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Cougars Return To League Action – Coventry Preview


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<p>Coventry Bears v Keighley Cougars Match Preview by Joshua Chapman (@JRCSport)</p>

<p>Date: Sunday 8th April</p>

<p>Time: 3.o0pm</p>

<p>Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry.</p>

<p>After overcoming the emotion of last weekend’s iPro Sport Cup Semi-Final to book their place in Blackpool, the Cougars return to League One action with a trip to the midlands to face the Coventry Bears.</p>

<p><strong>LAST TIME OUT:</strong></p>

<p>The Coventry Bears fell to a fourth League One defeat off the season as they fell to a 52-20 defeat away at the London Skolars. Chris Barratt, Richard Hughes, Grant Beecham and Charlie O’Mara all crossed on the afternoon in the Capital but an in-form Skolars side proved too much on the afternoon for the Midlands outfit.</p>

<p>The secured their place in the iPro Sport Cup Final with a 22-31 victory away at the London Skolars. A Ritchie Hawkyard brace set the tone with tries from Hamish Barnes, Scott Law and Darren Hawkyard as well as a drop goal from Adam Brook with 90 seconds left on the clock were enough to see of a resilient Skolars outfit.</p>

<p><strong>TEAM NEWS:</strong></p>

<p>Coventry Bears could come into this fixture unchanged from the defeat to London Skolars last time out. However, Jamahl Hunte will be pushing to regain his place in the seventeen after not featuring in the defeat at the New River Stadium a fortnight ago. Alex Beddows will also be pushing for the seventeen after being the eighteenth man in the Bears’ last two outings.</p>

<p>Paul March is expected to welcome Rikki Sheriffe back into the side after being rested last weekend in the capital, Paul Handforth is all expected to return after missing the Skolars victory due to work commitments. Andy Gabriel, Matthew Bailey and Ross Peliter will all be pushing for recalls too. John Oakes and Adam Brook are both carrying hamstring tweaks but are both expected to be fit for the trip to Coventry.</p>

<p><strong>KEY BATTLE:</strong></p>

<p>The Bears traditionally use the pack to their advantage, utilising the threat of Jack Morrison, James Geurtjens, Jono Miliszewski and Grant Beecham. The question is can they threaten the likes of Scott Law, Brendon Rawlins, Ash Lindsay and Jode Sheriffe over a full eighty minutes at the Ricoh this Sunday?</p>

<p><strong>THE COACHES:</strong></p>

<p>Coventry Bears Managing Director Alan Robinson: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase rugby league and what the Bears are all about to fans across the city.</p>

<p>“We have some fantastic community projects underway at the moment and hope that everyone will get behind us as we take on one of the top clubs in League One.”</p>

<p>Keighley Cougars Head Coach Paul March: “We’re playing at a great arena on Sunday, probably the best that any team currently in the Championship or League One could wish to play at.</p>

<p>“We go down there to play on what is a nice, wide football field and we’ll be looking to play some expansive Rugby down at Coventry, even more so with Paul Handforth back in contention after missing the Skolars game through work commitments, whose game control and game management will be crucial to this fixture.</p>

<p>“We’re an expansive Rugby side and it’ll be fantastic preparation for the iPro Sport Cup Final against York, which will be played one one of these football fields at Bloomfield Road in Blackpool.”</p>

<p><strong>THE REFEREE:</strong></p>

<p>The referee this Sunday’s League One fixture at the Ricoh Arena is Jonathan Roberts from Batley. This is Roberts third Cougars appointment season off the season to date, overseeing the victory over the Bears in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Third Round before officiating the Cougars defeat away at the York City Knights in the Fourth Round three weeks later.</p>

<p><strong>PREDICTION:</strong></p>

<p>The Cougars overcame the emotion and a tricky test to see off the Skolars last Saturday but this weekend is a different test all together as they play a struggling Bears side on a nice wide and expansive field at the Ricoh Arena, which will suit the Cougars style. Expect a comfortable victory this weekend but not a thrashing which some fans will be hoping for. – <strong>KEIGHLEY BY 30.</strong></p>

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