The Bees face both their longest trip and biggest challenge of their League season so far, when they travel up to Scunthorpe tomorrow (Saturday 2nd April).
They will face a Scunthorpe side that currently sits in second place in National League 3 Midlands, a position achieved by an impressive run of no less than sixteen consecutive wins since they were beaten on their travels at Syston back in October.

Indeed the men from Heslam Park have only been beaten on three occasions all season. Aside from their narrow defeat at Syston, they also lost their two opening games – away to Hinckley (21-13) and at home to Lichfield (20-24).

Their impressive form throughout their 2015/16 campaign has kept them within four points of leaders Hinckley and they will doubtless be keen to secure maximum points both this Saturday and the following Saturday on their visit to Bromsgrove, to set up a potentially promotion-deciding end of season home game against Hinckley on the 16th April.

Scunthorpe will have several reasons to be wary of their visitors this weekend though. For starters, the Bees come into the game in good fettle themselves, having won seven out of their last eight fixtures. Their winning ways continued a fortnight ago – just – thanks to an Arron Wilson try in the final play of the game to secure a 24-20 victory against a plucky Sandbach side.

That bonus point win put skipper Chris Goddard’s men up to seventh place in the league and, importantly, finally freed the Bees of any lingering relegation worries.

And, although in the end, being comfortably beaten 8-29 in the corresponding fixture at Portway back in December, the Bees were competitive for much of that game, played as it was in near gale-force conditions.

Paul Williams has dropped an ”l” from his nickname and is keeping his cards close to his chest as to team selection for the Scunthorpe game. However, with the benefit of a rest week last weekend and intensive training over the last fortnight, he is likely to be able to pick from a near full-strength squad.

So with nothing to lose and everything to gain, Willy & Spanner’s charges will perhaps be looking forward to rather than fearing their coach trip up to North Lincolnshire town, famous for its steel-making. The Bees will certainly need to be on their mettle, but they could put a serious dent in their opposition’s promotion hopes with a win.