Coventry Bears 32 Pts Birmingham Bullodgs 24
Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC went to Coventry Bears needing a win to qualify for the Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier playoffs. But after grabbing an early lead, Brum looked likely to be overwhelmed as the Bears rattled up 32 unanswered points before half time. However, in their turn Birmingham came back with as committed a 40-minutes of rugby as they have played all season to leave Coventry mightily relieved to hear the final whistle.
Bulldogs got an ideal start when Cov mishandled some 30 metres out; Morris grabbed the loose ball and set up an attack which ended with centre Mike “Puppy” Jones crossing on the right. Left-winger Danny Bancroft goaled.
Further attacks by Birmingham foundered on a miscued pass and a knock-on; Bears were more effective, going to the Brum line where prop and skipper Ryan Jenkins went over between the posts, scrum half Nathan Tilsley adding the goal to level the scores.
Bears stepped up s gear, and tries from right wing Dean Thompson and lively stand-off Alistair Marshall, the latter improved by Tilsley took the hosts ten points clear.
Bulldogs broke away well and went to the line where Rainger was unlucky to be penalised for an adjudged “double movement” in attempting to touch. That penalty was followed another which set up an attack from which Tilsley joined the try scorers’ list, adding the conversion himself. Another two tries, from left centre Ben Hands [bro. C.Hands also in side] and from speedy winger Tanaka Chaunokara – well goaled by Tilsley took the score to 32-6, and Birmingham seemingly looking at a hiding.
But the visitors were in no mood to roll over just yet: gaining a penalty – their first! - Bulldogs went to the line where skipper and hooker Mark Abel found a gap close to the posts and dived over for a try that Bancroft converted to give Brum a glimmer of hope.
HT: Coventry Bears 32 Pts Birmingham Bulldogs 12
Bulldogs cause was not aided early in the second when injuries to Rainger and Balmforth saw them sidelined for the rest of the match. Birmingham were still giving away too many penalties as well.
But they were now displaying terrific determination in defence, and starting to threaten more on attack: an excellent break from deep by Harper ended with Bancroft’s pass to him being ruled forward.
Then Brum produced the try of the match; from a scrum less than 20 metres from their line, Bell took Kyle’s pass and flew down the right touchline leaving the home defence in his wake, and cut in to the posts to
give Bancroft a simple conversion and cut the gap to 14 points.
Too much, surely, but Bulldogs were going to go for broke: following another great defensive set, Harper broke clear again and his wing partner Bancroft came inside for a precise pass that took the winger to the posts for a score which he converted himself.
Time, though, was running out for Brum and despite hurling all the energy they could find into one last big effort. No more points came.
Despite the defeat, 18 unanswered points and a second half “shut-out “ of the Bears was as courageous a show as Bulldogs have put up in many a day. In the end though, they had just too much to do. <*> It was still Bulldogs best overall league performance for five seasons. They can give themselves a pat on the back, and take a well-earned rest.
Lea Ross, with a dogged defensive display, won man-of-the-match for Brum. Marshall was Cov’s MOTM.
