BEARS head coach Tom Tsang says that his side’s 36-20 victory over the London Skolars is a just reward for their perseverance in recent weeks.
The win, achieved thanks to a strong second-half display, puts an end to the Bears’ five match losing streak, and provides them with their fourth victory of the season in Betfred League 1.
Tsang says his troops must capitalise on the momentum created, and look to take further points from their remaining seven fixtures.
“The win was welcome, but comes as no surprise to me as I see at every training session just how hard our players and coaches work,” he said.
“We have had a tough month with injuries and unavailable players, but we have stuck to the task and got the reward.
“We must now make the most of this to maintain good standards and finish the season strongly.”
Skolars centre Lameck Juma punished a slow start by the Bears with a converted score inside the opening four minutes, followed by a try for Mo Agorro moments later – prompting fears that the Bears may be heading down the same old trodden path from previous weeks.
Juma was then denied a second of the game, proving a pivotal moment in the contest, as Bears hit back through a Sam Davis try, converted by loanee Joe Sanderson.
The hosts’ lead was restored when Agorro crossed the whitewash for a second time of the afternoon, though Coventry claimed a crucial score just before the break, courtesy of Elliot Hall’s mazy run.
A second try of the game for Juma put the Skolars 20-12 up after the restart, although the set-back proved anything but a blow to the spirit of the Bears.
The visitors roared back with a Hayden Freeman try, shortly followed by a second for Hall, both converted by Sanderson, to haul Coventry into the lead for the first time in the game.
With 20 minutes remaining, the Bears were forced to stand firm against the waves of attacks from the hosts.
After launching a counter attack, Kieron Sherratt latched onto a pass by Hall to put the Bears further in front, before promptly adding another with three minutes remaining to put the seal on an emphatic victory for Tsang’s side.
The Bears now look forward to a home tie against Hunslet on Sunday (3pm), played at Coventry’s temporary home at Rugby Lions’ Webb Ellis Road for the very first time.
