Bees more than a match for the Lions

A dominant first half display was enough to end Peterborough Lions recent run of good form and, in the process, extend the Bees’ own winning run to three games.

Basking in the late autumnal low sun at a becalmed but chilly Portway, the Bees were deservedly 12-0 to the good after 15 minutes, with man of the match Tawanda Chipadza scoring the first and heavily involved in the second try for the home side.

The first score saw the pacey winger pounce on a lucky bounce from a Jack Jolly box kick, dancing through the Lions’ defence to score under the post. The second try, dotted down by Zane Raimondi, was created by some great work by fly half Max Rodman. Although “Chip” was chopped on the line, quick recycling put the abrasive Bees’ hooker over the line. Unfortunately, Jolly wasn’t able to make it two conversions out of two.

With the Bees continuing to get the better of a big Lions side in every department, the Portway faithful were being treated to some expansive rugby by a side that was looking sharp and assured. Ben Phillips – making his first start in the first team this season at full back – together with the impressive Rodman brought some real zip into the three-quarter play, with Jevon Hinds also getting through a high work rate in both attack and defence on the right wing.

Try as they might, Peterborough could not impose their physicality on a Bees side that were showing why they have one of the best defensive records in the league. The away side’s cause wasn’t helped by several unforced handling errors, with Nico Defeo also missing out on a kickable penalty. With Jolly having no such problem his attempt, the Bees went into the break well in control at 15-0.

Pleasingly the men in black showed no sign of lowering their intensity at the start of the second half and were soon ahead by 18 points thanks to another Jolly penalty. Raimondi added two strikes against the head to his first half try as the Bees continued to be as solid in the scrum as they were in the lineout.

With Hinds taken out in the air for the third time, the Lions were perhaps lucky to have kept 15 men on the pitch. That was something that the Bees failed to do when lock Andrew Weaver was shown yellow for a deliberate knock on. The Lions used their numerical advantage to open their account with a try by substitute prop Tom Avies from a rolling maul.

More impressive defence from the Bees prevented further incursions into their 22 until the dying embers of the game, with substitute Leven Stapleton going over from near range. With Defeo’s kicking radar still askew, the Lions were denied the consolation of a losing bonus point.

It was a game that the Bees never looked like losing and the Galckin/Woods ethos of hard work and application is clearly being ingrained into the squad. This win – the third on the bounce – puts the Bees just one point behind fifth-placed Sandbach, who are next week’s opposition up in Cheshire (Saturday 3rd December kick off 2.15pm).

Bonus points still remain elusive, but there is upbeat mood in the camp as the Bees head into their important pre-Christmas schedule, which includes a visit by league leaders Sheffield to Portway as well as away trip to Sandbach and Bedford Athletic.

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

Referee: - Zerren Bell