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

22^nd August 2012.

Coventry Rugby match preview v Bedwas RFC together with team

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 22/08/2012 20:09

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
22/08/2012 20:09

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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ajc118
22/08/2012 22:28

Looks like a strong side including substitutes

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Nige H
24/08/2012 10:49

Hopefully this will be a better game to watch and see how the players hold up. am interested to see how myring plays at FH, as we didnt see much of him there last season.
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.

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covkid53
24/08/2012 13:34

Nige H. Couldn't agree more, ball retention in the forwards and in the breakdown, quick accurate ball to the backs and sensible tactical kicking.

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.

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bigm/ mark harrison.
24/08/2012 14:50

few selections which hopefully will be resolved and improved upon over the next few weeks.Now we have more pace in the team we must launch it from all parts of the park

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