Rugby League

League 1

Saturday 29th June 2019

Kick Off 15.00

Coventry Bears 10 Doncaster 54, attendance 180 (official 386 !)

@ Broadstreet R.U.F.C.

Ivor Preece Field

Rugby Road

Binley Woods

Coventry

CV3 2AY

£12 Admission

£2 Programme available, but didn’t bother buying.

This is now the third ground I have seen Coventry Bears use for home matches. On 5th May 2004 I saw them beat Bramley Buffaloes 48-14 in National League 3 at Old Coventrians R.U.F.C. in Tile Hill Lane, then on 5th September 2004 they beat Sheffield Hilsborough Hawks 36-18, also in National League 3, this time at Coventry R.U.F.C. at Butts Park Arena, which is still their home ground these days. With the pitch there being converted from grass to 3G, it has meant using an alternate venue and this was the third and final match being played here at Broadstreet. The final four home league fixtures are scheduled to be played at the birthplace of Rugby Union, at the ground of Rugby Lions R.U.F.C.

Having seen Coventry a couple of weeks ago, when they were beaten heavily at Workington Town, I thought that they actually played well in spells and didn’t deserve to lose by such a margin. Today, however, they were pathetic and Doncaster ran in tries at will and it was probably only the 30+ degree heat that prevented a real massacre. It was 6-20 at the break, then Doncaster added another converted try to make it 6-26 early in the second half. In the 54th minute both teams were reduced to 12 men following a few punches thrown. Doncaster added another 28 points before Bears finished off the days scoring with an unconverted try in the last minute.