New club Coventry Bears made a successful start to their League 1 campaign today, when they defeated Oxford 32-10 at the Butts Park Arena in front of a respectable crowd of 721 spectators.
In a game played in front of RFL chief executive Nigel Wood, and boosted by three loan signings from Hull Kingston Rovers, the Bears scored six tries and after one round of the competition lie in joint second place alongside Hemel Stags, who also have a 22-point points difference after winning 12-34 at London Skolars.
Top of the table, however, are the University of Gloucestershire All Golds, who defeated South Wales Scorpions 36-6 at the Prince of Wales Stadium.
Other winners from the opening day were Keighley Cougars (v York City Knights), Newcastle Thunder, who attracted a crowd of 1,522 to Kingston Park to see them beat Barrow Raiders 34-22, and Oldham, who defeated Rochdale Hornets 16-23 at Spotland.
Swinton Lions and North Wales Crusaders fought out the only draw of the day, 14-14 at Shaw Lane.
Kingstone Press League 1 – Round 1 Results
Coventry Bears 32 Oxford 10
Gloucester All Golds 36 South Wales Scorpions 6
Keighley Cougars 28 York City Knights 12
London Skolars 12 Hemel Stags 34
Newcastle Thunder 34 Barrow Raiders 22
Rochdale Hornets 16 Oldham 23
Swinton Lions 14 North Wales Crusaders 14
Full match reports, match facts and photos will feature in Monday’s edition of Rugby League Express.
