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The Bears bounced back from three successive defeats on Saturday with an 80 points to six demolition of Essex Eels. A much improved Eels side couldn't live with the home side who, almost back to full strength, ran in fifteen tries, with the Essex side only managing to muster the one. Returnee backs Kurt Johnson, Tony Allcock and AJ Veamatahau plundered eight tries between them - AJ notching four, and Man-of-the-Match Johnson grabbing a first-half hat-trick. Further scores came from Tony Wildsmith (2), Troy Perkins, Daniel Brown, Iestyn Pratt, and props Gareth Barron and James Howitt.

 NOTE: The Bears RLC match against Birmingham at Old Coventrians on Saturday has been rescheduled. Kick-off is now 12:45pm

Match Preview - Bears vs Essex Eels, Old Coventrians RFC, 14th May, 2.30pm KO - the Bears welcome Essex Eels on Saturday, in what should be a great game of attacking Rugby League.
After three straight losses, the Bears are looking for a much needed win, and hopefully the return of three players from last year's Grand Final win will help in that quest.
Crowd favourite and top-scorer, centre Kurt Johnson, National 3 Player of the Year out-half Adrian Veamatahau, and winger Tony Allcock all return after loan spells at other clubs, and all will be expected to have a major impact on Cov's style of play - much commented upon this season by pundits as being 'too forward oriented'.
Essex have improved dramatically since the sides last clashed at Old Coventrians when Cov ran out comfortable 100-6 winners.

The Eels, however, are a different outfit now, and started this season with a big win against Carlisle, followed by a draw against Birmingham and then two narrow defeats to form sides Huddersfield and Hemel Hempstead.
Coach Perkins believes that this week's team selection comes close to his ideal for the first time since last October, and feels that a win today would be a springboard to an overdue recovery, and hopefully a march back up the table and the play-off zone.
Team: Mark Hyslop, Tony Allcock, Kurt Johnson, Iestyn Pratt, Tony Wildsmith, Adrian Veamatahau, Scott Clendenning-Fenton, James Howitt, Joe Smith, Alan Robinson, Ian Mcgregor, Lee Ashford, Troy Perkins, Daniel Brown, Gareth Barron, Rhidian Booth, Tim Stevens

Message from Jim Mangan: Could all RLC players we haven't seen yet due to Union commitments, and anybody who would like to give League a go, please turn up for training Tuesdays and Thursdays. Old Coventrians RFC, Tile Hill Lane, 7pm.

Contacts: Jim 07869 110 083, Chunky 07768 043 442

Match Preview - Bears vs Huddersfield Underbank Rangers (30/04/05) - On Saturday, 6:30pm kick-off, the Bears welcome Huddersfield Underbank Rangers to the Butts Park Arena.
"The last two weeks have most probably been the toughest since my involvement started with the Bears just under two years ago, said Coach Troy Perkins yesterday. "We were humbled by Sheffield here two weeks ago, losing our proud unbeaten home record of well over a year, and then embarrased by a fairly decent team in Bramley last Sunday.
"We were crippled with injuries once again, but leaving that aside, our defence needs to improve radically if we are going to reach the heights of last season. At least, only six days after that nightmare, we have the opportunity to show what we are capable of, and return to winning ways."
Huddersfield have been performing well this season and today will be a good test of the team's resolve to put things right. The last time we met was the first game last season when we ran out convincing winners. However, things are expected to be a lot closer this time.
This year's National League 3 seems to be a lot closer than previous seasons with Bradford and Bramley leading the way with four wins from four and some of the lesser-performing teams from last year are showing much-improved results, with Essex surprising everyone with a 70 point win over Carlisle a couple of weeks ago.
Team: Mark Hyslop, Ian Grime, Iestyn Pratt, Tony Wildsmith, Stuart Lee, Tristan Ramsey, Andy Regan, James Howitt, Scott Clendenning-Fenton, Alan Robinson, Matt Wright, Chris McBride, John Fitt, Rob Morford, Tim Stevens, Rhidian Booth, Tim Aldridge

Ladies' Section News. Jenny Davies reports that training is going well, and that the girls are looking forward to their inaugural season.

Training will be at Old Coventrians' ground from now on (Thursdays, 6.30) due to other commitments at Old Wheatleyans.

The Fixture list so far stands at:

28 May    Coventry Bears v Kent (home)
25 June   Coventry Bears v Brighouse Rangers (home)
2 July      Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks v Coventry Bears (away) (Tag game).
9 July      Coventry Bears v East Hull (home)
6 August  Kent v Coventry Bears (away)

The Bears slipped again yesterday (25th) to another pace-setting Yorkshire outfit, with a 78-12 defeat at Bramley.

Match Report and pictures for Bears vs Hillsborough Hawks now added HERE

15/4/05 - Players please note: From NEXT WEEK, training will be at Old Coventrians on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm.

14/4/05 - This weekend the Bears welcome Sheffield Hillsbrough Hawks to the Arena. The Yorkshire club have assembled a very good squad for this season and, in the opinion of Bears player/coach Troy Perkins, are contenders for a top-four finish.

Last season we had two very tough battles with them, resulting in a narrow 16-12 away loss then a 36-18 home win in our first ever game at the Butts Arena.
We have had a tremendous start to the season, with a very determined win against Warrington followed by a good away win to Gateshead to make us early front-runners in our quest to retain the title.

The club welcomes back big Chris McBride for his first game of the season after a stint playing rugby league in the south of France at Lezignan.

Team: 1. Mark Hyslop, 2. Matt Wharton, 3. John Fitt, 4. Tony Wildsmith, 5. Andrew Kaminsa, 6. Andy Regan, 7. Scott Clendenning-Fenton; 8. Alan Robinson, 9. Joe Smith; 10. Gareth Barron; 11. Lee Ashford, 12. Tim Stevens, 13. Troy Perkins, 14. Ian Grime, 15. Chris McBride, 16. Danny Facer, 17. James Howitt

10/4/05 - Two on the bounce - Bears kept up their winning start to the season with a 52-24 defeat of Gateshead this afternoon.

8/4/05 - Travel to Gateshead - Supporters should note that the coach leaves the Butts Park Arena at 7.30 on Sunday morning. Cost is £5 per person.

5/4/05 - Warrington Match Pics now also added HERE

4/4/05 - Warrington match report now added HERE

2/4/05 - Bears carry on where they left off.

An unfamiliar-looking Bears squad took the league by the scruff of the neck once again this afternoon, defying the pundits to beat Warrington Wizards by 33 points to 30 at a sun-drenched Butts Park Arena.

The 'smart' money was always going to be on the match-ready Wizards finally overcoming their Bears bogey and avenging the Grand Final thrashing last October. However, Troy's boys had other ideas, and the side that he had dragged together from anywhere he could find a spare player stood up to everything the visitors could throw at them. Missing many of last season's players through other commitments, and totally lacking in any match practice whatsoever, it was more a case of seventeen heroic performances than a 'team' victory.

No worse for that though, and no less points in the bag....

 31/03/05 LHF Healthplan National League 3, Season 3, starts Saturday 2nd of April, and it only seems like yesterday when we were running out at Halton Stadium in our first National 3 Grand Final.

Match Preview - Bears vs Warrington Wizards; Butts Park Arena, 2.30pm

This Saturday, in the first step towards defending our title, we meet Warrington (formerly Woolston Rovers) in a Grand Final 'replay' where I'm sure the word floating around the Wizards' changing room before the game will be revenge.

Last season's decider was tough and I'm expecting today's game to be just as tough - especially with us having such an interrupted pre-season.

Warrington have been involved in the 'Northern Trains' competition and they will have match fitness on their side. However it's a very long season and at the moment we are fresh and injury free which may be an advantage; and whatever happens, we will improve dramatically over the next few weeks.

It's been well documented that we have lost players over the off-season. However we have recruited some very talented replacements.

James Howitt

In the forwards we will have a monster pack with big Gareth Barron from Gateshead and even bigger James Howitt from Canberra in the front row.

They will join Alan 'Boomer' Robinson, Lee Ashford and Matt Wright in the engine room. Scotland Student representative John Fitt will also give us more depth in the back row.

Gareth Barron

Tristan Ramsay has joined us via North Sydney Bears, and he will slot in at stand-off to accompany Scott Clendenning-Fenton and the up-and-coming Stuart Lee in the halves.

Former Birmingham boy Iestyn Pratt will be in the centres and should make a formidable pairing with Kurt Johnson who will be available at the end of April.

It's also great to see so many local lads wanting to be involved with rugby league, including new boy Danny Facer on the bench, and I have no doubt that the squad we have put together can lift the national 3 trophy again in seven months time.

Enjoy the game. Troy

Saturday's Team

1. Mark Hyslop, 2. Dave Clements, 3. John Fitt, 4. Iestyn Pratt, 5. Andrew Kaminsa, 6. Tristan Ramsay, 7. Stuart Lee, 8. Alan Robinson, 9. Joe Smith, 10. Gareth Barron, 11. Lee Ashford, 12. Matt Wright, 13. Troy Perkins, 14. Ian Grime, 15. Tim Stevens, 16. Danny Facer, 17. James Howitt

21/3/05 - Old Wheatleyans RFC have extended an invitation to all Bears people (and anyone else) to attend a superb evening's entertainment, with Guest speaker JOHN BENTLEY (yes, he of  Great Britain Rugby League and British & Irish Lions and England RU).

The evening kicks off at 7.30pm on the 6th April at OW's Fleet Street venue, and the cost is £20, including 'Alan Partridge's Famous Curry'.

If interested, please email Richard Hartopp at hartoppr@fanucrobotics.co.uk or call Alan Partridge on 024 76679095 or Pete Bryant on 024 76468373

14/03/05 - Coventry Bears Womens' Rugby League are counting down to the new season, and invite you to come along to meet them at the Butts Park Arena at the Bears vs Wizards match on the 2nd April. Click here or on the above link to get to their information page with contact details and downloadable publicity poster.

1/3/05 - Coventry Bears have made another very significant signing in the form of National 3 prop-of-the-year Gareth Baron. Gareth comes to us via Gateshead Storm and the professional club, Gateshead Thunder.
"Gareth will be a great acquisition for the Bears, said Troy Perkins. "He is a great guy, and having played against him last year, I know he will add size and aggression to an already massive forward pack. He has trained with the team a couple of times and he has impressed me with his skills and knowledge of the game".
The Bears have also given a trial to a Patrick Carlisle, a second rower, who comes from Northern Ireland. "Patrick is only 19 and is from a rugby union background, said Perkins.  "However he wanted to have a go at rugby league, and arrived in Coventry last week and has settled in well. He is very keen and willing to learn, and I hope he will be involved with our National 3 squad at some point this season".

16/2/05 - New and updated 2005 Fixture Lists now available HERE

14/2/05 - The Bears have acted to strengthen their front row by signing 110kg prop James Howitt.

James is from Canberra and is here on the recommendation of Clinton Scott-Knight. "After the loss of Chris McBride to Lezignan we needed another big prop to lead from the front, said player-coach Troy Perkins, "and I think we have found the ideal replacement in James. He will arrive in Coventry on 13th March".

Note that training is now at Old Coventrians RFC on Mondays and Wednesdays (7pm).

7/2/05 - Off-Peak Bears Crash out in Yorkshire. The Bears must be getting used to tough away ties in the Challenge Cup - but they'll never get used to losing matches, even if they are played at the worst possible time for a Summer team...report HERE

Team to Play Siddall on Sunday 6/2/05:

1. Mark Hyslop, 2. Dean Thompson, 3. Tony Allcock, 4. Jonathon Fitt, 5. Stuart Lee, 6. Scott Clendenning-Fenton, 7. Joe Smith, 8. Alan Robinson, 9. Matt Moones, 10. Tim Stevens, 11. Ty Watson, 12. Ian McGregor, 13. Troy Perkins, 14. Dave Bowen, 15. Ian Grime, 16. John Nicholls, 17. Lee Ashford.

2/2/05 - Directions for this weekend's Challenge Cup match at Siddal, 6th February.
M62 Junction 24 (Signposted Halifax/Huddersfield). Follow signs for Halifax.

Follow the dual carriageway for approximately two miles through first set of lights.

The first building on your right is the Punch Bowl Inn (white building).

Take a right turn at Jubilee Road (between Punch Bowl and Keighley Plumbing Suppliers).

At the top of Jubilee Road turn right. Follow this road for approx 3/4 mile.

Clubhouse on right hand side.

 
Any problems the contact number is 07775941712.

25/1/05 - The 2005 season will see an addition to the Coventry Bears club - when the Coventry Bears womens' rugby league team takes shape.
So, any ladies who may be interested in playing rugby league, whether or not you already play rugby league, or union, or you just fancy giving it a try, please get involved.
Additionally, friendly fixtures are currently being compiled so if you are a member of another club or know of someone who is, and may be interested in a game this summer, please contact me on the following address: waynebox@coventrybears.co.uk or telephone 0778 5281956

19/1/05 - New Year Sale of Bears Kit. Note that the remaining stock of t-shirts, polos and replicas are on offer at 50% OFF. Be quick. Click HERE.

13/1/05 - Training and Get-together. Players should note that training for the Challenge Cup match will commence on January 26th at 6.30pm at Old Coventrians RFC, Tile Hill Lane (followed by Feb 2nd same time & place).

Also, for anyone that is interested in playing, sponsoring the team or individual players - or indeed this website, or helping the club in any other way in the new season, there will be an informal get-together in the Glasshouse (Bull Yard, city centre) on Sunday 23rd of January at 3pm. We need help in all sorts of areas from manning the turnstiles to selling programmes and raffle tickets, selling Bears replica clothing, recording stats, draft report writing, secretarial duties, etc. etc. etc.

It's not what the Bears can do for you, it's what you can do for the Bears!!!! (to paraphrase some famous bloke...).

5/1/05 - More news of new signings. Coventry Bears have made one of their biggest signings to date with Tarei McKenzie agreeing to join us for the upcoming season. Tarei, like recent acquisition Tristan Ramsay, has been playing for North Sydney Bears, and is a stand-off with loads of potential. He has also made several appearances in the NRL for the Manly Sea Eagles.

After losing Clinton Scott-Knight at the end of last season, Coach Troy Perkins knew he was up against it trying to find a suitable replacement, but he feels that Tarei will slot into the team well, and will help the team to build on the expansive and very successful rugby they played last season on the way to the NL3 championship.

Troy is also chasing an Australian prop, and is confident that then the recruitment drive will then be complete as the club has also been lucky enough to acquire the services of local resident Matt Loomes, who has played at a high level in Australia with Balmain Tigers. Matt is a smart and skilful hooker/scrum-half and has the reputation of giving 100% every time he takes the field.

"I am really looking forward to this season", said Perkins. "We know that we have a mighty task in front of us to become back-to-back champions, although I am confident that with the squad we are putting together we will be equipped to give the National 3 title another shake. We will use the Challenge Cup game in early February to have a look at a couple of the younger players. Then there will be two friendly matches in late March before the season starts on April 2nd with that huge game against Warrington".

2/1/05 - 2005 Regular season fixtures published. Please note that these are draft, so are subject to change. This season the league will consist of twelve teams with each team playing each other home and away. As yet I have no details of the play-offs format.

Note that South London Storm and Manchester have both moved on, and Widnes Saints, who were originally slated to join the league have now declined.

30/12/04 England Lionhearts to accept NL3 Players next season...

It has been decided that NL3 players will be eligible to play for the England Lionhearts in season 2005. Any players with NL3 or RLC clubs who would like to be involved are invited to the first open training session of 2005 which will be held at Wakefield College, Thornes Campus (map HERE) on Sunday 16th January. The session will start at 10 am Please let Nick Evans know if you intend to come to the session.
There will be another open training session held in the Midlands on Sunday 23rd January prior to our first fixture of 2005 vs London Skolars on Sunday 30th.
Players are to bring pad and pen (for lectures), player packs with up to date programmes all filled in (for current Lionhearts players), protective gear and kicking cones for those who want to kick.
Happy New Year,
Nick Evans (Manager - England Lionhearts)

13/12/04 - Coventry Bears have made their first new overseas signing of the close-season in 21 year old Australian Tristan Ramsay. Tristan has been playing First Division NRL for the last two years with North Sydney Bears. "Tristan is a fantastic player" said Bears' coach Troy Perkins. "He can play in the centres, on the wing and at fullback, and has been playing just one division below the NRL in Sydney and I'm sure he will be a great signing for Coventry. I have watched a couple of videos of him and he impressed me with his skills. He's an electric runner with the ball. I will look at playing him in the centres as an ideal replacement for Adrian Veamatahua".

Troy also says he is close to signing three more aussies who will be more than capable of filling the shoes of the guys that have moved on since the Grand Final.

18/11/04 - Note from Dr Nick Evans at the Student Rugby League...The SRL is putting a refereeing course on at one of the Universities in the Midlands, venue TBC on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th of December.
We have 12 places to fill on this course and the SRL will cover the cost.
This is a great qualification to have on your CV and will also enable you to earn a few quid if you fancy taking up the whistle on a Wednesday afternoon!
Please call the SRL office (01616435394) to book your place on the course; it's on a first-come first-served basis.

17/11/04 - Apologies for the delay (all manner of disasters and a holiday intervened), but there are a few more pictures now online from the Grand Final and after-match celebrations HERE

14/10/04 - Snippets.

A couple of e-mails came through recently from other national sporting clubs in the city...

First, from Coventry Rugby Union Club's General Manager Graham Robbins:

"Congratulations to the Bears. Terrific result!"

and from James O'Grady at The Coventry Jaguars:

Tony Allcock tells me we will soon be in a position to distribute the DVD of the Grand Final to players and other members. I predict the first fifty minutes will get played again and again and.....

Please register your interest with Ron Banks on the usual number.

There is an excellent piece in tonight's Evening Telegraph - including a couple of fantastic photos ;o). Unfortunately it doesn't appear to be on their website so you'll need to nip out and get a copy sharpish.

Final Player Stats are now online. Click HERE to view (unless your name is Adrian Veamatahau when you might want to avoid it. Bad luck AJ - there's always next year.

And finally, I have also updated the Honours page to reflect this season's achievements. Click HERE. If I've missed anything, please let me know.

CHAMPIONS!!!!!

11/10/04 - Yesterday the amazing all-conquering Bears produced the display of rugby league football that they had been saving all season to secure the LHF Healthplan National League Grand Final Trophy at Widnes' Halton Stadium.

click

In front of the glitterati of the Rugby League world - including Widnes Chairman Tony Chambers, a Cov Kid and self-confessed Bears fan - the Cov boys simply blew away the challenge of holders Warrington Woolston Rovers with a sensational display of running rugby.

Four-try center Kurt Johnson also secured the David Oxley Trophy, the Man-of-the-Match award, voted for by the members of the media.

Report and pictures HERE

7/10/04 - Team News -  Troy Perkins tonight announced his squad for Sunday's National League 3 Grand Final at Widnes. The squad will be made up of the same players that won through last Sunday with the addition of Stuart Lee and Ian Grime. Mick Curtis faces a late fitness test.

Squad - Mark Hyslop, Tony Allcock,  Kurt Johnson, Adrian Veamatahau, Simon Brocklehurst, Clinton Scott -Knight, Scott Clendenning-Fenton, Chris McBride, Alex Brown, Alan Robinson, Matt Wright, Ty Watson, Troy Perkins, John Fairhurst, Mick Curtis, Ian McGregor, Lee Ashford, Ian Grime, Stuart Lee

The players, backroom staff etc will be holding an after-match party at the Glasshouse, Bullyard, City Centre on Sunday evening, at approximately 7.30/8pm (depending on arrival time from Widnes). All supporters are invited to - hopefully - celebrate the team's success in bringing the National League Three trophy home.

Finally, a note from England Lionhearts boss, Nick Evans...

Open Invitation to Prospective England Lionhearts Players

Any player registered for an RLC club during season 2004, who wishes to have an opportunity to play for the Lionhearts in 2005, is invited to come to the England Lionhearts training session at Wakefield College on Sunday 31^st October for an 11 a.m. start.  The details of the session are shown below:

1100 Player arrival
1115 Briefing by Lee Addison, Lionhearts Head Coach. Squad split into 2, Players from 2004 v New Players
1215 Physical Tests
1345 Skills tests
1445 Kicking competition / lunch
1515 Opposed football - Old v New 25 mins each way
1615 Debrief and then staff meeting

If you are interested please contact the Lionhearts manager Nick Evans by e-mail (n.d.m.evans@lboro.ac.uk), telephone (07799063184) or post (24 Enfield Street, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1DN)

5/10/04 - Adrian Veamatahau has been named as LHF Healthplan National League Three 'Player of the Year'. Good work AJ!

5/10/04 - Grand Final Ticket and Travel News - as the excitement mounts prior to the big kick-off...

Coventry Aquatics Bears fans' can benefit - if they are very quick - from club travel to the match at Widnes on Sunday, and by pre-booking their seat. We are informed that the stadium is sold out for the three matches, but the club has managed to secure just a few tickets for sale to bona-fide Bears fans. These cover ALL THREE Grand Finals (National Leagues 1, 2 and - most important of course - 3) and are available at a genuine value-for-money price of just £15.

Along with this, the club has booked a coach for supporters, and there are a very limited amount of seats left (we kicked the players off to make room for you) at £10 per person. The coach leaves the Butts at 7.30am prompt on Sunday morning

I can't emphasise enough that there are very few seats and tickets left, so if you want to be in on this, the biggest day ever in the Club's history, contact Ron Banks now on 07956 251379.

That's NOW!!!

3/10/04 - Glory Beckoning? The Coventry Aquatics Bears slipped smoothly into the Grand Final with a 32-18 win over Bramley Buffaloes at the Butts Park Arena yesterday evening.

In a sometimes fractious 'cup-tie' in which players from both sides cooled their heels in the sin-bin, the Bears gave a 'curates-egg' display. Looking fragile in defence early on, they then formed a brick wall to deny any way back to the visitors in a late surge which saw Bramley mount a tremendous - yet fruitless - siege on the Bears' goal-line.

A hat-trick from Kurt Johnson, two for Lee Ashford and one for Chris McBride sealed the win - taking the sequence to 12 in a row, with the last reversal coming on the 3rd of July.

Report HERE and updated Stats HERE

1/10/04 - Just what the Doctor ordered. Coventry Aquatics Bears go into tomorrow's LHF Healthplan National League Three semi-final with the luxury of being able to pick from a full-strength squad for the first time in many weeks. And last weekend's enforced break from action may have been exactly what the doctor ordered as it gave several of the walking wounded the chance to overcome their injuries and report fit for training this week.

Returnees to the starting line-up include influential second-row forward Matt Wright, ultra-reliable full-back Mark Hyslop, yard-making prop Chris McBride, and quicksilver inside-half Scott Clendenning-Fenton - partnering a very much on-form Clinton Scott-Knight. And with the firepower of Mick Curtis, Lee Ashford, Ian McGregor and Jonny Fairhurst coming off the bench, the Cov side has a formidable look about it.

The forward pack is completed by back-to-fitness captain Alan Robinson, consistently outstanding hooker Alex Brown, and the ever-improving  Ty Watson - man-of-the-match last time out.

Kurt Johnson continues in the centres having scored 13 tries in his previous eight appearances, and partners Adrian Veamatahau - up for the NL3 'Player-of-the-Year' award at the end of season RFL Dinner. Free-scoring and elusive wingers Simon Brocklehurst and Tony Allcock complete the threequarter line-up.

Bears' coach Troy Perkins - also in line for a major award, the NL3 'Coach-of-the-Year' gong  - is taking nothing for granted however. "We just need to keep our heads on and not be complacent - I've spoken to the players about that and told them we don't want to walk off the field with any regrets" he said, speaking to the Coventry Evening Telegraph yesterday.

With a big win over Bramley early in the season, the omens look good - but nobody at the club is underestimating the challenge - and will have noted the Buffaloes' massive win over St Albans last weekend.

Kick-off is at 6pm at the Butts Park Arena, Coventry. Entrance costs £3, but anyone staying behind after the Coventry vs London Welsh match (3pm KO) will be able to transfer for just one pound.

Team: Hyslop, Brocklehurst, Johnson, Veamatahau, Allcock, Scott-Knight, Clendenning-Fenton, Robinson, Brown, McBride, Wright, Watson, Perkins, Fairhurst, Curtis, McGregor, Ashford

29/9/04 - LHF HEALTHPLAN NATIONAL LEAGUE THREE GRAND FINAL (10th October 2004 - News

Assuming, of course, that we make it through...

Ticket Sales

Supporters of both the National League Three Grand Finalists can purchase tickets in advance from the R.F.L. Box Office –  telephone number 0870 990 1313 – opening hours 9.00am to 5.00pm and from Halton Stadium Reception (office hours - personal application only at the Stadium).  An allocation of tickets will not be provided to either of the National League Grand Finalists for advance sales.

If there are any remaining tickets there will be three points of sale on the day of the game.  However, the RFL are not expecting tickets to be available for sale on match day.

Venue Contingency Plans

27/9/04 - Confirmation that this weekend's big match opponents are the Bramley Buffaloes - with the prize being a place in the LHF National 3 Grand Final at Widnes the following weekend.

Kick-off is at 6pm, Saturday, at the Butts Park Arena.

Volunteers are sought to help on the evening. For details, please contact Ron Banks on 07956 251379.

If you wish to travel - assuming the Bears win through - please contact Ron to register your interest now so that we can try to gauge demand for coach seats well in advance of the Final.

22/9/04 - Bulldogs Match Report now online HERE

13/9/04 - Storm match report and pictures now online HERE and a few extra pics HERE

12/9/04 - MINOR PREMIERS! Coventry Aquatics Bears today secured top spot of National League 3 on the final day of the 'normal' season by winning 28-18 at South London Storm.

With ten straight wins under their belts, the Bears have now completed a tremendous turn-around after finishing in a lowly eighth in the previous season.

Congratulations to all the the players who have competed so well this term, and to coach Troy Perkins on a magnificent season so far.

However, as Troy himself would point out, that's only the first hurdle, and the patched-up Bears team will need to be at its best if they are to carry off the big prize at Widnes' Halton Stadium in October.

Report, pictures and league table on the site tomorrow.

On a more mundane - but equally important subject, players should note that training from now on will take place on Mondays and Thursdays - same time, same place.

9/9/04 - Please Note that the coach for South London on Sunday will be at COUNDON ROAD at 9am.

7/9/04 This Sunday (12th September) sees the first Rugby League international match to be played at the newly opened Butts Park Arena. The match is an eagerly awaited clash between the England 'Lionhearts' and Wales Amateur sides, and promises to be a real cracker.

Admission to the ground is £4, with children (under 16) getting for a pound. Kick-off is at 3pm.

A map of the area showing the position of the Arena can be found HERE, and more details can be obtained from Dr Nick Evans on 0799 063184, and a flyer/poster can be downloaded from the adjacent thumbnail (click on the thumbnail, then when it opens 'right click' on it and 'save as' to the desired location on your PC).

5/9/04 - Report and pics now online HERE

5/9/04 - Result from Butts Park Arena - Coventry Aquatics Bears 36-18 Hillsborough Hawks

Hot day - hard game - good game - great advert for West Midlands rugby league!

Pics and match report to follow soon.

1/9/04 - Note that a new map locating the Butts Park Arena may be found by clicking on this link.

For a better view of the new ground's East Stand, click on the photo...

28/8/04 - Match Result Essex Eels 2-68 Coventry Aquatics Bears.

The Bears stretched their winning run to eight matches in a distinctly short game at Basildon this afternoon. Match Report HERE

22/8/04 - St Albans Match Report and Pics now online HERE

21/8/04 - Match Result

Coventry Aquatics Bears 32-20 St Albans

Cov toiled manfully to overcome a strong Centurions outfit this afternoon in their last match at Old Coventrians before the move to our new home at the Butts Park Arena.

A good start proved to be the difference between the two sides as St Albans staged a storming late recovery, but the home side held on to snap up the points.

Report and more pics to follow.

18/8/04

Rugby League’s Coming Home!!

After a long, long wait, Rugby League returns to its original Coventry home of the Butts Stadium (now known as Butts Park Arena) on the 5th of September.
With the kind permission of opponents the Hillsborough Hawks and the Rugby Football League, the original match date of Saturday 4th September has been put back to the Sunday to accommodate this historic match (KO 2.30).
Rugby League was played by Coventry FC at the Butts until 1913, but was never resumed after the Great War, so this match is seen as 'Rugby League Coming Home' at last!
Cut price entry offers will be available to those spectators turning up in replica shirts of their LHF National League 3 club, TotalRL. com Conference club, Coventry RFC, or other local rugby clubs and bona-fide sports clubs from the Coventry and Warwickshire area.

More details will follow closer to the day of the match.

15/8/04 - Match Report and more pictures now online HERE

Player Stats also updated HERE and League table HERE

14/8/04 - The Bears increased their winning sequence to six matches with an at times slightly shambolic but ultimately deserved 46-24 win at Birmingham this afternoon. After the start was delayed by 65 minutes due to problems with the Moor Lane pitch, the Cov team conspired - once with the aid of a curious decision by the referee - to squander several chances to establish a commanding early lead, and then stuttered in the last twenty to give the scoreline a rather flattering look for the home side.

Eight Bears players got on the try-scoring tally, with efforts by McBride, Hyslop, Robinson, Perkins, Clendenning-Fenton, Scott-Knight, Brown and Ashford, while Hyslop topped up with a 100% kicking display of seven conversions - the only miss coming from the boot of winger Tom Shaw.

 8/8/04 - Bears were awarded a scoreline of 42-13 in lieu of the match vs Carlisle that was cancelled earlier this week. The resultant two points (along with Woolston's defeat at the hands of Bramley) has the effect of lifting the team to second in Division 3, equal on points with Dudley Hill and two points above Woolston. (Table HERE)

04/7/04 - Carlisle Match CANCELLED - Due to the Carlisle club's inability to raise a competitive side for this their third long trip in a row, they have reluctantly had to concede the match. The points will be awarded to the Bears with a minimum 24-0 scoreline.

01/8/04 - Report and pics for the Bears vs Leicester match now online HERE

31/7/04 - Match Results: Coventry Aquatics Bears 54-28 Hemel Stags and Coventry Aquatics Bears 12-30 Leicester Phoenix.

Both matches were played at the same time at Old Covents, under a blazing sun. Contrasting fortunes though, as a much-weakened Conference side, having lost several regulars to an injury-ravaged 'Firsts' bowed out of this year's TotalRL.com competition. The boys can take some satisfaction however from the contribution they made to the 'other' team's superb win over Division 3 form side Hemel Stags.

First team Match Report and pics now online. Report and pics for the seconds to follow very soon

24/7/04 - Match Result

Coventry Aquatics Bears 19-18 Woolston Rovers.

They came in fairly confident frame of mind, looking to extend their lead at the top of  division 3. Not everything always goes to plan though...

Report HERE

Pictures now added. Click on 'report' link above.

21/7/04 - Have just added a few pics to the Gateshead report HERE - supplied by Wayne Box.  Inane comments by 'yrs trly'

Also added league tables HERE

19/7/04 - Reports on both of Saturday's matches are now online HERE.

17/7/04 - Firstly, massive congratulations to the TotalRL.com Conference boys on finishing the regular season as 'Minor Premiers' in the South Midlands Conference - carrying on a proud tradition for the Coventry club. They came away from Wolverhampton with an excellent 44-12 win, proving that their recent improvement in form - undefeated in five games - is no fluke.

Not to be outshone, the firsts consolidated third place in National League 3 with a big - and crucial - 62-10 win at Gateshead, proving once again that Bears can travel.

A glance at the table now shows Cov to be on 18 points, the same as Dudley Hill, and four points clear of St. Albans.

Next week's home clash with Woolston now takes on an even more important edge, with a win essential to help close the gap.

Reports to be added as soon as available.

15/7/04 - Saturday's Conference match will be played at The Four Ashes Pub, Station Drive, Wolverhampton.

Directions: Leave the M6 at Junction 12. Take the A5 towards Telford. At the next roundabout (Gailey Island), turn left onto the A449 and follow the dual carriageway for about 1mile. The Four Ashes pub is on the left.

Turn left into Station drive and then left into the Four Ashes car park. The changing rooms will be straight in front of you.

Refreshments are available in the Four Ashes pub before, during and after the game.

An after-match hot meal will be provided for all playing staff and match officials in the Four Ashes pub.

Contact number - 07939 999640 (Mark Austin).

13/7/04 - This and That…

Fill your Face…. There will be a club dinner after training this Wednesday evening at 8.30pm at the Wing Wah Chinese Restaurant, on the junction of Broad Lane and the A45.

Everyone is welcome and most of the first team have already confirmed attendance.

Five-a-Day….Next Tuesday 20th July between 11am and 1pm at Coventry Market (City Centre) there is a promotion day (Five-a-Day). This is intended to reinforce the campaign to get everyone to eat five portions of fruit or veg every day.

There will be Bears players giving out family passes for matches, and Bears merchandise.

The mascot will be there too – in a too-tight shirt.

TotalRL.com Conference South Midlands Division Play-offs….Now that the play-offs are a reality for the ‘A’ team, here is confirmation of how it will work this season.

Week 1 - 2nd vs 3^rd.  Loser eliminated

Week 2 - 1st vs Winner from Week 1

Week 3 - Winner South Midlands vs Winner North Midlands (Home team decided by best regular season record).

That’s clear enough I hope!

11/7/04 - Reports for Manchester and Leicester matches now online HERE

10/7/04 - Wins for both sides today.

The firsts beat Manchester Knights 24-18 in an extremely hard-fought and close battle at Old Coventrians, with Cov's superior place-kicking through the reliable boot of Mark Hyslop swaying things.

It's always a bit of a grudge between these two teams, and so it proved today with a fair bit of 'insider-dealing' taking place, and a sending-off to close the day (fortunately not the usual protagonist this time. You know, the one that usually sees red when the Manchester boys line up against us, and I don't mean their shirt colour...).

Meanwhile the 'A' team took the spoils over at 'The (other) Auld Enemy' Leicester Phoenix with a 28-24 victory. A great result for the often-overlooked second-string, consolidating their top spot in the TotalRL.com Conference.

9/7/04 - You turn your back for a week and look what happens... I've just been informed that the Cov Evening Telegraph are putting it about that our home match against Manchester is on Sunday!

IT IS NOT... it is TOMORROW, SATURDAY at Old Covents, KO 2.30pm as usual.

Where they got that idea from I haven't a clue. (Where are you John Wilkinson? They've lost the plot down on the sports desk).

At least we'll get five spectators - from the Windmill Golf Club. Thanks for calling and querying the date chaps!!

Can we sue for loss of income?

(However, some folks can't take a joke it seems....oh well. What is it they say about the written word not conveying the position of your tongue in your cheek? Perhaps I should have added a 'smiley'? I decided to leave this on here even though it obviously upset the entire sports desk - which it wasn't meant to. It certainly was only written in jest, and to remove it would probably be seen to intimate otherwise).

8/7/04  Please note that training will be on Monday and Wednesday evenings at Old Coventrians RFC (6.30)

8/7/04 - Dudley Hill Report plus Player Stats and League Tables now updated.

1/7/04 - As the Bears head North on Saturday I will be a few hundred miles in the opposite direction for a few days long-overdue R&R. Unfortunately this means the site will not be updated until at least Wednesday. If anyone feels like putting the scores on the Forum, please be my guest.

Best of luck to both teams this weekend.

Oh, sorry, no match preview available yet, so that probably won't make it onto the site either. Sorry.

30/6/04 - England Lionhearts will play Wales at the new Butts Park Arena - soon to be home of the Bears - on September 12th (KO 3pm).

Details of Hospitality packages etc and contact details can be found on the attached FLYER. You will need Acrobat Viewer v5 minimum to view - available from Adobe (free download).

The brand-new Butts Arena will provide the perfect backdrop for this prestigious match, with a minimum of 3,000 covered seats available, plus a range of hospitality suites and public bars. The stadium is close to many good pubs and restaurants (including the infamous 'Craven Run' - ask any Cov Kid or see the spON-LINE link below left!), and is a short walk from the city centre and the railway station. Should be a great day out.

29/6/04 - National 3 Player Stats and League Table updated. (And I just moved a bunch of old stuff from this page to the 'Archive' page in case you were wondering).

24/7/03 - Match Preview - Coventry vs Sheffield Hillsorough Hawks, Coundon Road, 26th July. Coventry Bears face another challenge from the north in their final National League 3 home game of the season at Coundon Road on Saturday.

Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks are experienced in the national winter leagues and are successfully adapting to the summer competition. They feature a number of experienced players who have played at various professional levels, including Bright Sodje, who has featured for a number of Super League Clubs including Sheffield Eagles and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The Hawks are the only side to have beaten league leaders Bradford Dudley Hill so far this season, the side to whom the Bears lost last week by 40 points to 8. Despite good recent form Sheffield are still only just in the play-off places, sitting in fifth, two points above the Bears who currently lie seventh. The play-offs will feature the top six sides so this week’s clash is vital for the Bears if they hope to contest the end of season knockout rounds. The Bears still have every chance as they face the Hawks again away after Saturday’s home game and sixth place South London Storm once before the end of the season, so Coventry’s fate is certainly in their own hands.

 Again Coventry’s spate of unavailable and injured players continues so much of the inexperienced side who travelled to Dudley Hill last week and performed bravely in defeat will continue in action this week. One notable absentee from last week’s side will be centre John Fairhurst who is the team’s top scorer, and his experience will be missed in the back line.

Joe Smith again stands in as skipper and said "For the second week in a row we will be looking for a number of inexperienced players to produce big performances against a good quality northern side. All the players managed to raise their game in defeat last week, particularly in the second half, so we know we have to perform even better this week if we are going to get the win."

 Coventry are sure to give it all in this game and for the remainder of the season in order to gain at least a further two wins which Coach Troy Perkins hopes should secure a play-off spot - "Because there are so many teams around the cut off point for the play offs taking wins off our fellow contenders could be crucial. All three games we have left are with teams who are fighting, like us, for those fifth and sixth positions so wins against them will hurt their chances as well as boosting ours. Sheffield on Saturday is the start of a run of ‘must-win’ games for us, and I’m looking to the lads to rise to the challenge". 

The game kicks off at 2.30pm on Saturday at Coventry RFC, Coundon Road. Admission is £3 for adults and free for under 16s (programme included).

21/7/03 - Pride in Northern defeat for depleted Bears. Report HERE.

17/7/03 - Match Preview - Bradford Dudley Hill vs Coventry Bears, (19/7/03) Coventry Bears face one of their toughest challenges so far this season as they travel to National League 3 leaders Bradford Dudley Hill on Saturday. Dudley Hill were victorious in the corresponding encounter at Coundon Road in June - an early blast of four tries meaning the Bears were unlikely ever to win. However, the rest of the game was much more finely balanced, with the Bears having the upper hand in the second period.

Dudley Hill were unbeaten at that stage of the season and only lost that record last week to Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks, so Coventry will have to be wary of a potential backlash. Coventry also suffered defeat last week at home to Huddersfield side Underbank Rangers which dented the Bears’ play-off hopes.

The race for the remaining couple of play off places would seem now to be a five way scrap between Sheffield Hillsborough, Underbank, South London, Manchester and the Bears themselves. Coventry still face away fixtures at South London and Sheffield and a Coundon Road return versus Sheffield, so a place in the top six and knockout football is in the hands of the Bears themselves.

The challenge at Bradford this week will not be helped by the number of players not making the trip for various reasons, including skipper Matt Allsopp and influential loose forward Rob Lowe. The remaining experienced players will be expected to pick up the responsibility to ensure the Bears put in a good performance against the northern side in the rugby league heartland.

The pack will look towards Ireland international Alan Robinson, Wales Amateur international Richard Davies and the ever dangerous John Nicholls to give the team forward impetus. Behind the scrum, stand-in skipper Joe Smith, the experienced John Fairhurst and Wales Amateur international Rich Pepperell will be looking to create chances and tries for, amongst others, flying winger Francis Slater.

Around these players Coventry will be looking for some newer and less experienced lads to step up and produce performances which show they deserve to keep their places in the team ahead of the unavailable players.

The Coventry Bears side that travels will no doubt not be lacking in pride and commitment and will endeavour to cause a big upset against the league leaders.

14/6/03 Archive Player Stats for Seasons 2001 & 2002 have now been loaded to the site. Click HERE

13/7/03 Despite leading at half time with a scoreline that didn't quite do justice to their early endeavours, the Bears eventually went down by 30 points to 24 at tropical Coundon Road yesterday. The now customary sending-off probably made no impact on the final score as both sides suffered equally in this respect. However the home side somehow contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with some inexplicable decisions and stray passing when laying seige to the 'bank line.

The learning curve may be steep in the National Divisions, but I can't help thinking that had this match been played twelve months ago this would have been a very different result.

Call it a 'bedding-in' season if you will.

6/7/03 The Bears ran out comfortable 48-14 winners at Coundon Road yesterday, completing a season double over last year's semi-final opponents Hemel Stags (see the 'Reports' page.

However, the 'A' side went down 28-40  to an experienced Leicester Phoenix at Old Covents.

4/7/03 Preview - Coventry Bears v Hemel Stags  (at Coventry RFC, Coundon Road 5/7/03). Coventry Bears look to complete their first double of the season as they welcome Hemel Stags to Coundon Road on Saturday.

The Bears won the corresponding fixture at Hemel earlier in the season by 19 points to 4 so the Stags will be looking to avenge that defeat. Coventry and Hemel share a similar history as they met in last year’s Rugby League Conference Grand Final won by the Bears, but both sides are struggling to cope with life in the National League 3 this year. Hemel are so far winless and Coventry’s form has been very mixed with them surprisingly struggling at home having lost the previous two home fixtures at Coundon Road.

The main focus this week for Coventry will be to reinstate the home they share with Coventry Rugby Union club as a tough place for visiting clubs to come.

The other area for improvement will be the Bears discipline with five red cards already received this season. Captain Matt Allsopp said "this is obviously an area for concern as it is costing us games now as you can only play short handed for so long against sides of good quality. As a knock-on effect the players will also probably have to serve suspensions at some time, which along with our injuries will stretch the club's playing resources".

 One positive from last week’s defeat at the hands of league leaders Bradford Dudley Hill was the return to action of Dan Price - an integral figure in the club's early days. Dan's presence can only benefit the side. Ian Grimes also returns to the side in place of Australian Matt Wright who is making a visit back home.

Entrance to the game is £3 for adults and free for under 16s and includes a matchday programme.

Team: 1. Rich Pepperell 2. Francis Slater 3. Dan Price 4. John Fairhurst 5. Luke Talbot 6. Alex van der Walt 7. Alex Brown 8. Rich Davies 9. Matty Allsopp 10. Carl Southwell 11. Al Robinson 12. John Nicholls 13. Bob Lowe 14. Ken Dowding 15. Joe Smith 16. Ian Grimes 17. Neil Saunders

Coventry Bears' A side are also at home against Leicester Phoenix. The game will be played at Old Coventrians RFC, kicking off at 2.30pm

28/6/03 On an afternoon when little went right for the Bears, Bradford Dudley Hill showed their rugby pedigree and ran out winners by 36 points to 18. Those who witnessed the first quarter however will probably feel that it was an acceptable scoreline after watching the Yorkshiremen race into a 24-0 lead with hardly a home hand touching the ball. At this point some on the terraces were bracing themselves for a record defeat. However, the depleted Bears team somehow reached into the depths of their reserves and - even though down to 11 and 12 men for long periods of the match - somehow managed to reach half-time without further points being shipped. Indeed, the home team managed to conjure an unlikely 'win' in the second period with three decent tries - all converted. Great character under chin-dropping circumstances. 

Click to expand

Given a little more discipline and a lot more luck with injuries this side could finish fairly strongly and a place in the top half is not out of the question - but they are big ifs at the moment.

26/6/03 Preview - Coventry Bears v Bradford Dudley Hill  (at Coventry RFC, Coundon Road 28/6/03). Coventry Bears begin a run of three home games on Saturday at Coundon Road - and  the opposition could not be any tougher. The visitors Bradford Dudley Hill are an experienced rugby league club with many seasons in the top divisions of the winter’s premier competition the National Conference behind them. The switch to summer rugby league has done them no harm either and they are the only side left to have won every game so far in National League 3, so they sit clearly at the top of the table. The addition of Bradford to the original Dudley Hill club name reflects the wider area they are now drawing players from and the support they have from the whole of the city in the northern heartlands of the game.

The Bears however will certainly be looking to rise to the challenge, particularly on their home pitch. Again the unavailability of players due to injury means changes within the side as the Bears still wait to find a settled look to their line-up. There is good news, particularly for the recently overstretched forwards, with the return of Carl Southwell to add further power to pack. Matt Allsopp also returns to both the key roles of hooker and captain after a weeks absence, and will be very keen to lead his side effectively in both capacities. The returning skipper said ‘the side that travelled last week performed well in difficult circumstances at St. Albans and the performances of a number of debutants means that places are keenly contested for this game. This week’s game is the kind of fixture that players relish, facing experienced rugby league players and testing yourselves against the best players in the division. I have no doubt that we will meet Dudley Hill head on and give a good account of ourselves. This game will be one of the highest profile games of rugby league ever played in Coventry and will certainly be a great occasion for supporters who have been before and for anyone wanting to watch their first game of league.’  In the backs Luke Talbot returns to action after injury and he will be looking for tries from the wing in an experienced back line. Coventry still await the return to action of experienced Australian forward Troy Perkins from a knee injury, although it is hoped that he will be back playing very soon. Admission to Saturday’s game which kicks off at 2.30pm is £3 for adults (including programme) and free for under 16s.

Coventry Bears 'A' team are also in action this weekend looking for a double at the Telford Raiders who they defeated 34 – 28 in the home fixture. The side should feature a number of players who have gained valuable first team experience in the past few weeks and this should give them an added edge as they compete to regain those places.

The team meet at Coundon Road at 11.30am

24/6/03 Directions to Telford Raiders at TF2 7AB

M6 J10A

M54

M54 J4

A464/A442 towards Telford (East) and Ironbridge

At roundabout take the 4^th exit for 0.2 miles

Exit Roundabout onto B5060 (Castle Farm Way for 1.3 Miles

At Roundabout take 2^nd exit onto B5060 (Redhill Way)

At Roundabout take 3^rd exit onto Wrockwardine Wood Way

After 0.5 miles Turn right onto New Road for 174 yards to Oakengates Leisure Centre

Contact details: Janet Berry 07734847264

17/6/03 There will be a disco in the Coundon Road clubhouse on the evening of the Hemel and Leicester matches (5th July). It kicks off at 7.30 and food will included in the £5 entry charge.

14/6/03 Things on the up? For the first time ever, both Coventry Bears teams recorded wins on the same day. The first team travelled to Hemel and defeated last year's Grand Final opponents by 19 points to four, while the 'A' side took revenge-with-interest over Wolverhampton - the scoreline of 46-22 more than making up for the narrow opening-day defeat. Both Reports HERE

20/6/03  Directions to Woolams St. Albans M1 J9 towards  St Albans. Two miles at roundabout turn left towards Harpendon. Two miles at roundabout turn right onto  Harpendon Rd. Two mile on, Woolams is on the left. (Sorry about the lack of detail, but this is all we've been supplied).

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