Bees get the better of Old Hales - just

Local derbies often produce tight games and this was certainly the case at Wassell Grove on Saturday, where the Bees held on to a slender lead to prevail 5-8 against Old Halesonians.

Playing against an Old Hales’ side that featured no less than five former Bees, the current crop of players produced a defensive tour de force to overcome a powerful side that had the majority of possession and territorial advantage for the majority of the game.

The half time score line was 0-0, but that statistic hid the fact that the home side missed four penalty chances of varying degrees of difficulty in the first period. It also didn’t reflect the number of unforced errors made by both sides, as neither the Bees nor Old Hales could stamp their authority on the game.

With hooker Zane Raimondi back in the side, the Bees’ line out was back to its former well-oiled self. Despite the at times unsympathetic refereeing, the scrum also more than held its own against a well-nourished Old Hales’ pack that included ex Bees Steve Leach and Adam Clayton. The latter was a thorn in the visitors’ side all game, particularly at the break down.

However, with Jack Jolly forced to take his now regular 10 minute cooling off period in the sin bin, Old Hales seemingly had the opportunity to gain the ascendency at the start of the second period. Yet it was the Bees that took the game by the scruff of the neck. Debutant Callum MacBurnie – who had a quiet first forty minutes – began to show glimpses of the class that has previously earned him U20 honours with Scotland.

Old Hales themselves went down to 14 men with former Bees’ winger Luke Smith earning a yellow, but the see-saw nature of the game had the home side on the attack again, with another penalty opportunity for Chris Hooper. Still the full back’s wretched afternoon from the kicking tee was to continue – by contrast the recently restored Jolly broke the deadlock at the first opportunity, 13 minutes into the second half.

The Bees stretched their lead to 0-8 five minutes later with a well taken try from fly half Max Rodman, set up by a sweet offload from No.8 Matt Tibbatts – another senior Bee restored to the fray for the first time in many a game.

The final 25 minutes then settled into a pattern of relentless Old Hales attacking play, met with resolute Bees’ defence, regularly punctuated by referee Matt Phillips’ whistle – more often than not awarding a penalty to the visitors.

Old Hales narrowed the deficit to 5-8 with a forwards try from a line out, which fly half and ex Bee Ian Briggs – now taking on the kicking duties – failed to convert. Yet despite all their possession, all the kickable penalties spurned and playing the last 5 minutes against 14 men (Tibbatts yellow carded for slowing the ball) they couldn’t cross the whitewash.

Winger Jay Reid seemed destined to snatch the win in the final play of the game in the left hand corner, but he butchered the opportunity with an over flamboyant dive, knocking on in the process. It was somewhat of a metaphor for Old Hales’ afternoon.

The win for the Bees was due reward for the grit and determination shown by forwards and backs alike in what was always going to be a tricky fixture. It also keeps them very much in contention in a league where no side – even leaders Sheffield – has yet to establish dominance.

Peterborough Lions are next up for the Bees - kick off 2.15pm, Saturday 26th November at Portway.

Birmingham & Solihull Bees: - (1) Pete Koziot (2) Zane Raimondi (3) Kurtis Payne (4) Andrew Weaver (5) Chris Goddard (© 6) Ashley Scriven (7) Michael Stephens (8) Matt Spink (9) Jack Jolly (YC, P) (10) Max Rodman (T) (11) Tawanda Chipadza (12)Callum MacBurnie (13) Isaac McNulty (14) Mikey Whettell (15) Chris Fensome. Replacements: - (16) Charlie Mumford (17) Matt Tibbatts (YC) (18) Dan Toth.

Referee: - Matt Phillips