RUGBY LEAGUE: A LATE try from Chris Barratt rescued a win for Coventry Bears after they appeared to let a 22 point first-half advantage slip.
Bears entered the game on the back of a trip to Toronto where they performed well against the table topping Wolfpack side, though a lengthy journey home caused concern prior to Sunday’s game at the Butts Park Arena with some players displaying signs of fatigue.
Tom Tsang’s men faced an out-of-form Hemel Stags side – a team which has only won one fixture all season, ironically a pre-season friendly against the Bears.
Any concerns about the fitness of the Bears were quickly quashed though as a grub kick from ten-yards out allowed Hayden Freeman to open Coventry’s scoring account with a try that was easily converted by Brad Delaney.
On nine minutes, Jamahl Hunte ran half the length of the field to double Coventry’s lead after Delaney successfully converted again.
A period of stalemate followed before Bears’ Kieran Sherratt added to Coventry’s lead midway through the half.
Jamahl Hunte was soon on the scoresheet again with his second try, giving an impressive 22-0 lead after the conversion.
Hunte could’ve added a third moments later, but an unselfish pass following a 40-yard run was broken down.
Hemel regrouped as a team though as Lewis Fairhurst dodged his way through the home defence for a converted try to reduce their lead to 16 points.
The visitors came out for the second half determined to get back into the game.
Bears looked a contrast to the side they were in the first half.
A pair of clever grub kicks led to Hemel’s second try just minutes into the second half as Hemel trailed now by just ten points.
Hemel scored again as the fightback continued while Mitch Vincent continued to make easy work of the conversations.
Bears now trailed by two points – and Hemel were within minutes of their first league win.
At this stage, the momentum was with the away side – and the game looked lost for Tsang’s team.
But an unfortunate team injury to a Hemel player delayed the game by ten minutes – which ultimately changed the complexion of the game.
When play re-started, Bears had regained their composure and started pressing hard.
Chris Barratt snatched the lead with 11 minutes remaining.
Delaney’s conversion extended Bears’ lead to 28-24.
The final ten minutes were nail-biting as the game could still have gone either way.
But Coventry held firm for their second win of the season – and this time there was no letting the Stags back into the game.
Pictures: Shaun Reynolds Photography.
