RUGBY LEAGUE (From Stroud News and Journal)

RUGBY LEAGUE

9:19am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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THERE are five games to go to save the Warriors’ season. With Leicester Phoenix and Birmingham Bulldogs looking strong favourites to grab two of the three play-off places, it is a four-way fight between the Warriors, Derby City, Bristol Sonics and Coventry Bears for the remaining place.

The Warriors will face all of these opponents and nothing less than victory will do if they are to claim a play-off place. The quest begins with a game against Coventry Bears at Chosen Hill this Saturday. The game kicks off at 12noon and the Third Lions Test will be shown on the big screen in the Chosen Hill clubhouse from 2pm.

The Bears are currently rebuilding their squad after a number of players left to join National three side Hemel Stags in the off-season. Fortunately their Academy has come good and several players have stepped up to claim places in the new-look Bears side.

After a slow start, which saw the Warriors record their first ever win over the Bears senior side in the opening game of the season, they have found some form and in their last game, came from behind to defeat Birmingham 37-26. They will provide a stern test for the Warriors and will be keen to repeat their win here in the last game of the 2008 campaign when a late Graham Healey penalty edged them home 24-22.

The last few weeks have been difficult ones for the Warriors, with a lack of players and late cry-offs meaning that the resources available to coach Tom James are limited and consequently the Warriors have been beaten by more experienced outfits. Their prospects for the rest of the season will rest on the players available. As with the nine who performed heroically at Birmingham last week, there is no shortage of commitment and skill once the game gets underway, its prior to that that counts.

Prior to kick off, both teams will observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Coventry Bears’ Patron Tony Chambers who passed away recently.

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