Down to 13 men, both props off injured and 19-3 behind with two minutes of the first half remaining, things were looking bleak to say the least for the visitors. But an Adam Canning interception try, well converted by the influential Bees’ No.10, gave the men from Portway a lifeline, which they grabbed with both hands to secure an unlikely and highly memorable win in the second half for Birmingham & Solihull.

On a mild and sunny autumnal day, the Bees started the game on the front foot and were ahead after just 5 minutes with a Canning penalty. The Grasshoppers’ cause was not helped by the early departure, through a shoulder injury, of their fly half Ollie Carter.

The sizeable Preston pack started to grind through the gears and they began to wield sustained pressure – the well organized Bees’ defence was up to the task however, although they lost veteran prop Pete Koziot to injury on the 20 minute mark. The home side’s patient offensive build up was eventually rewarded when scrum half Sam Whyte scrambled over at short range, although stand-in kicker Lewis Allen was unable to add the extras.

By now, Preston had all the territory and possession and were beginning to exert their dominance in the scrum. A close range line out and rolling maul was halted – illegally in referee Makepeace’s view – and Bees’ lock Liam Dunne was shown a yellow card. ‘Hoppers opted for the scrum and were immediately awarded with a penalty try – to add insult to injury the now wounded prop Nick Bingham was sent to join Dunne in the sin bin. With Allen duly slotting the conversion, Preston were 12-3 to the good.

With the Bees down to 13 men, the Preston attack dogs smelt blood and a third ‘Hoppers try followed just a minute later from centre Billy Woof, with Allen compounding the agony to make it 19-3. Sharp work from Canning saw him intercept the ball from inside his own half as Preston pressed again – he had just enough gas in the tank to reach the ‘Hoppers’ try line and give the Bees a chink of hope as they sought to regroup at the break.

The second half was a totally different story. With the Bees forced to go to uncontested scrums and, consequently, go permanently down to 14 men, they brought on fleeter- footed replacements in the shape of Jack Linnett and winger Aquile Smith. They then proceeded to play a high tempo style of rugby, which at times had the look and feel of a training session.

The move to uncontested scrums certainly blunted one of ‘Hoppers’ major instruments, but the Lancastrians seemed to struggle to adapt to the now changed nature of the contest. The growing silence of the home support became deafening, as a heroic Bees’ defence continued to absorb all that was thrown at it, whilst when in possession looking to move the ball through the hands and ask questions of Preston on both flanks.

A Canning penalty hit the posts but the growing feeling that a major upset could be on the cards was confirmed when Jimmy Oliver – now in the centre – finished off well from 5 metres out, after an incisive run from the pacey Aquile Smith. With Canning again on song with the boot, the deficit was narrowed to 19-17. As the clock ticked on, the Bees were now dominating possession against a shell-shocked Grasshoppers side, but two misdirected drop goal attempts – firstly from Canning and then from full back Rod Petty – suggested that perhaps it was a bridge too far for the plucky Midlanders.

However, with the referee’s watch seemingly on the Bees’ side for once, a penalty was won at the death, after another mazy run from speedster Smith. Canning added nerve to verve on his CV and stroked over the penalty, sealing the most improbable of victories.

Speaking after the game, Bees’ Director of Rugby Eugene Martin said; “At half time I asked for passion, willingness, honesty and communication. Against all odds, the boys delivered a fantastic performance and, importantly, a huge morale-boosting win. I am delighted for them and the character that they showed throughout the whole game.”

Next week the Bees entertain joint League leaders Hull Ionians at Portway (Saturday 25th October, KO 2pm) – a task made none the easier by a growing injury list in the forwards. However, as this week’s performance against Preston has shown, a ‘never say die’ attitude can carry a team a very long way.

Teams

Preston Grasshoppers – John Embleton, Lewis Allen (2C), Phil Bains ©, Billy Woof (T), Sam Kendall, Ollie Carter, Sam Whyte, Chris Taylor, Jack Walker, Andy Napier, Ally Murray, Reece Tomlinson, Dan Madden, Phil Mills, John Peterson. Replacements – Brad Tuff, Pete Altham, Will Lees, Jack ward and Sam Kindred.

Birmingham & Solihull – Rod Petty, Rupert Giles, Steve Johns, Rob Connolly, Jimmy Oliver, Adam Canning (T, 2P, 2C), Jack Jolly, Steve Leach, Darren Forder, Mike Stephens, Chris Goddard ©, Liam Dunne, Nick Bingham, Will Crane and Peter Koziot. Replacements - Andy Kettle, Doug Randall, Jack Linnett, Aquile Smith and Ian Briggs.

Referee – Jack Makepeace