Match Preview

BEES SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT SORT OF SYMMETRY AT SYSTON

The curtain is raised on the new league season as the Bees travel to Syston this Saturday

Birmingham & Solihull will head to Syston this Saturday (3rd September KO 3pm) to begin their 2016/17 National League 3 Midlands campaign.

The Leicestershire side played host to the Bees in their last league fixture of the 2015/16 season in April, with the visitors coming out 9-19 winners despite being reduced to 12 men for a period in the second half. This was in happy contrast to the opening league game when the Bees lost 24-32 to Syston in the season curtain-raiser at Portway.

Four months on and with the North Midlands Cup Final victory also now a distant memory, it is down to brass tacks for Birmingham & Solihull.

A new coaching set up – led by Head of Rugby Pete Glackin in partnership with new first team coach Ben Woods – have had the benefit of a full summer and pre-season programme to prepare for the new campaign.

The squad has been expanded over the summer to give greater strength in depth and also to support the newly-named second team - the Hornets. In total, 21 new signings have been made in the off season, joining 21 existing squad members.

Led by new player-coach Tom Greevy, the Hornets also start their season with an away game against Syston 2s on Saturday.
Three wins out of three in pre-season games against Rugby Lions, Banbury RFC and Stourbridge have given the squad a real boost but, according to Pete Glackin the real business begins on Saturday.

“We’ve had a productive summer on the recruitment front and, as a result, start the season with a much strengthened squad right across the board. The commitment in pre-season training has been excellent and Rich Taylor has been doing some great work with the boys on fitness levels and conditioning. The three pre-season games have also given us the opportunity to try some new combinations and for the new squad members to pull on the shirt and get some game time.”

“However we have achieved nothing yet. We start our season proper against Syston on Saturday and we must bring together everything we have been doing over the last few months. Syston finished in fifth position in the league last season - one place above us, so we know we are going to face a stern test against some tough opposition.”

“With the Hornets also playing away on Saturday, it will allow the whole squad to travel together to Leicestershire and I hope as many Bees supporters as possible can make the journey too to get behind the lads. The season starts here”.