Bees trigger cup exit in spectacular fashion

The North Midlands Cup was removed from the Bees’ trophy cabinet on Friday evening, returned to the regional RFU body following the club’s ignominious 26-32 defeat by Bournville.

Such a defeat was looking unlikely to say the least, as the Bees ran in their third try in the opening 13 minutes of the game to take a 19-0 lead. With a near gale force strength wind at their backs, the home side were dominant in every department and were playing a fast tempo, attacking style of rugby that has been seldom seen in recent times at Portway.

Yet Bournville regathered their composure and, in what will go down as one of the most impressive cup comebacks in many a year, set about clawing their way back into the game which would eventually see them come out worthy winners after 80 minutes.

Three tries for the Bees (from hooker Zane Raimondi, full back Chris Fensome and a superb chip and chase from winger Matt Dight) and two Jack Jolly conversions to the good, Bournville got themselves onto the scoreboard after 15 minutes thanks to a try from centre James Hussey who also added the conversion. Yet the Bees hit back immediately, with a stunning cameo try from fly half Max Rodman, duly converted by Jolly to restore the 19-point margin.

Bournville were then able – despite the fierce wind - to pin the Bees in their own half for the remaining 20 minutes of the first period. With Jolly shown a yellow card, Bournville soon got their second try from close range courtesy of No.8 Drew Harper to make it 26-12.

With Jolly restored to the field of play, it was flanker Michael Stephens' turn for 10 minutes in the sin bin two minutes before the break. Bourneville took advantage of their numerical and territorial superiority with a try for full back on the stroke of half time, narrowing the deficit to 26-17 with the prospect of playing with the wind in the second half.

The sense of trepidation amongst Bees’ fans was immediately compounded by a Woz Oliver try for the visitors straight after the break to bring Bournville with 4 points of the Bees. A third yellow card – this time for second row Andy Weaver - was quickly followed by a fourth try for the boys from Bournbrook – James Hussey again converting his own score - to put Bournville in the lead for the first time in the game.

With the Bees profligate with the limited possession they had and Hussey adding a penalty to stretch the lead to six points, things were getting desperate for the home side.

They had a chance ‘at the death’ to salvage pride and keep their cup defence for 2017 alive, but Bournville pinched possession at the Bees’ 5 metre line out and referee Marc Hurn blew the final whistle on a plucky and deserved 26-32 victory for the Midlands 1 West side.

Whilst some Bees’ supporters may gripe about some of the referring decisions, this was a game that could and should have been put beyond Bournville’s reach by the end of the first half. Such an implosion will surely lead to some serious questions been asked at training this week, as the Bees prepare for their trip to Peterborough Lions this Saturday (25th March, KO 3pm) – a tough assignment against perhaps the league’s form team.

For Bournville, their reward is a cup final showdown with another side one league above them – Old Halesonians on Sunday 7th May. On last Friday’s evidence, they have every chance of seeing some additional silverware in their own trophy cabinet, come the end of the season.

Birmingham & Solihull Bees:- (1) Joe Foreman (2) Zane Raimondi (T) (3) Kurtis Payne (4) Andrew Weaver (YC) (5) Chris Goddard © (6) Ashley Scriven (7) Michael Stephens (YC) (8) Danny Wright (9) Jack Jolly (3C) (10) Max Rodman (T) (11) Tawanda Chipadza (T) (12) Isaac McNulty (13) Jimmy Oliver (14) Matt Dight (T) (15) Chris Fensome (T). Replacements (16) Pete Koziot (17) Matt Tibbatts (18) Freddie Clarke (19) George Radburn (20) Charlie Munford (21) Billy Castle (22) Hamza Diaba Suleiman.
Referee: Marc Hurn