Table topping Bees triumph away at a stormy Longton

Match Report by Ethan Walker

The Bees travelled to up to Stoke to face a Longton side who had lost heavily to Sandbach in their previous outing. The Bees themselves were full of confidence following another comprehensive victory against Lichfield. It was a perfect day for rugby - gale force winds and blistering rain meant it was going to be a tough challenge for both sides.

As is now the norm, the Bees started well with lock Andy Weaver bursting his way through the Longton defence within the first minute of the game. Despite playing up the slope and into a strong headwind, continued pressure by the visitors saw Max Rodman float in for the Bees’ second try of the match on the 13-minute mark. The young fly half showed great evasion and bravery sliding through tackles to find his way over the whitewash. Captain and scrum half Jack Jolly converted Rodman’s solo effort to put the away side ahead by 12 points.

Longton soon found themselves further on the back foot as winger Jack Newton-Taylor was shown a yellow card for a professional foul. Jolly capitalised on the winger’s error, despite the best efforts of Storm Brian, to slot the penalty kick through the posts to make the score 15-0.

Even though Longton had a numerical disadvantage, they showed good fight and spirit which lead to a lineout on the Bees’ 5m line. Despite two minutes of close quarter contest, the Staffordshire side were unable to make their mark on the game after some strong defence by the visitors, leading to a knock on.

After establishing good field position, Zane Raimondi was the next Bees player on the scoresheet. The mobile forward finished off a well organised lineout drive to crash over for his team’s third try, converted by Jolly. Moments later it was Zane again who gave the Bees their try bonus point. Some good offloading and support play in difficult conditions allowed the Bees’ hooker to dive over the line in some style. As referee Huson blew the half time whistle, the Bees led 29-0.

The game seemed well and truly won with a dominant first half performance and there seemed no way back for Longton. Lock Matt Spink effectively sealed the win with an early try at the start of the second half, converted by Jolly. The burly lock had had a very good game and was a strong contender for man of the match.

Rodman then managed to dot down his second try of the afternoon, with a stunning piece of individual brilliance even by his growing standards. Starting on his own 10m line, he ran around the defence and looked as though he was going to be pushed out of play - yet a well-timed side step showed him a clear lane to the try line. He did not disappoint and stretched the visitor’s lead to 41-0.

A period of ill-discipline proved costly for the Bees though, as both JT and Umraan Jadwat were shown yellow cards for separate offences. This gave Longton the latitude they needed as centre Scott Rawlings crossed the line for his side’s first and only points of the afternoon.
Restored to a full complement of 15, the Bees were to appropriately have the final word with a try that came from a strong winger’s run by Tawanda Chipadza, who offloaded a seemingly impossible pass to full back Harry O’Brien, who scored and converted his own try to make the final score 48-5.

Soon after the final whistle came the news that Newport (Salop) had beaten Peterborough Lions, putting Glackin’s still unbeaten side at top of the Midlands Premier league. The league leaders will face Newbold on Avon next Saturday (28th October KO 3pm) in their first ever visit to Portway.

Birmingham & Solihull Bees:- 1. Joe Foreman, 2 Zane Raimondi (2T), 3. Matt Probert, 4. Andy Weaver (T), 5. Matt Spink (T), 6. Danny Wright, 7. Michael Stephens, 8 Umraan Jadwatt (YC), 9. Jack Jolly ©(4C,P), 10. Max Rodman (2T), 11. Tawanda Chipadza, 12. Nathan Tilsley, 13. Steve Johns, 14. JT Nabetelevu (YC), 15. Harry O’Brien (T,C), 16. Kurtis Payne, 17. Ashley Scriven & 18. Jack Secher.

Referee: Dave Huson