Scorpions stung as Bears recover to clinch victory
SOUTH Wales Scorpions, after playing so well in the first half against Coventry Bears on Saturday, agonisingly lost the game in the second half for a number of reasons.
In an 18-12 defeat, Scorpions were 12-0 up at half-time and cruising, but then a sinbinning and some bad luck in front of the line and in front of goal, gave the game to the Bears.
A quick thinking intercept from Kristian Baller prevented an early Coventry try as they were hounding the Scorpions’ line following a penalty, while a diving tackle from Christiaan Roets on Jason Bass denied them a first score.
Scorpions were attacking well themselves as they looked for the first try but in the first ten minutes, poor handling prevented them from getting any further than 10 metres from the Bears’ line.
But from the final tackle of set, Paul Emanuelli’s high bomb confused the Bears’ defence and Jamie Murphy leapt to score under the sticks. Paul Emanuelli converted. 6-0 on 10 minutes.
They doubled the lead with a stunning second try. Courtney Davies kicked well and Billy Gaylor created his own gap weaving through the Bears’ defence. Emanuelli converted. 12-0 on 20 minutes.
Excelling in defence as well as attack, it was arguably one of the most, if not the most solid first halves of the season for the Scorpions.
They almost scored a third from another outstanding move. A tackle on Jamie Murphy looked to have been completed, but on the ground, he kicked for Roets but the Welsh international was beaten to the ball and Scorpions had to be content with winning a goalline drop-out.
Meanwhile at the other end, a crunching tackle by Osian Phillips on Joel James caused the fellow Welsh junior international to drop the ball as he was near to scoring.
The major turning point of the game came five minutes into the second half. Roets was sinbinned for a high tackle and Scorpions were made to pay as Richard Hughes went over from the next set. Joel James converted.
Bears’ heads were up and it wasn’t long before they levelled as Hughes again fought well to force his way over the line. James converted well.
From a penalty, Coventry took the lead for the first time just before the hour mark as Jack Morrison charged through a tiring Welsh defence. James converted again to make it 18-12.
As Roets limped off injured, Scorpions looked for a potentially equalising try. Anthony Symons held up over the line as he looked for a way through and Ian Newbury looked to be on a direct run to the try-line but pressure forced him to step into touch and the chance was lost.
Coventry could have completely sealed the match with eight minutes to go but Danny Price sliced a kickable penalty wide.
Scorpions made them pay as Coventry’s discipline cost them. Kristian Baller went over from dummy half. Emanuelli’s conversion hit the post and then horrifyingly fell the wrong side of the cross-bar.
Right to the end, the Scorpions were looking for a winning try. Keeping the ball alive after the final hooter, no-one was fast enough to get onto the end of Davies’ final chip kick and Bears scraped home.