REPORT | Coventry Bears 16 Dons 34

The Dons had to battle hard to extend their unbeaten run to seven games with a victory at Coventry Bears.

The Bears struck first, with little over a minute on the clock. Dave Scott kicked early in the opening set and the ball took a wicked bounce to twist into the path of Reece Rance who got a hand on it to put the first points on the board.

The Dons had to work their way into the game against a really hard-working Coventry outfit, almost breaking through after a Beharrell kick on the fifth tackle after eight minutes.

The Bears were clearly in confident mood and went further ahead after 18 minutes when the impressive Scott broke through to score under the sticks. Dan Coates had a routine kick to add the extras and take the score to 10-0 .

The Dons reacted well and got their first points on the board immediately afterwards. Some good pressure ended with Misi Taulapapa going over and Beharrell adding the extras.

A 40-20 from Coates set the foundations for the impressive Scott’s second try of the game which allowed the Bears to restore their 10 point advantage with the score pushed on to 16-6.

But the Dons kept themselves in the game at the break with a try just  before the hooter went. Johnston broke through the middle and handed the ball off to Aaron York. Beharrell had a routine conversion to ensure it was 16-12 at the break and make Richard Horne’s half-time team talk a little easier.

The Dons looked fired up as they started the second period, and quickly found themselves ahead. The lively Johnston broke through the middle once more, with the ball moved via Jason Tali to Beharrell who stepped inside his man before crossing and leaving himself a routine conversion to nudge his side ahead 18-16.

The Dons survived a scare after 52 minutes when the Bears found themselves with a man over on the left wing - but the final pass was behind their winger and ended out of play. Nathan Hill also threatened with a weaving run through the middle. 

There were 66 minutes on the clock by the time the Dons managed to extend their lead as Tali went over between the sticks, with the conversion making it 24-16

Brandon Douglas added another try in the closing stages, with Tom Halliday breaking away down the right wing to add one himself as the home side tired.