Pertemps
Bees' front row problems have intensified following the news that hooker Stewart
Pearl broke a hand during the National League One defeat at Rotherham Earth
Titans yesterday. The former Plymouth Albion player was taken to a local hospital
where the hand was put in plaster. He is due to visit a fracture clinic in Warwick
tomorrow when it is expected the injury will be pinned."That makes it sound more serious but having it pinned might actually shorten the amount of time he is out of action," said Steve Williams, Pertemps Bees' head coach.
"We will have a better idea after Monday of how long Stewart will be missing for."
Pearl's injury leaves Pertemps Bees with just one fit specialist hooker in Matt Miles. Canadian international prop Casey Dunning can also play at hooker but he is also sidelined at the moment with a broken ankle sustained in the defeat by Sedgley Park before Christmas.
Williams is expected to try to bring another hooker on a short-term loan arrangement ahead of the league game against Plymouth Albion at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday Febvruary 3 (2pm).
The good news is that prop Matt Long may be able to return to action after two weeks out with a calf injury which he sustained in the win over Moseley.
Fly-half Jon Higgins is also expected to return against Plymouth after he was forced to withdraw from the side to face Rotherham on the morning of the match because of illness. Rod Petty switched from scrum-half to deputise for Higgins with Reece Spee stepping up from the bench to play at scrum-half.