Perched on the edge of Sheffield, Dore Moor is a challenging venue at the best of times and difficult conditions on a dark and rainy December Saturday afternoon were never likely to serve up a feast of champagne rugby for the local and travelling supporters.

The first half was a scrappy affair, with neither side able to assert dominance. The Bees opened the scoring after seven minutes, with Oscar Heath finishing off some good handling in the backs after the pack had secured ball from an attacking line out. Ian Briggs missed the conversion, but that was to be the only blot on his kicking copybook.

Two penalties from Tigers’ fly half Tom Outram gave the home side a slender 6-5 lead, but Oscar Heath got his second try of the afternoon, a near carbon copy of his first, after 27 minutes. Ian Briggs sweetly struck the conversion to wrest the advantage back to the visitors.

Pressure from the Tigers yielded two penalties in the last 5 minutes of the half and Tom Outram slotted the second of the two to make in 9-12 at the interval.

There was a frenetic start to the second half, but any words of wisdom imparted at half time from the respective coaching staffs on the importance ball retention seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Ashley Evers came close to scoring after Oscar Heath collected a lovely chip through from Petty, but a Tigers counter attack took the play back into the Bees 22. The home side won the line out and flanker Dave Bradford scored the try from the rolling maul.

Outram couldn’t add the extras but the 14-12 lead to Sheffield was beginning to look a significant one in the driving rain and the near darkness that now enveloped the ground. For the next 20 minutes, Sheffield made a better fist of the conditions, clearly deciding that this was no time for any expansive rugby malarkey.

However there is a real grit developing in this Bees side and they showed their metal in the last 10 minutes of the game, winning two penalties from attacking scrums. Ian Briggs coolly kicked both to close out a hard fought and well deserved 14-18 victory, thereby securing another 4 league points in the process.

Next week the Bees entertain Sedgley Park who are currently in fourth place in the league and will no doubt provide a stern test for Eugene Martin’s side.

Teams:-

Sheffield Tigers – Swatkins, Wallace, Buchanan, Parker, Broadley, Outram, Holmes, Pearson, Bradford, Barnes, Harris, Redfern, Diaz, Price, Parkinson. Replacements Whitworth, Bennett, Parsons, Drage and Dunn.

Birmingham & Solihull – Heath (2T), Briggs (IC, 2P), Oliver, Leach, Elvers, Petty, Fensome, Connolly, Stoddard, Stephens, Goddard, Spink, Bingham, Boyce, Koziot. Replacements Morley, Randall, Linnett, Harman and Mogaji.