COVENTRY Bears suffered a 36-12 defeat to North Wales Crusaders in their penultimate League One home game of the season.
The Bears started well but the visitors got the first try of the game after seven minutes through Earl Hunt.
Their lead was increased moments later, with Karl Asher crossing the line.
Kenny Baker’s try and subsequent conversion then put Crusaders into a 16-0 lead going into the break.
Bears head coach Tom Tsang’s team talk seemed to pay dividends as his side started the second half with increased tempo.
Their efforts were rewarded when Reece Rance ran the whole length of the field to score a sensational try, with Ben Stead converting to bring Bears to within ten points of the visitors.
However, this galvanised Crusaders who responded with another try, this time Aaron Moore bundling over the whitewash.
Crusaders then turned on the style, with a flowing move resulting in Gavin Curry touching down.
The visitors then bagged another two tries to kill off any hopes of a Bears comeback.
However, Coventry still had some fight left in them as Jason Bass scored the final try of the game, with Stead converting again to bring the score to 36-12.
Bears travel to Whitehaven on Sunday before completing the season at home to Hunslet the following Saturday.
