B'ham & Solihull Bees
Matches
Sat 19 Dec 2015  ·  National League 3 Midlands
Bromsgrove
32
27
Birmingham & Solihull RFC
B'ham & Solihull Bees

Match Preview

Keith Scott29 Mar - 12:25
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Match preview – Bromsgrove v Bees

Close encounter of a third kind?

It’s local derby time for the second week running, as the Bees travel two junctions up the M42 to face Bromsgrove at Finstall Park.

In what will be their last game of 2015 – far from a vintage year for the club – the Bees will come up against Bromsgrove for the third time in both league and cup competitions. If the previous two encounters are anything to go by, the third is likely to be a close one too.

Bromsgrove took the spoils at Portway on 12th September – the second game of the league season – when they edged out their hosts 14-17 in a tight game. It was a victory that could have been snatched from them, had Bees’ skipper Chris Goddard been adjudged to have grounded the ball over the try line in the final play of the game.

Things were no less tight a month later in the North Midlands Cup game at Finstall Park; this time it was the Bees who came out on top, winning 32-37 after extra time in what was a real ‘nail-biter’.

Two tries in the second period of extra time clinched the victory after a Jack Jolly penalty in the final kick of normal time brought the scores level at 27-27. Flanker Matt Spink then forced his way through a number of last-ditch Bromsgrove tackles to secure a memorable win for the visitors with two minutes of extra time remaining.

Despite being on the wrong end of a 36-6 score line up in Scunthorpe last weekend, Bromsgrove have fared much better than their near neighbours at the half way point of the 2015/16 National League 3 Midlands campaign. Eight wins and four bonus points have put them in a very respectable fifth spot in the table on 36 points - just one point behind Nuneaton in third place.

The Bees’ league position was improved by last week’s last-gasp win away at Sutton Coldfield – fly half Mitch McGahan slotting a penalty in the final minute to secure just their fourth win of the season. Ian Matthews’ side now sits in 10th position on 23 points.

“Training this week has been the perfect mixture of excitement, positivity and hard work” said the Bees’ Head of Rugby. “At Solihull School on Tuesday, Kiwi personal trainer Arron Wilson took a break from his clients at Virgin active and unleashed hell on the squad with some tough circuits and rowing intervals. The ongoing conditioning work will undoubtedly pay off as we move into 2016.”

Ian Matthews has been able to name a largely unchanged squad this week, following the dramatic last minute victory over what he described as a ‘resilient and rumbustious’ Sutton Coldfield.

“In the pack Liam Dunne gets the nod at tight head after an impressive display last weekend. Whilst in the back row, the ‘holy trinity’ of Forder, Scriven and Tibbatts are reunited and will certainly be giving the Bromsgrove trio plenty to think about. In the engine room, the consistently excellent Matt Spink partners captain Chris Goddard, who be aiming to continue his run of improved form.”

“At half back Chris Fensome gets the nod over Marty Hooker following two cameos in the last two games, where he has added an extra running dimension to his game. At 10 Mitch McGahan continues to grow week by week and will relish the chance to play on a slightly firmer surface over at Finstall Park.”

“With Mikey Whettle returning to full fitness, he will partner Jimmy Oliver in the centre and they will be looking to cut the ‘Grove midfield as they did in the last game. In the back three, Sam Davenport moves to wing with Arron Wilson posing a hard, direct running threat on the other flank. At the back is the life and soul of the team Brian Sibiya, who has worked tirelessly to win the shirt and deserves a start following an impressive debut off the bench last week.”

“Lee and I go into this game full of confidence. The team and squad continue to work hard and we also continue to add depth and quality. These two sides are evenly matched on paper and it will simply come down to which 18 wants it the most. We have gone to Finstall Park and won already this season and the lads will be doing everything they can to achieve the same result this Saturady.”

Birmingham & Solihull team selected v Bromsgrove Saturday 19th December 2.15pm KO:-, Brian Sibiya, Aaron Wilson, Jimmy Oliver, Mikey Whettle, Sam Davenport, Mitchell McGahan, Chris Fensome, Matt Tibbatts, Ashley Scriven, Darren Forder, Matt Spink, Chris Goddard ©, Liam Dunne, Zane Raimondi, Dan Toth. Replacements – Pete Koziot, Billy Castle and Martin Hooker.

National League 3 Midlands Fixtures

Sat 19 Dec 2015KO: 14:15
Hinckley
26
Sutton Coldfield
13
Sat 19 Dec 2015KO: 14:15
Longton
27
Sandbach
8
Sat 19 Dec 2015KO: 14:15
Old Halesonians
22
Syston
8
Sat 19 Dec 2015KO: 15:00
Lichfield
22
Scunthorpe
26
Sat 19 Dec 2015KO: 15:00
Newport (Salop)
12
Peterborough Lions
31
Sat 19 Dec 2015KO: 15:00
Nuneaton
27
Old Northamptonians
12

Match details

Match date

Sat 19 Dec 2015

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

National League 3 Midlands
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