Bees stretch league lead to 10 points with victory at Bournville

Birmingham & Solihull further asserted their ascendency at the top of the Midlands Premier division with a 3-17 away victory at Bournville but were left to rue some chances that could have yielded a try bonus point.

Playing on an all-weather pitch under the shadow of Birmingham University’s ‘Old Joe’ clock tower, the Bees put in a performance that, although competent, failed to fire the imagination on what was a sunny but bone chillingly cold late winter afternoon.

Speaking after the match, Director of Rugby Pete Glackin described the first half as “a bit of an arm wrestle played in the centre of the pitch, with both sides cancelling each other out”. Indeed, had the clock on Old Joe been working, it would have shown that 28 minutes had elapsed before the first points were put on the scoreboard.

They came in the form of a try for Bees’ hooker Zane Raimondi, ushered over by his forward colleagues after a well-executed catch and drive from a line out. Jolly added the extras. Bournville, to their credit, didn’t melt under the pressure and reduced the deficit to just four points at half time with an Alex Warner penalty.

Both sides had chances in the early stages on the second period, but the game continued to be dominated by defensive endeavour and an increasing error count. Again, it was well into the half before the deadlock was broken and it was the effervescent Max Rodman who was both the catalyst and the scorer.

Having made a trademark break, Matt Spink was on hand to truck the ball up to Bournville’s 5m line, who in turn fed back to his flyhalf, who stretched over to finish off a fine try.

The Bees sensed that this was their opportunity to push on, not only to secure the win, but also bag the two more tries needed to bag a bonus point. However, a combination of stout home defence and a degree of profligacy from the visitors only served to increase frustration levels - a yellow card for Jack Jolly did little to diffuse the situation.

Despite being reduced to 14 men, good use of the wide pitch saw Steve Johns glide over for his third try to two weeks to close out a 3-17 win that was fair reward for a business-like performance against a competitive Bournville side.

With nearest rivals Peterborough Lions not playing, the win extends the Bees’ lead to ten points at the top of the league, with one game still in hand. Next week, weather permitting, the Bees welcome Newport Salop to Portway (Saturday 3rd March, KO 2.15pm) in the first of four home games in the lead up to Easter.

Bees v Bournville: - 1. Joe Foreman, 2. Zane Raimondi (T), 3. Matt Probert, 4. Keanan Cooper, 5. Andy Weaver, 6. Michael Stephens, 7. Marcus Brown, 8. Danny Wright, 9. Jack Jolly (YC,1C) ©, 10. Max Rodman (T), 11. Steve Johns (T), 12. Ben Phillips, 13. Tyler Price, 14. Jevon Hinds, 15. Harry O’Brien, 16. Kurtis Payne, 17. Matt Spink & 18. Tawanda Chipadza.

Referee: - Will Debenham