The Tigers racked up six tries – including a hat trick by hooker Johnny Matthews – against three for the Bees, in an impressive display which underlined the Lancashire side’s aspirations as promotion contenders in SSE National League 2 North.

Matthews opened the scoring for the visitors when the Bees were caught napping at a short line out after just three minutes. Full back Steve Collins – the league’s top point scorer - was unable, however, to add the extras.

The home side bounced backed four minutes later with winger Dai Evans, back in a Bees shirt after an outing on loan to Moseley in the B&I Cup, finished off some good work by the forwards. Ian Briggs, who retained the kicking duties despite the return from injury of Adam Canning, continued his rich vein of form with the boot to put the Bees 7-5 ahead.

Matthews’ second try came after 12 minutes, finishing off a rolling maul from a line out. Collins was still finding the kicking conditions challenging, but the Tigers were now 7-10 to the good. Again the home side responded, looking to play a high tempo game, but they found the going difficult against the headwind and a well drilled ‘Park defence.

The visitors extended their lead with a Collins penalty on the 24 minute mark, but Briggs pegged the score back to 10-13 after 33 minutes. The Bees would have been happy to go into the break just three points down, but Tigers’ centre Richard Wainwright had other ideas touching done under the posts with 38 minutes on the clock. A successful Collins conversion meant that the deficit was 10 points at half time.

With the now near gale force wind behind them, the Bees started the second half brightly keen to use the elements to their advantage. Jack Jolly made a welcome return from a long term injury replacing Chris Fensome at scrum half, but the Bees No.9 could do nothing to prevent the fourth Tigers’ try ten minutes in, with Matthews bagging his hat trick after a break from the industrious blind side flanker Juan Crous. The boot of Collins took the score to 10-25.

Again the home side came back, putting pressure on Tigers line and earning themselves a penalty, well taken by Briggs, but a converted try by replacement centre Mike Waywell after 25 minutes effectively ended the game as a contest, with the scoreline now 13-32 in the visitors’ favour.

Birmingham & Solihull’s frustration was amplified by a succession of penalties awarded against them by referee Andrew Taylorson, who is unlikely to be on the Christmas card list of many Bees’ fans. The work rate of Sedgley Park in both forwards and backs was excellent and stifled the valiant attempts by the Bees to convert possession into points. A penalty, then a second try by Waywell created by the effervescent Collins rubbed salt into the home side wounds and took the score to 13-40.

The Bees were to have the last word though, with No.8 Rob Connolly touching down from a rolling maul with just 3 minutes to go. The golden boot of Briggs brought the final score back to 20-40.

A streetwise Sedgley Park were good value for their win, taking 5 points back up the M6 with them. Hooker Matthews, lock James Lloyd, flanker Crous and No.8 Matt Lamprey were all impressive, with Collins running the show at fly half. Their coaching staff must have looked in some wonderment at their general defensive organisation

For the Bees, their pack worked tirelessly as ever showing why they are more than a match for most sides in the league. The backs, however, were unable to find the space they needed to properly show their credentials, particularly in the second half.

Despite the loss, Bees maintain sixth place in the league and next Saturday the Bees are away at Leicester Lions, before welcoming Stourbridge to Portway on Saturday 4th January.

Teams:-

Birmingham & Solihull – Harman, Evans (T), Petty, Leach, Canning, Briggs (2P, 2C), Fensome, Connolly (T), Linnett, Stephens, Goddard, Spink, Bingham, Boyce, Koziot. Replacements:- Morley, Long, Scriven, Jolly and Mogaji.

Sedgley Park – Holloway, Riley (A), Riley (M), Wainwright (1T), Largan, Collins (2P, 2C), Lamprey (M), Bishop, Crous, MCGowan, Lloyd, Hymes, Matthews (3T), Ashcroft. Replacements:- Lamprey (J), West, Emerson, Wilkinson and Waywell (2T)

Referee – Andrew Taylorson