Grasshoppers edge out Bees in close match

The Bees traveled up to Lightfoot Green looking for their third successive victory with a squad somewhat depleted by injuries. Whilst they never let the home side get their noses too far in front, it seemed that it wasn’t going to be the Bees’ day from the moment ‘Hoppers opened their account with 8 minutes on the clock.

Conor Trueman cut in from his wing to take the ball from the ever-dangerous full back Sean Taylor to score a well-worked try. Fly half Lloyd Davies landed the conversion to give Preston a 7-0 lead.

With the wind behind their backs, the Bees looked to get into their rhythm but, with lock Chris Goddard away on Sevens duty in Hong Kong, their line out was to misfire for most of the afternoon, which in turn stifled their usually potent rolling maul game.

Nonetheless, on the twenty-minute mark they found themselves camped under the home side’s posts, with Bingham and Spink both coming close to scoring. With the Preston defensive line holding up, fly half Petty opted to spin the ball wide, but the pass lacked the required accuracy and the visitors’ best chance of the half was to go begging.

Bees’ scrum half Jolly and Preston’s Davies traded penalties but the home side ended the first half, as they had started it, the stronger of the two sides.

Henno Venter’s men began the second half much more purposefully and centres Rob Connolly and Steve Johns, along with pacey winger Joseph Mogaji, starting to ask more searching questions of the Preston defence. The tetchiness between the two sides, which was becoming evident in the latter stages of the first forty minutes, continued into the second half, further evidence that the Bees were beginning to be more disruptive in the loose.

The Bees were right back in contention on the 17 miniute mark when the athletic Jordan Onojofie, on as a substitute for Liam Dunne, managed to scramble the ball over the line after a good break by Mogaji. Jolly put the conversion wide, but the gap was now down to just two points.

Preston responded by taking the attack to the Bees and were rewarded 8 minutes later, winning a penalty from a 5 metre scrum which was well taken by Davies.

There then followed a somewhat frenetic passage of play, as both sides looked to move the ball wide and break the gain line. Defensive organisation and commitment from both sides, combined with handling errors and, at times, poor tactical kicking, was such that there were no additions to the scoreboard until the 35th minute, when Davies landed a well-struck drop goal to put the game effectively out of the Bees’ reach at 16-8.

The body count at the end of the game was a testament to the shift that was put in by the Bees, but ultimately Preston were too strong on the day. Davies, full back Taylor and centre Jack Ward all caught the eye, together with second row Ally Murray, who stood out in a very solid forward unit in a seemingly rejuvenated Grasshoppers side.

Based on Saturday’s performance, Preston will be tough opposition for any side as we enter the final phase of the season. For the Bees, the opportunity to regain 5th place in the league will present itself this Saturday (5th April) when they play Sheffield Tigers at Portway, kick off 2pm.

Photographs from the game (courtesy of Steve Beattie):-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevanbt/sets/72157643120842124/

Teams:-

Preston Grasshoppers – Taylor, Truman (T), Baines ©, Ward, Kebdal, Davies (C,2P,DG) Whyte, Wallbank, Wallace, Lees, Murray, Irving, Altham, Mills, Madden. Replacements Holmes, McGuinness, Farley, Allen and Aikman.

Birmingham & Solihull – Fensome, Elvers, Johns, Connolly, Mogaji, Petty, Jolly (P), Leach, Scriven, Stephens, Dunne, Spink, Bingham, Radburn, Thorp. Replacements - Boyce, Long, Koziot, Onojofie (T) and Briggs.

Referee – Christopher Bennett