COVENTRY Bears head coach Tom Tsang has expressed his excitement at the prospect of the new season after seeing the progress made by his side in pre-season.
Tsang was speaking ahead of the Bears’ glamorous friendly against Leeds Rhinos of the Super League, taking place at Butts Park Arena next Friday (7.30pm), before their league campaign gets under way in February.
Speaking on Bears’ pre-season showings so far, Tsang was particularly impressed by the number of local faces on show.
“We have had a good first run-out against the Prison Service and it was great to see so many Midlanders in both sides – proof the game is really taking root around here,” he said.
“But bigger challenges await and the lads are really looking forward to another visit of Super League Leeds Rhinos.”
It was a friendly with the Rhinos prior to the start of the previous season in which attendance records for Butts Park Arena were broken, with a similar crowd expected this time around and hospitality packages quickly selling out.
Looking ahead to the season start, Tsang is clearly optimistic of his side’s chances in the League this season.
“League 1 has 11 teams for the 2019 season and of the ten teams we face we’ve already beaten five of them and given another two a good run for their money in previous seasons.
“And with six teams contesting the play-offs at the season’s end, there will be everything to play for.”
The Bears open the campaign with a home fixture against West Wales Raiders, against whom Coventry recorded two victories last season, with a similar outcome hoped for on February 17.
