Bees get first away win of the season under their belts at Hull

Birmingham & Solihull will have left Chanterlands Avenue well satisfied after recording a bonus point away win which takes them into 10th place in SSE National Division 2 North.

The Bees weathered a spirited performance by the home side in the first ten minutes of each half and two yellow cards to record their third win of the 2013/14 campaign and importantly their first on the road this season.

Full back Oscar Heath opened the scoring for the Bees after 8 minutes, with a well taken try from a run that began well in his own half. Adam Canning added the conversion to give the visitors a 7-point advantage. The score was somewhat against the run of play, with Hull dominating possession in the first ten minutes, despite losing both their No.8 Santiago Socino and hooker Will Kay to injury within 4 minutes.

The Bees themselves were down to 14 men after just 10 minutes ,with Adam Canning yellow carded after being adjudged as taking out a Hull player without the ball. The home side were then awarded a very kickable penalty and fly half Cameron duly took the three points on offer.

Being a man down seemingly didn’t faze the increasingly dominant Bees pack, with lock forward Chris Goddard adding a second try from a rolling maul after 16 minutes. Heath failed to add the conversion, but the Bees lead was extended to 3-12.

Both sides then played some enterprising rugby, although Hull were guilty of turning the ball over too frequently. On the 29th minute the impressive Bees work rate was rewarded with a penalty which Canning, now restored from the sin bin, slotted over to extend the visitors’ lead to 3-15.

It was Canning’s well worked cross kick, nicely collected by winger Aquile Smith and fed back to Oscar Heath, that gave the Bees their third try of the half and the second for the impressive full back. The dependable boot of Canning duly landed the conversion, to take the score to 3-22

However it was Hull who were to have the final say in the first half with centre Greg Lound scoring a try after several phases, although the Bees would have been disappointed at conceding a scrum from the restart. Cameron added the 2 points to make the score 10-22 at half time.

Hull showed their intent of making a game of it, with Cameron successfully kicking a penalty within 3 minutes of the start of the second half. The pressure further mounted on Bees with flanker Jack Linnett shown a yellow card after 8 minutes. Another 3 points added by Cameron from the resultant penalty narrowed the deficit to 16-22.

However the boys from Portway showed the maturity that is increasingly their hallmark and their industry was finally rewarded on the 34 minute mark with replacement prop Nick Bingham barreling over for the bonus point try, duly converted by Canning.

The 16-32 lead was now unassailable but the admirable commitment and “never say die” attitude of the home side was rewarded with a consolation try at the death from scrum half Sean Hay, with the score 21-32 at the final whistle.

The Bees entertain local rivals at Portway next Saturday, 26th October, kick off 2.00pm.