Kingstone Press League 1 Preview: Coventry Bears v South Wales Scorpions

Tom Tsang, the Coventry Bears coach, was encouraged by the performance of his side at Barrow Raiders.

“It was a bit of a scrappy game; I don’t think either side got going in the first half and we couldn’t build any pressure or momentum,” he said.

“I personally think we were good value for a win, we worked a bit harder for our tries and created opportunities rather than gifting field position and opportunities on the back of our errors.

“The second half was going to go to the side which cleaned their act up better and take advantage and Barrow did that better than us. It was pleasing and positive for the most part but disappointing not to close the game down and get the win.

“South Wales have only got the one win. We’re at home so we’ll go into the game full of confidence and be looking to get back on track.”

South Wales Scorpions gave an improved performance last week according to coach Mike Grady.

“We completed at under 50 per cent, which is our lowest of the year, and if we’d have kept hold of the ball the scoreline would have been a lot better than what it finished up,” he said.

“It was only 16-6 at half-time but we couldn’t keep hold of the ball. I genuinely thought it could have been our day but when we get one thing right then something else goes out of the window.

“But it as an improved performance and something I was looking for going into these next two games, so I’ve got to take it as a positive.

“It will be a tough one this week, they’re doing all right, Tom’s done well in their first season. They’ve got a few wins on the board so they will be confident against us.

“We’ve just got to take the positives from last week into this week and have another go.”