Both clubs have had a disappointing start to their respective National League 2 North campaigns. The Bees were narrowly beaten 36-38 by Broadstreet last week – their second last gasp defeat in consecutive Saturdays at Portway.

Visitors Stockport find themselves at the foot of the table after their opening two games. They lost 0 – 48 in their opening game away at Ampthill, with Sedgley Park also inflicting a heavy defeat (10-85) on their northern counterparts up at Bramhall last Saturday.

Stockport were promoted back to NLN2 this season after beating Sutton Coldfield in the divisional playoffs back in April. It is therefore over a year since the two sides last met. The Bees won both games in the 2012/13 NLN2 season - edging (17-21) a close encounter up at Bramhall in November, 2012 with Oscar Heath and Rob Connolly both scoring tries, with the rest of the Bees’ points coming from the boot of Jack Jolly.

By the time the Bees met them at Portway in the last game of the season in May 2013, Stockport were already consigned to relegation. The home side ran in 8 tries that day from Jimmy Oliver, Matt Spink, Darren Forder (2), Dan Barrett (2), Alex O’Malley and Chris Fensome with the balance of our 48 points coming from then fly half Lee Chapman. Stockport’s 14 points came in the shape of two converted tries.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, Bees’ Director of Rugby Eugene Martin said; “To put it mildly, last week was another bad day at the office. After 60 minutes we were 36-10 up against Broadstreet – in the last quarter of the game we then proceeded to ship 28 unopposed points and lose the game 36-38. For the second week running we lost the game on the last kick.

“The defeat was pretty hard to take for all concerned, not just for the players but everyone in the performance team. I imagine it was pretty hard to watch from a spectator point of view too. In fact I don’t imagine, I know, because a number of people have told me so.

“On Sunday HV and I reviewed the video footage from the game and we were pretty clear where the issues lay. We didn’t use our bench well and that disrupted team cohesion. There were also instances again when some players underperformed - either missing tackles and/or going off script. Our strength and conditioning must also be questioned, as a fitter side would not have allowed such a reversal to happen.

“That been said, there were positives to be taken out of the game; Adam Canning put in an excellent kicking performance and Michael Stephens – a late replacement at 7 for Darren Forder – put his normal good shift in for what was his first game of the season, coming back from injury.

“Needless to say, much hard work has been done in training this week and there is a real determination from all quarters to get things back on track.

“Stockport will be tough opposition for us today – they too will be keen to record their first win of the season and, as our first two games of the season has taught us anything, we should take nothing for granted.”

Bees’ Chairman Chris Loughran added; “Without hiding the real disappointment of the last two outings, we're going to look at the positives, remember the performances that last season's squad gave us and encourage Eugene, Lurch and the rest of the team to rediscover the cohesion, composure and confidence that led us to fifth place last season with an away victory over the eventual league winners along the way.”

The Bees squad selected to face Stockport as per programme is as follows:-

Chris Fensome, Alex O’Malley, Steve Johns, Rob Connolly, Dai Evans, Adam Canning, Rod Petty, Steve Leach, Mike Spephens, Ashley Scriven, Chris Goddard ©, Liam Dunne, Nick Bingham, Will Crane, Peter Koziot, Lewis Grinsell, Andy Kettle, Matthew Spink, Chris Carlin and Jack Jolly.

Away from the first team, the Development squad travel to Lichfield on Saturday to play their 2nds.

Sunday sees the Colts play away at Wolverhampton (KO 2.00pm), fresh from their 29-21 win last week against Dudley K. Our Under 14s also welcome Market Harborough to Portway (KO 11.00am) – they too kicked off their opening game with a win last week – putting 71 points to 3 against Longlevens.