Bees climb back on the horse with Derby win

The Bees put the disappointment of the previous week’s reverse behind them with an accomplished bonus point win against Derby.

It was a victory that was again forged on forward power, but a young set of backs led by Ben Phillips at fly half played their part in serving up some entertaining rugby that, at times, defied the heavy underfoot conditions.

Despite squandering some early territorial advantage with some imprecise play, the Bees managed to build up a comfortable 19-3 lead by half time, scoring three tries in the process.

The third try – scored just before the break, was a dazzling solo effort by Tawanda “Chip” Chipadza. The young left wing collected a defensive kick on the 40 metre line and jinxed through at least six attempted tackles to score under the posts. It was a try that Bees’ wing legend Nick Baxter – who was watching form the side-lines – would have been pleased to score.

Playing with the wind (and at times sleet) behind them in the first half, Derby would have been disappointed to have let their hosts accumulate a 16-point advantage. They were first on the scoreboard with an early penalty from south-paw kicking centre George Castledine, but that score was quickly countered by a well taken try by Ashley Scriven. The ever-present Bees’ blindside flanker was on hand to taking the scoring pass from Chipadza in the left-hand corner.

With Castledine missing his second penalty attempt, it was then openside flanker Michael Stephens’ turn to get in on the act, finishing off from close range after some patient attacking phases from his forward colleagues. Jolly added the conversion to make it 12-3 to the Bees.

Derby were then to have the majority of possession and territory in the second quarter, but were contained by some excellent Bees’ defensive work and a lack of a blind spot mirror fitted to referee Andy Smith. The third Bees try served only to compound their woes.

With metrological conditions more benign in the second half, Derby began to claw themselves back into the tie with two Castledine penalties. With the score at 19-9 and Bees’ skipper Chris Goddard in the sin bin, it could have been Derby’s moment.

Yet good game management saw the Bees restore the 16-point advantage with two Jolly penalties. The result and the bonus point was then secured on the 30-minute mark with centre Jevon Hinds first try in a Bees’ shirt. It came courtesy of an interception by Michael Stephens and some athletic support work from hooker Zane Raimondi. With Jolly adding the extras, the contest was now beyond the men from Derbyshire at 32-9.

A consolation try for lock Adam Glover gave the final score line greater respectability from a visitor viewpoint, but, reduced as they were to 14 men with prop Martin Kent shown yellow in the dying embers of the game, they were probably glad to hear referee Smith call time on the contest.

Despite Nuneaton winning the top of the table clash against Sheffield and Broadstreet overcoming Bridgnorth, the Bees stay very much in the hunt in the top four of national League 3 Midlands, one point behind Broadstreet and five and nine points adrift of Sheffield and Nuneaton respectively.

With their North Midlands Cup semi-final postponed next week, the Bees have next weekend off with their next game being the league fixture away at Lichfield on Saturday 11th February (KO 2.15pm). The next home action is then on the following Saturday, 18th February, with Longton the visitors to Portway (also a 2.15pm KO).

Birmingham & Solihull Bees:- (1) Pete Koziot (2) Zane Raimondi (3) Kurtis Payne (4) Andrew Weaver (5) Chris Goddard © (YC) (6) Ashley Scriven (T) (7) Michael Stephens (T) (8) Danny Wright (9) Jack Jolly (2P,3C) (10) Ben Phillips (11) Tawanda Chipadza (T) (12) Issac McNulty (13) Jevon Hinds (T) (14) Dan Barrett (15) Chris Fensome. Replacements (16) Joe Foreman (17) Reece Donaldson (18) Charlie Mumford.

Referee: Andy Smith