The Carvell Coventry Bears ran away wth another victory at Old Coventrians on Saturday but It was Derby that started the brightest with Hooker Graham Mallinson playing his first game of the season for the visitors who opened the scoring on 7 minutes.
The Bears again suffering from injuries were struggling to complete their sets of 6 with too many handling errors.
It wasn’t until the 14th minute that Ben Powis the Coventry Winger forced his way over in the corner to get the home side off the mark.
Hooker Alex Brown seemed to be held up short of the line but despite the attention of three Derby defenders he somehow managed to force the try. For most of the rest of the half the Bears seemed out of sorts but just on half time Coventry’s substitute Matt Cooper scored to give the Bears a half time lead of 12 points to 6.
Once again coach Ty Watson’s half time talk seemed to pep the Bears up.
Matt Cooper opened the scoring after two minutes of the half with a strong break through the middle.
Tries by Second Row Tim Stevens who seems to be regaining the form that made him Coventry’s Player of the season last year and Matt Cooper who completed his hat trick before J & S Landscapes Man Of The Match Second Row Lee Ashford took the Bears to an unassailable lead
Derby’s Stand Off half Ian Gilmore pulled a try back.
From the kick off Coventry Stand off Graham Healey caught the visitors napping as he collected his own grubbber and slipped the ball neatly to the Coventry Scrum Half Scott Clendenning Fenton to run in under the posts.
With Lee Ashford adding his second try the Bears lead by 46 points to 12.
It was Derby however that had the last word of the afternoon when Graham Mallinson charged through to make the final score.
Carvell Coventry Bears 46 Derby City 16
Coventry: Mark Hyslop, Ben Powis, Andy McGrory, Tony Wildsmith, Dean Thompson, Graham Healey, Scott Clendenning-Fenton, Tim Farndon, Alex Brown, John Nicholls, Tim Stevens, Lee Ashford, Aaron Jarvis, Matt Cooper, Matt Allsopp, Stuart Major, Tom Shaw
Coventry Scorers
Tries Matt Cooper (3) Lee Ashford (2) Ben Powis, Alex Brown, Tim Stevens, Scott Clendenning-Fenton.
Conversions Graham Healey (5)
In the Midlands Regional Division the Carvell Coventry Bears Academy lost their first game of the season by 26 points to Redditch Ravens 42
BEARS vs DERBY CITY, 45 Photos
Coventry Bears vs Derby City..14th June 2008 Photos by Phil Allsopp..PA Photography
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