Bears know what they have to do to make the step up

Rick Powell shoots for Warwickshire Bears 2nds. Picture submitted

The friendly was hastily arranged after Maidstone Rebels were forced to call-off the scheduled league clash due to injuries.

And Bears were left in no doubt the standards they will need to achieve should they gain promotion this year, with the First Division leaders going through the gears after trailing by a point following the first quarter.

Bears coach Tom Masterson was grateful for Warriors for stepping in, however.

He said: “It was a great opportunity for us to play the top team in the First Division and see the level we need to build to.

“Although I’m always disappointed in losing I was really happy that the team didn’t gave up until the final buzzer - Warriors are a class team.”

Meanwhile, Rick Powell boosted his chances of making the Great Britain squad for the Invictus Games in Florida with a 21-point haul in Bears 2nds’ 57-52 extra-period win over Cardiff Celts 2nds.

The returning Neil Bunting chipped in with 19 points as Bears overturned a six-point half-time deficit to tie the game before taking advantage of Celts’ lack of bench options in the added time.

“It was nice to get a win but these close games are killing me,” joked Masterson.