The visitors had much of the possession and territory in the first half and would have felt disappointed to go into the break 10-6 behind. The Bees had taken a 0-6 lead at the half hour mark thanks to two penalties from fly half Adam Canning. Lock forward Liam Dunne was also unlucky not to be awarded a try under the posts, after a well executed rolling maul which would have further extended the Bees’ lead.

The home side eventually got on the score sheet after 35 minutes through a try by prop Ralph Appleby, finally getting over the line after a number of pick and drive attempts following a 5 metre line attacking line out. DMP doubled their tally just before the half time whistle, with fly half Max Connon finishing off an enterprising piece of back play with skipper Cameron Mitchell.

Connon was unable to convert either try, but the increasingly frustrated home crowd of 700 plus would have felt a shade more comfortable going into the break with a, albeit, slender lead.

That level of comfort would have doubtless increased just 4 minutes into the second half, when Mitchell was in the action again The centre scored DMP’s third try of the game in the corner, following an attacking scrum 25 metres from the Bees’ line. The conversion attempt again went begging, but ‘Park were now 15-6 ahead

However there was still plenty of gas in the Bees’ tank and when Oscar Heath scrambled over the line after being fed the ball from winger Alex O’Malley, following a clever kick through by Canning, the game was still very much up for grabs, especially when Canning added the extras from the conversion to make it 15-13.

DMP continued to press forward, with flanker Rory Duff, lock forward Taiiti Vaioletti and winger Chris McTurk all posing questions of the visitors’ defence. However the Bees’ tackling and organisation remained as resolute as ever, despite losing both skipper Will Radburn and Oscar Heath to injury. Chris Goddard continued to impress at No.8, although to single him out perhaps does an injustice to a Bees’ pack that, collectively as a unit, are proving to be a match for any side in the league.

Canning had a penalty chance 45m out with just 10 minutes to go to edge the Bees into the lead, but his attempt fell short. In a game that maintained its high tempo right to the end, neither side could make a decisive break and it was with no little relief to the home supporters when referee Marcus Caton blew the final whistle.

This is the second time that the Bees have narrowly lost to high-flying Darlington this season, which will be a source of both frustration and encouragement for the Portway coaching staff. The performance and level of commitment shown at the impressive 24,000 all-seater Northern Echo Stadium certainly bodes well for the rest of the season.

This coming Saturday (1st February) Bees entertain Hull at Portway (kick off 2pm).

Teams:-

DMP - Wood, McTurk, Mitchell (T), Mackenzie, McCartney, Connon (T), Smith, Van Den Dries, Allcock, Duff, Vaioletti, Phillips, Bayford, Doneghan, Appleby (T). Replacements Simpson, Larder, Campbell, Peace and Johnston.

Birmingham & Solihull – Heath (T), Evans, Oliver, Johns, O’Malley, Canning (1C, 2P), Petty, Goddard, Scriven, Stephens, Dunne, Spink, Long, Radburn, Koziot. Replacements Leach, Bingham, Boyce, Linnett and Jolly.

Referee – Marcus Caton