5 minutes the battling Bears went close on 3 occasions and were rewarded on 79 minutes when Neil Kennedy went over for a well earned try which was converted by Jonathon Tipton.
The Final Whistle blew to give a fulltime score of Redditch Ravens 40 Coventry Bears 32

Full credit to all the lads that played in a Bears shirt today they gave there all and showed what pride they had for the shirt in giving a 110% performance even when down to 12, 11 and 10 men in the last 10 minutes other sides would have crumbled.
J &S Landscapes Man of the Match: Richard Chappell