Bromsgrove just edged out their hosts 14-17 in a tight game at Portway – a victory that could have been snatched from them had Bees’ skipper Chris Goodard been adjudged to have grounded the ball over the try line in the final play of the game.

Morning rain had cleared to provide bright but blustery conditions at Portway and the visitors made the most of having the wind on their backs in the first half. There was just 3 minutes on the clock when Bromsgrove’s Jon Critchlow scored in the left hand corner after lock Matt Edgar had created an opening in the centre. The veteran full-back duly converted his own try to give ‘Grove a 0-7 lead.

Parity was restored just two minutes later, with Bees’ No.8 Steve Leach crashing over from near range after a text-book rolling maul from an attacking line out. Fly half Scott Harman added the extras.

The men from Junction 1 of the M42 were ahead once more after 15 minutes, with Critchlow in the thick of things again – this time providing a nice off-load to his wing-man Ollie Baxter who scored in the left hand corner. The ever-reliable boot of Critchlow made the score 7-14.

The Bees – looking to play a high tempo style of rugby – took the attack to Bromsgrove, with full back Chris Fensome and centre Wayne Child both looking to run the ball from deep. A bullocking run from the latter put both of the Bromsgrove half-backs on the deck simultaneously. Scrum half Chris Danks was forced to leave the pitch with concussion, joining Bees’ centre Steve Johns - who had hobbled off with a knee injury a couple of minutes earlier – on the sidelines.

With the Bees’ line out misfiring in the wind, Bromsgrove secured a penalty on the stroke of half time – sweetly struck by Critchlow – to give the Worcestershire side a 10-point lead at the break.

The second half began with the Bees looking to use the elements to their advantage and Bromsgrove soon found themselves down to 14 men, with their No.8 Phil Horton yellow-carded for handling in the ruck. However a mixture of intelligent defence and lack of penetration on behalf of the home-side meant that the Bees’ were unable to capitalize on their numerical superiority.

With Horton off the naughty-step, Bees won a very kickable penalty on the 16 minute mark. When Harman pushed the kick wide, the crowd sensed some early signs of alarm creeping into the home side’s game, which was further compounded by a growing number of handling errors.

However, a second yellow card for handling in the ruck – this time for Matt Edgar – gave the faithful renewed hope and the industrious Steve Leach got his second try of the afternoon after some good support work from lock Matt Spink. With Harman’s kicking mojo refound, the deficit was cut to three points with 12 minutes of the game to go.

However, try as they might, the Bees were unable to add any further points, despite having a number of chances – not least in the final play of the game. The final whistle gave Bromsgrove a narrow but - on balance – a deserved victory and with it M42 bragging rights.

For Bees’ supporters, a second successive narrow home defeat at such a formative stage of the new league campaign will rekindle some uncomfortable feelings of déjà vu from last season.

Ian Matthews’ men will face no lessening of a challenge as they travel to Hinckley next Saturday, 19 September, kick off 3pm. The south-west Leicestershire outfit followed up their opening day victory at home to Scunthorpe with a comprehensive away victory at Sutton Coldfield this weekend.

Team

Birmingham & Solihull – Chris Fensome, Jimmy Oliver, Steve Johns, Wayne Child, Nyle Beckett, Scott Harman (2C), Marty Hooker, Steve Leach (2T), Ashley Scriven, Stuart Gregg, Chris Goddard©, Matt Spink, Nick Bingham, Will Priestley and Pete Koziot. Replacements – Jake Hayden-Wright, Rob Gregg and Jack Jolly.