Nuns no show

"The boys just didn't turn up today" was the frank post match assessment of Backs Coach Lee Cassells, as the Bees slipped to a 25-3 defeat on a wet afternoon at Nuneaton.

Cassells - himself a former Nuneaton player - was deputising for Bees' Head of Rugby who was on parental leave. Watching the match video will hopefully not put a dampener on his parental joy.

The visitors certainly had their chances in the first half, but were unable to capitalise on significant amounts of possession and territory. Indeed Nuneaton only got into the Bees' half twice in the first period, scoring on both occasions. Firstly a penalty from fly half Dan O'Brien, with a try from their second incursion - Nuns' captain and centre Elliott Brown waltzed through some weak tackling, when the Bees' defence was caught napping from a quick tap penalty.

Despite being a man down through a yellow card, Nuns retained their 8-0 advantage at half time.

Come the second half, aside from a sole Jack Jolly penalty, Nuneaton held all the aces and their increasing dominance at the set piece meant that the home side easily snuffed out what little threat the Bees could pose.

Dan O'Brien added a penalty, a try and two conversions - his try a neat chip and collect coming after the visitors were shoved off their own ball at the scrum. Sustained pressure on the Bees' 5m line 10 minutes from time eventually forced match official Nick Marshall to award the home side a penalty try to suck any residual fight from the men in yellow gold.

Although weakened by a number of injuries in the back line, this was one of the most dis-heartening Bees' performances that this reporter (and the hardy fans that travelled to North Warwickshire) has witnessed in a while (and I've seen a few).

In the words of the song, the only way is up - let's hope that ascent begins when the Bees entertain high-flying Old Halesonians at Portway on Saturday 7th November (KO 2.15pm).