Dysons help Scunthorpe clean up at a windswept Portway

In a game dominated by near gale-force conditions, Scunthorpe patiently built a lead in the first period then delivered a second half defensive tour de force to blow away any chances of a Bees’ comeback.

Bees supporters are used to the unique micro climate that can develop by Junction 3 of the M42, but Storm Desmond helped to create some challenging metrological conditions - even by Portway’s unique standards - that were to shape this top three versus bottom three National League 3 Midlands league encounter.

Playing against the strong headwind in the first half, the home side would have probably settled for a 12 point deficit as they reached the game’s halfway point. The Bees cause was not helped by losing prop Kurtis Payne to a bicep injury with less than five minutes on the clock, although this did give an opportunity for M&J product Billy Castle to make his debut.

Scunthorpe got an early try under their belts just a minute later – scored by tight head prop Matt Probert.

The Bees were looking to play a patient “pick and drive” game, seeking to keep things tight and limit the opportunities available to Scunthorpe’s sharp-looking backs. This approach was rewarded after 18 minutes, when winger Alex O’Malley finished off some good work from Bees No.8 Matt Tibbatts, following a quick tap from scrum half Martin Hooker from the home sides’s 22.

Scunthorpe’s forwards were clearly used to grinding things out and two further tries – both scored from close range on the 22 and 31 minute mark respectively - gave the visitors a 5-17 cushion at half time. Both were chalked up by the hugely impressive young open-side flanker James Dyson, whose looks and style of play were reminiscent of a young Neil Back. Full back Steve Johnson slotted the conversion – no mean feat, given the conditions.

Hopes that the Bees would be able to erode this cushion were raised 12 minutes into the second half, when fly half Mitch McGahan slotted well a wind-assisted penalty from the half way line. And when the Green’s influential Johnson was yellow carded for playing the ball in an off-side position following a defensive mix up, the door seemed to be ajar.

But for all their huff and puff, the Bees were unable to find a way through an solid Scunthorpe defence. Indeed even down to 14 men, it was Scunthorpe who created an overlap for another Dyson – this time lock forward Nick - to hoover up a bonus point try with relative ease.

This score seemed to sap the morale of the home side and, restored to their full complement, Scunthorpe used their growing dominance in the scrum to add a final penalty try, converted by Johnson to give the North Lincolnshire side what was, in the end, a relatively comfortable 8-29 win.

Speaking to the Scunthorpe Telegraph after the game, ‘the Green’s’ Coach Tim Robinson said; “I thought the way we approached the game was excellent. In the first 25 minutes we played some great stuff and got three scores, although they got a breakaway try too. And in the second half we played into a 40mph wind and up a slope, but the managed the game well.”

“In the first half they just tried to retain possession – it was a very pragmatic way of playing and very easy to defend. When we were going into the wind, we still tried to play a little bit, but it was short passes to keep the continuity. The way we executed that, got the two scores and limited them to a penalty was fantastic.”

The Bees now have two away local derbies in the run up to Christmas. This week (Saturday 12th December, KO 2.15pm) they make the short trip to Walmley to play fellow strugglers Sutton Coldfield, with a trip along the M42 a week later to Bromsgove, who are currently in the top four of National League 3 Midlands.

Team

Birmingham & Solihull – Sam Davenport, Alex O’Malley (T), Jimmy Oliver, Aaron Wilson, Nyle Beckett, Mitchell McGahan (P), Martin Hooker, Matt Tibbatts, Darren Forder, Ashley Scriven, Liam Dunne, Chris Goddard ©, Kurtis Payne, Andy Kettle, Dan Toth. Replacements – Ian Matthews, Chris Fensome and Billy Castle