Coventry Rugby match preview v Bedwas RFC together with team
By Tom Little.
August 22 2012
Coventry Rugby face their third Welsh Premiership rivals on consecutive Saturdays, as they meet Bedwas RFC here at the Butts Park Arena, kick off 3pm on the 25th August, with the teams meeting for the first time in their history. Despite finishing 13th last season in the Welsh Premiership this seasons new look league of 12 teams perhaps controversially will still include them.
Bedwas, showing their intentions off the field as well have recently appointed Ron Davies, former Secretary of State for Wales and Caerphilly Cabinet Member for Regeneration to be their new commercial manager. The club is situated close to Caerphilly possibly started playing from 1885 although it was 1889 before they were officially formed.
Under Director of Rugby Steve Law and coaches Gerry Roberts and Ian Gardner, Bedwas recently beat English Championship side Moseley at home 38-37 in a pre-season friendly and drew away last Saturday with Welsh Championship side Bargoed 7-7. They will also enter the revamped British and Irish Cup meeting league championship favourites Newcastle Falcons.
Bedwas have close connections with the Newport Gwent Dragons regional side taking a number of Academy players on loan such as rated fly half Ethan Davies. They also have a couple of players on full time training with the Dragons. In the backs centre Matthew John signed from Cardiff and fly half Richard Powell provide some experience. A player known to Coventry, prop forward Scott Roberts has just moved on to Pontypridd.
Coventry RFC have already found in their two previous games against Welsh Premiership sides that despite have led in both games that they need to play for the full 80 minutes and match the physicality of their opponents throughout the game. Another stern test for Coventry as they build to the start of the National League 1 season a week on Saturday with a home game against possibly league favourites Ealing Trailfinders.
The Coventry side to face Bedwas has just been announced it shows 11 changes from the starting line up that had such a strong battle against Cross Keys. At fly half Luke Myring comes in from centre in place of Cliffie Hodgson and there is a start for new loan player from Worcester prop forward Ryan Furniss. Another prop Bronson Ross also makes his first appearance. In centre there is a renewal of last season’s pairings of Callum MacBurnie and James Otutaha, whilst the new signing from Otley Tom Harris comes in on the wing. Lock Scott Morgan continues as captain.
15.Ben Russell
14.Jeff Gregson
13.Callum MacBurnie
12.James Otutaha
11.Tom Harris
10.Luke Myring
9.Lewis Barker
1.Ryan Furniss
2.Greg Sammons
3.Bronson Ross
4.Scott Morgan ( Capt)
5.Tom Poole
6.Brett Daynes
7.Liam Munro
8.Matt Tibbatts
Replacements
Neil Tatlow fr, Danny Herriott fr, Davy McGregor fr, Sam Herrington, Jacques Le Roux,Jamie Harrop, Nathan Jones, Greg Evans, James Whybrow, Aaron Takarangi.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
22nd August 2012.
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I suspect this team is 2 or 3 players off from being a match day squad.
i honestly think as long as the forwards can secure enough quality ball, that the backs have the potential to rip other sides apart with the strength and speed there now is in the backs line up this season.
Decision making is key and experienced players make better decisions on the whole.
We have more experience now so this should have a positive effect on results.