West Wales Raiders claim historic first-ever win against Coventry

James Messenger

West Wales Raiders created history yesterday, picking up their first ever professional win after toppling Coventry 44-16. 

Since rebranding from the South Wales Ironmen to the Raiders in 2017 following a takeover, they had lost their previous 43 fixtures, conceding 66 points per game on average.

They had suffered defeat in each of their 15 Betfred League 1 matches this year, scoring just 128 points in the process.

Nevertheless, they claimed the biggest win by a professional South Wales-based club since 2013 with victory over the Bears at Stebonheath Park.

They led 20-0 at the break thanks to tries from Dalton Desmond-Walker, Ash Bateman, Morgan Evans and Archie Snook.

A Reece Rance try early in the second half threatened a comeback from the visitors, but second scores for Bateman and Snook, plus a try for Stephen Parry, completed a superb afternoon for the Raiders, despite Coventry crossing twice late on through Errol Carter and Cobi Green.

They are next in action on August 3 against Newcastle Thunder, who are currently second in the league with 10 wins from their opening 15 games.

League 1 Coventry Bears