RUGBY LEAGUE: COVENTRY Bears slipped to a 20 point loss at home to Keighley Cougars on Sunday afternoon in cloudless conditions at the Butts Park Arena.
Despite Bears scoring first, Bears soon allowed Keighley to take a grip on the game – though the home side put up a fight despite facing significantly more experienced opponents.
Keighley kicked off eager to shake off their patchy form so far this season.
Harry Chapman opened the scoring for Bears on the left wing, though the conversion proved difficult meaning the score remained 4-0.
Keighley pressed hard and it seemed Bears’ defence would hold, but Cougars’ Michael Emmett battered his way through to level the score.
Bears’ Michael Russell soon helped the home side regain their lead after some fast and accurate passing set him free on the left wing.
Keighley’s response was another try from close quarters, this time being converted to make it 8-10, a lead they would hold for the rest of the game.
Cougars’ Andrew Gabriel then wove his way past several Bears defenders after 20 minutes to further extend the away side’s lead and start a period of dominance for the away team.
Despite some good play and fierce tackling, Bears conceded three more tries before half time – with Nicholson, Aaronson and Law crossing over the line in rapid succession
By now, Keighley’s kicker Matty Beharrell was converting every opportunity to give Keighley a 26 point lead at the interval.
It seemed as though things would get worse for Bears when William Milner crossed over for Keighley in the 48th minute for another converted try.
However Coventry stepped up their game a gear as eventual Man of the Match Michael Russell dived over Brad Delaney to convert, bringing the score to 14-44.
By now the Bears were looking easily the better side.
Harry Chapman added another and the ever dangerous Michael Russell gained a hat trick of tries with another in the dying minutes of the game.
The full time hooter sounded soon after with Bears losing 24-44.
