COVENTRY Bears come to the Vestacare Stadium on Sunday (May 19, 3pm) buoyed by a terrific 41-30 win at home against Workington Town, one of the pre-match favourites for promotion.
Having recently parted company with Leon Pryce as head coach and appointed Chris Thorman as his successor, the Cumbrians were anxious to kick-start their Betfred League 1 campaign after a faltering few weeks.
They went to the Midlands with a strong team which included Ryan Fieldhouse at full-back, Jamie Doran at stand-off, a front-row of Oliver Wilkes, Sean Penkywicz and Fuifui MoiMoi and Danny Tickle at loose-forward.
They were in a for a shock, however, when a Coventry team of “fast, fit and well-trained young players” — their own description — stormed into a 28-8 interval lead.
At centre, the home side played Kam Pearce-Paul, who once had a brief stay on loan with Roughyeds while on loan from London Broncos.
They also fielded two Australians in man-of-the-match scrum-half Nick Newman and hooker Mitch Shaw, both from Queensland.
In the only other Betfred League 1 game of the weekend, London Skolars pipped North Wales Crusaders 19-18 to go joint top with Whitehaven on 11 points but with an inferior for-and-against difference.
Oldham remain fourth on eight points with the best attacking record and the third-best defensive stats.
Fans are being asked to donate tinned or long-life packaged foods to Oldham Foodbank, which will have a collection station inside the ground.
The Foodbank is particularly in need of tinned fruit, tinned tomatoes, tinned rice puddings, jams and all types of toiletries.
“We’ve formed links with the Foodbank to do our bit for the community and we’re asking fans to bring something with them to the Coventry game as a donation,”
said club chairman Chris Hamilton.
Weekend results:
Coral Challenge Cup (sixth round): Hull FC 28, Castleford Tigers 12; Wakefield Trinity 26, Widnes Vikings 6; Dewsbury Rams 6, Halifax 34; Catalans Dragons 62, Doncaster 6; Salford Red Devils 18, Hull KR 32; Bradford Bulls 24, Leeds Rhinos 22; Warrington Wolves 26, Wigan Warriors 24; Huddersfield Giants 16, St Helens 22.
Betfred Championship: Rochdale Hornets 18, York City Knights 24.
Betfred League 1: Coventry Bears 41, Workington Town 30; London Skolars 19, North Wales Crusaders 18.
