South Wales Scorpions had a good first ten minutes of their match against Coventry Bears on Sunday June 21, but it all slipped away as the visitors took advantage of the Welsh side’s indiscipline and the hosts lost 42-14.
Paul Emanuelli kicked a successful 40-20 after just 50 seconds. From the resulting scrum, the same player kicked to an unmarked Yannic Parker who scored in the corner. Emanuelli couldn’t do three successful kicks though and the score remained at 4-0.
The second try came on eight minutes when a well-worked move again gave Parker space to score in the corner. Emanuelli converted well.
Coventry hit back on 12 minutes when former Scorpion Billy Sheen picked a high pass to go in under the sticks. Stephen Coleman converted.
Two handling errors gave Coventry the chance to get a second and they didn’t waste it as Richie Hughes forced his way over with Coleman adding the goal again.
Cameron Boulter sold a dummy and was held up over the line.
Richie Hughes was also close and following that Jamahl Hunt scored in the corner with the kick missed leaving the score at 16-10 to the Bears.
Coventry further extended their lead on 34 minutes when Sheen picked up a suspected Barratt forward pass to score under the sticks. Coleman converted.
And from a penalty given for offside, Tom Hall ran in Coventry’s fifth just before the break.
It took 15 minutes for Coventry to score in a scrappy second penalty-laden restart. Kenneth Kelliher over with the conversion missed.
Scorpions struck back just after the hour after a good set from a penalty saw Andy Joy dive over.
But any hopes of a comeback were quashed after Brad Hill was red-carded for a double infringement and Jack Francis scored after the resulting penalty. Dan Parker converted.
Scorpions could have been next to score but Neil Dallimore had a try disallowed for a forward pass.
It was left to another former Scorpion in Morgan Evans to complete the scoring. Parker converted as the hooter blew.
• Report by Ian Golden, of Wales Rugby League.