Coventry Bears held out against a determined challenge from Birmingham Bulldogs to secure the Minor Premiership on Saturday.
Birmingham took the lead with a try on two minutes which was converted.
After some period of defensive exchange the Bears responded soon after, and what a response it was. First was Prop Ryan Jenkins, who after another typical charge from Alan Robinson close to the line gathered the offload to score under the sticks through the scattered defenders, Next was Dean Thompson, who through some quick hands managed to streak through out wide untouched, Man of the match Alistair Marshall then cut through the Birmingham defense carrying the ball in two hands with support either side for a score that really lifted the fans on the sideline.
The Bears seemed unstopable in what was proving to be another 15 minute blitz as Nathan Tilsley went in out wide after some good handling from Marshall, after a penalty was awarded two drives were taken in and from the quick play, the ball went wide across field again to Robinson who threw a lobbed pass over the heads of the defenders into the hands of Ben Hands who showed good power to finish in the corner, last of the half then came from a typical Tanaka Chamunokara dash from dummy half leaving the defense in his wake to score easily in the centre of the park. Sitting pretty at 32 points to 6 the Bears looked home and dry however the visitors refused to lie down and Bulldogs Captain Mark Abell pulled a try back, the Bears leading 32 -12 at the interval.
A univentful and defensive second half period was played out for the next 30 minutes with the Bears dominating much of the possession in the Birmingham half. With the Bears failing to finish possession was turned over and the game was opened up by Bulldogs winger Jermaine Bernard who raced 80 metres to score under the posts. This seemed to lift the game and gave both teams a wake up call, a tense defensive last 10 minutes again saw the Bulldogs score and then convert from an enterprising wide ball but by that time the clock had ran out the Bears lead proved out of reach for the second half Birmingham challenge.
The Bears had finished the season on 16 points as had rivals Bristol Sonics and Derby City but the Bears superior head to head scores against those teams was enough to bring the Minor Premiership to Coventry for the second time in 3 years.
Coventry now have a rest week off then face the winners of the Derby/Bristol play off game in the Midlands Grand Final at home on Saturday 22nd August at Old Coventrians Rugby Club, Coventry.
Final Score
Coventry Bears 32 Birmingham Bulldogs 24
Scorers
Coventry Tries
Ryan Jenkins, Dean Thompson, Ali Marshall, Nathan Tilsley, Ben Hands and Tanaka Chamunokara
Conversions Nathan Tilsley (4)
Man of the Match
Coventry- Alistair Marshall
Referee Stuart Marshall
Academy
In the Kukri Midlands Merit League Coventry Bears Academy went down to the Birmingham Bulldogs Academy by 32 points to 16. Bears player coach Alan Robinson commented: ‘Im very proud of the players in both squads today we have shown that we still have the class in the first team to go all the way in this competition, and dispite a tough lose to swallow, our academy have had a season they can be very proud of, id like to say well done to everyone involved in our academy including Coach Dave Knowles and Captain and Vice captain Dean Rafferty and Andy Rowlands for all their hard work im sure they will bounce back next year’
