Coventry Bears

Carvell Coventry Bears Ladies 22 v 10 Army
Sat 26th July, Old Coventrians, Coventry

The Carvell Coventry Bears Ladies entertained the Army at home last Saturday, and for the second time this season served up a cracker of a game between these 2 hard hitting teams.

The Army started short with some of their girls being called up and some others getting lost along all the way!! However, the Bears ladies were without some of their hard hitters due to work and also a freak accident to Ant Morgan at training mid-week so they all knew they had to do some work!

The Bears started hesitantly doing their job but not really bonding well together and it took a few minutes before everyone got down to the game ahead. As expected the Army came out strong and the Bears defence stood solid to the onslaught that they plied against us. The Bears also hit the ball up hard with J&S Landscapes Woman of the match Lucy Pollard playing in her first game of league for 2 years showing us why we had missed her so much her workload throughout the game was amazing to watch.

The game remained deadlocked for twenty minutes when some good foundation work was laid down by the forwards leaving the backs plenty of room to plan their attack. Stacey Hando took control and got the ball out wide to Jo Hart who scored an amazing try under the posts after showing off her power to get over the line and give the Bears a 4-O lead.

Again deadlock ensured until the Army powered over the line with only seconds to go on the first half.

Half time: Bears Ladies 4-4 Army

The Bears had regrouped at half time and came out looking the stronger team. Kyra Gleeson taking on the ball again and again and we can all see why she is contention for Lady of steel this year. The Bears again used their experienced back line scoring a nifty little try in the corner through Rhainnon Watkins to make it 8-4.

From the kick off the bears took control with Lizzy Holbourn running the ball back to our 20 metres. Then Jo Hart took a scoot and ran nearly the length of the field to score her second try of the day a feat that was impressive not only for getting through the Army’s defence but also having the energy to do it on the hottest day of the year. Kyra Gleeson’s conversion made it 14-4 bears.

The Army re-grouped and again came back at the bears but it was the ever impressive Lucy Pollard who stuck to her guns and made tackle after tackle. And with Steph Church hitting the ball up harder than ever it was only time before the Bears went over the line and it was the impressive Lucy that did just that powering over the line. The Army got a try soon after with some tired looking Bears missing perhaps the first tackle of the game. (18-10 Bears).

But it was the Bears who had the final laugh with Steph Church back on the pitch for the injured Sian Prior and also injured herself that scored the last try 22-10 final score.

“It was our defence that again dug in deep and our defence especially on our own line that was the most impressive,” Coach Michelle Umaga said. “Whenever the army started to look dangerous then that is when we turned it up a notch with our defence.”

Referee Patrick Wilson also complimented both teams. “This has to be one the hardest games I’ve hard to ref this season, the quality of ball handling and tackling was amazing and I’ve not seen any better within the men’s games this season.”

Final score: Carvell Coventry Bears Ladies 22-10 Army Ladies

Bears Scorers:
Tries: Hart (2), Watkins, Pollard, Church
Goals: Gleeson 1 from 5

J&S Landscapes Woman of the match: Bears – Lucy Pollard

Match report: Debbie Drake