Match Preview

Match preview – Bees v Sutton Coldfield, Saturday 9th April

Pride still in play for both sides in Saturday’s local derby

The Bees welcome Sutton Coldfield to Portway this Saturday (9th April KO 3pm) in what is their last home league game of the season.

Although their visitors are already condemned to relegation and the Bees are safe in the ‘mid table mediocrity’ zone, both sides will be sure to be playing with plenty of gusto with local derby bragging rights up for grabs.

The corresponding fixture at Walmley Road back in December was the tightest of affairs, with Mitch McGahan slotting home a penalty with the last kick of the game to secure a narrow 16-18 victory for the Bees.

The Green and Whites had led 16-8 midway through the second half, but a converted Matt Spink try, together with McGahan’s last minute heroics with Sutton reduced to 13 men, seized what was a very important win at the time for the Bees.

Since then, the respective fortunes of the two sides has diverged somewhat. Sutton Coldfield have lost all of their last eleven league games, remaining firmly anchored at the foot of the table in the process, 20 points adrift of their nearest rivals Newport (Salop). Relegation now beckons after four seasons in the National Leagues.

Whereas the Bees have won seven of their eleven games in the intervening period, picking up losing bonus points in three of their four losses as well. This substantial improvement in form has put them up into seventh position in the league on 57 points.

The Bees will be looking to put behind them the disappointment of last weekend where they came agonizingly close to ending high-flying Scunthorpe’s unbeaten run up in North Lincolnshire.

Although Scunthorpe extended their winning run to 17 games with a 17-16 win, their visitors took them all the way in a game that interim coach Paul “Willy” Williams described as one that his side lost rather than the opposition won.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, his coaching partner Dave “Spanner” Spencer said; “We have again trained really well this week and hopefully we can get back to winning ways today here at Portway. As we all know, Sutton have not had the best of times this season but have won a few games and have bagged a fair few points, even in defeat, along the way. So we will again have to be at our very best in all departments today in this local derby.”

The last home game of the season will also mark the end of Willy & Spanner’s tenure as interim coaches at Birmingham & Solihull.

“We have enjoyed our return home to Bees this year and really appreciate all the support that we have had from everyone at the club” said Spanner.

He added, “Although it was hard to let go, we really do have to step down due to the many other commitments that we both have. We both also strongly believe that, with Pete Glackin joining as Head of Rugby for next season, the club is in safe hands and we will both be staying around to support Pete, his coaches and the players as much as we can”.

The Bees v Sutton Coldfield game kicks off at 3pm at Portway, with this Saturday also being the club’s Mini & Junior section’s Gala Day.