Coventry Bears 14 – 18 South Wales Scorpions
Coventry, Saturday July 6
South Wales Scorpions gained their first win in the League 1 Shield after beating Coventry Bears 18-14 in a dramatic encounter in the Midlands.
In a near-repeat of the game earlier this season, but with the roles reversed, the Scorpions have done their Welsh friends North Wales Crusaders a favour with the win, the Wrexham-based side now with one foot in the League 1 Shield Final.
Coventry took the lead after just 80 seconds when, from their first set of the game, Jason Bass ran 50 metres to the line and Joel James converted.
Scorpions didn’t lie down and in the 13th minute, Kyle Scrivens did well to create a chance for Ian Newbury – who beat a few players to score in the corner. Paul Emanuelli’s conversion hit the post and trickled over the crossbar to level the scores.
The rest of the first half was gritty, with no real stand-out chances. Penalties and scrums were the order of the day with both sides also defending well.
Only in the last five minutes did Coventry have a couple of real chances to score. Joe Batchelor was denied twice, first being forced into touch by Newbury, then being told by the referee he hadn’t grounded properly.
However, the referee gave Coventry a penalty for an infringement on the stroke of half time, and James kicked from in front of the posts to give the home side a two point lead.
Scorpions were first on the board in the second half when, following two penalties, Chris Vitalini crashed under the sticks and Emanuelli converted.
From the first set after kick-off, Scorpions scored again, Vitalini taking advantage of another Bears’ defensive lapse. Emanuelli easily converted and Scorpions were 18-8 up.
After winning two penalties, Coventry looked to hit back and were close. Joel James was held up over the line after some more good work from the Scorpions’ backline, and Jamie Murphy was also responsible for stopping a try after he pushed Matt Reid into touch.
Batchelor finally got his try in the 63rd minute after going through a gap in the Scorpions’ defence. James converted to bring the score back to 18-14.
Scorpions held on despite a barrage from the Coventry attack late-on, as Chris Barratt went closest, being stopped centimetres from the line.
Emanuelli missed a last minute drop goal and Coventry won a penalty just seconds from time to add to the drama, but Scorpions held on for a deserved win.
• Match report by Ian Golden of South Wales Scorpions.