Two memorable tries, scored by full-back Ian Briggs, in the closing minutes secured what was a well deserved win and provided an important morale-boost for the Bees.

On a wonderful day for rugby weather wise, the early exchanges saw little to choose between Bees and Lichfield. However, after 5 minutes Bees' made significant yardage from a driving maul that started near the halfway line. The resulting play led to Bees being awarded a penalty, which Jack Jolly slotted home after six minutes.

From the restart, the Bees were immediately on the attack with the lively Jolly making a clean break deep into opposition territory. The home side were able to recycle the ball quickly and move it at pace from left to right for speedy winger Nyle Beckett to go over for a well taken try. Jolly added the extras to give Bees a 10-0 lead with just seven minutes on the clock.

This seemed to prompt Lichfield into action and the men from Staffordshire put pressure on Bees for the first time in the game. A line-out close to the Bees' line saw Lichfield lock Callum Turner go over all too easily for a try after 12 minutes. Fly-half, Luke Massey was successful with the conversion. Massey kicked a further penalty to level the scores at 10 apiece at the 20-minute mark.

The game was keenly contested and both sides had the opportunity to demonstrate what they were capable of in both attack and defence. Having won their opening three matches, Lichfield were full of confidence and at times their backs looked very dangerous. It was, however, Bees who had the next opportunity to add to the score-line after 30 minutes, but Jolly missed with his penalty attempt.

The Bees were able to regain the lead five minutes before half-time, with an incisive move which started inside their own half and involved a fantastic off-load by outside centre, Mikey Whittle. Lock Matt Spink eventually going over for a try. Jolly adding the extra two points to give Bees a 17-10 lead.

With no further scores, the Bees went into the break with a lead for the first time this season - possession and territory wise they had edged Lichfield.

The second half did not start well for Bees, with prop Pete Koziot shown a yellow card and Spink leaving the field with what appeared to be a rib injury. Lichfield were pressing hard, but Bees defence was resolute and well organised.

Unfortunately, there was a lengthy delay to proceedings when Lichfield scrum-half, Jonny Evans received what looked like a nasty hand injury. After the restart, Lichfield renewed the attack and were eventually rewarded for their efforts with a try scored by inside centre, Charlie Milner. The ever-accurate Massey added the conversion to level the score at 17-17.

Lichfield lost Charlie Milner to a yellow card just after the hour mark but Ian Briggs missed the resulting long-range penalty. However, there were signs that the Bees were slowly regaining their first-half form and with ten minutes remaining Spink, having recovered from his earlier injury, was able to force his way over the line for his second try of the day following a line-out. Although Briggs missed the difficult conversion, the Bees were now 22-17 ahead.

With five minutes remaining on the clock, Lichfield received their second yellow card of the afternoon - this time influential full-back, Will Cotterhill. A driving line-out shortly afterwards saw Bees' openside flanker Darren Forder go over for a bonus point try to give his side a 27-17 lead. Briggs missed the resulting conversion.

The closing minutes of the game then became the Briggs' show. He was first to his own clever kick through in the 79th minute and went over for a try under the posts, which was converted by Wayne Child, to give the home side an unassailable 34-17 lead.

In the final minute of the game, with Lichfield in disarray, the Bees’ full back then fielded the ball 60 or so metres out, threw a number of outrageous dummies before his mazy run led him to score his second and Bees' 6th try of the day, to give a final score of Bees 41 Lichfield 17.

There were plenty of positives for the Bees’ coaching staff to take from the game - they were excellent at the breakdown, brave and well organised in defence and clinical in scoring their tries. However kicking out of hand and place kicking is likely to come under further scrutiny in training in the week ahead.

The Bees will be looking to further build on this confidence-boosting win when they travel to
Longton next Saturday (3rd October, 3pm kick off).

Birmingham & Solihull - Ian Briggs (2T,C), Jimmy Oliver, Mikey Whittle, Wayne Child (C), Nyle Beckett (T), Jack Jolly(P,2C), Marty Hooker, Darren Forder (T), Ashley Scriven, Rob Gregg, Chris Goddard©, Matt Spink (2T), Kurtis Payne, Mike Singleton and Pete Koziot (YC). Replacements – Dan Toth, Adam Gwillam and Chris Fensome.