Bees sting Dings in full-on pre-season encounter

Saturday saw Bees welcome Dings to Portway for a much anticipated pre-season game.

Bees were able to name a very strong squad including two of Ian Matthews’ most recent signings - Wayne Child and Nyle Beckett – both of whom were to make an immediate impact.

Latterly of Nuneton, Beckett, fresh from Sevens duties for Jamaica, gave an excellent all round display on the wing, showing speed, footwork and power and finishing off the move of the game. Child, a centre who has joined from Bishop Stortford, gave a taste of his skill, flair and power in the midfield.

The game began with Dings on the attack – however Bees showed excellent resilience to keep the visitors from Bristol out. Bees broke down the field and turned defence into attack through a series of phases.

Bees showed good intent to counter attack and constantly challenged the Dings defence. At the scrum – an Achilles heel last season - Bees gave a dominant display and with the luxury of a fresh front row coming on in the second 40, Bees’ fans would have enjoyed seeing the home pack in ascendency in the set piece throughout the game.

The somewhat feisty first half was dominated by defence and it took a good half an hour before the deadlock was broken. The Bees opened the scoring with a well taken try from a strong set scrummage; Martyn Hooker, impressing for the second week in succession at scrum half, broke off the scrum and beat the cover defence showing his speed and power at close range. Jack Jolly added the conversion.

As the first half whistle beckoned, Dings forwards began to fatigue and following a free kick from a scrum, Steve Leach took the initiative, raising the tempo with a quick tap and, following a barnstorming run, fed Jimmy Oliver; Oliver ran a superb support line and used his “gas” to beat the full back and score under the posts. Jolly added the extras to make the half time score 14-0.

Both sides rang the changes at the interval, so it was a new look Bees side that took to the pitch for the second period. It didn’t take the new charges long to get on the scoresheet with, what was to prove the try of the game.

Having forced a turnover on their own line and won a penalty, new No.10 Harman and centre Child spotted the defence napping and played from the Bees’ own line. Child made a scorching break through the centre and fed Fensome on the inside. Fensome then fed winger O'Malley who was well tackled – but thanks to good support, Bees recycled and two phases later skipper Chris Goddard fed Nyle Beckett to finish the try behind the sticks. The conversion was a formality for Harman.

That wasn’t, however, to be the opening of the floodgates as both sides continue to test each other’s defences. Indeed another 25 minutes were to pass before the Bees crossed the line again. More good build up play and a clever kick from Harman allowed the back three to chase and force an error - young Matt Dight was on hand to dot the ball down.

To Dings credit, they showed lots of fight and determination right down to the final whistle and were rewarded with a nicely taken try by their scrum half following a defensive lapse from the Bees. The conversion ended the game at 26-7, with the Bees deserved winners, with the blend of established players and new faces in the new-look squad showing plenty of promise when the season starts proper

The final pre-season assignment for the squad is this Friday (28th August) night v Bournville under lights, kick off 7.30pm. Ian Matthews will name a smaller match day squad as he and his performance team hone in on naming the first starting XV for the league opener against Syston on 5th September.