On Saturday the 17th of May the Carvell Coventry Bears play their first home game of the 2008 campaign. Their opponents will be local rivals Leicester Phoenix. Past encounters have been fiery events including two memorable clashes in 2006.
Leicester coach Mark Sloan has done a fine job down the M69 motorway rebuilding his Phoenix outfit, combining last years squad with an exciting batch of new players.
The Academy after last weeks impressive victory have a bye, which has left Head Coach Ty Watson with a real selection luxury and headache.
Speaking with Watson after training on Thursday night he was delighted with they way the club is progressing and is particulary excited about the youngsters that are now feeding through from the junior ranks.
This weeks team has a numbe of changes with former Phoenix player Tim Farnden returning to the fold. Last weeks heroes Lee Ashford and teenage sensation Matt Cooper have forced their way into the starting lineup, as has speedster Tanaka Chanuokara.
Coventry Legends Rhiddian Booth and John Nicholls return to the first team for the first time this year, while Johnny Tipton has found himself on the bench.
However the big story is the Bears 1st Grade debut to young Matt Fielder who has impressed with a string of dazzling performances for the high flying Academy.
Aaron Jarvis is unavailable this week and Veteran player/coach Ty Watson has been rested/dropped.
The Carvell Coventry Bears team:
POSITION NAME
1 FULLBACK : RICH WHITEHOUSE
2 WING: BEN POWIS
3 CENTRE: CHRIS BROWN
4 CENTRE: TONY WILDSMITH
5 WING: TANAKA CHAMUNOKARA
6 FIVE EIGHT: GRAHAM HEALEY
7 HALF BACK: SCOTT – CLENDENNING – FENTON
8 PROP: ALAN ROBINSON
9 HOOKER: ALEX BROWN ©
10 PROP: TIM FARNDEN
11 SECOND ROW: TIM STEVENS
12 SECOND ROW: LEE ASHFORD
13 LOCK: MATT COOPER
14 INTERCHANGE: RHIDIAN BOOTH
15 INTERCHANGE: JOHN NICHOLLS
16 INTERCHANGE: MATT ALLSOPP
17 INTERCHANGE: JOHNNY TIPTON
18 INTERCHANGE: PHILLIP MALOY
19 INTERCHANGE: PETER PARKER
20 INTERCHANGE: MATT FIELDER
Game kicks off at OC Stadium at 230pm.
Entry is free.