Bees ended their 2014 rugby programme with a heavy 41-21 defeat against a Broadstreet side that, especially in the last quarter of the game, out-muscled, out-paced and out-thought their visitors.

Depleted front row resources saw veteran Scottish international prop Dave Hilton – on loan from Moseley - make his debut in a Bees shirt, whilst illness to Michael Stephens prompted a late back row reshuffle – Steve Leach playing at No.8 with Rob Connolly coming in at blindside flanker.

The conditions at the splendid Ivor Preece Field were chilly yet bright, but the visitors failed to make the most of the strong wind at their backs in the opening half, trailing 12-7 at the break.

Broadstreet had the lion’s share of possession and territory in the opening exchanges and were justly rewarded for their industry on the 15 minute mark with a try scored under the posts by prop Henry Sandys. Fly half Ben Palmer chalked up the regulation extras.

This jolted the Bees into action, with hooker Will Crane on hand to profit from the visitors’ first meaningful attack of the game just three minutes later. The leagues’ second leading point scorer Adam Canning successfully slotted the conversion to draw the scores level at 7 points a piece.

With fire-power aplenty on the wings, both sides were looking to move the ball wide in what was an attractive and entertaining game for the 300 fans who had correctly decided that rugby was more important than Christmas shopping. Adam Canning and Rod Petty probed the Broadstreet defence with half breaks, whilst Aquile Smith continued to look to make sufficient space to show his thoroughbred-like speed.

However it was then men from Binley Woods who were to get their noses in front, with some quicksilver handling in the backs, nicely finished off in the right hand corner by winger Jeff Gregson, who had looked dangerous all half. With Palmer failing to convert, as well as missing a penalty struck more in hope than in expectation on the stroke of half time, Broadstreet went into the break deservedly 12-7 ahead.

A sublime piece of skill from full back Jimmy Oliver, catching a high ball then jinking through several Broadstreet tacklers, set up a try for centre Steve Johns seven minutes into the second half. With the Canning conversion sailing through the posts, the Bees were ahead for the first and, as it would transpire, the only time in the game.

Just two minutes later, referee Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts awarded the home side a penalty try after the Bees scrum was being shunted back at the 5 metre mark. Duly converted by Palmer, ‘Street had restored their lead to 19-14. Their fourth and bonus point try came after 59 minutes, with winger Gregson doubling his tally, well finishing once again in the right hand corner.

Hopes that Bees were still in the contest were raised when Rob Connolly, clearly relishing being back in the No.6 shirt, scored after some excellent work by himself on the break. Even though Canning added the extras, 24-21 was to prove a high water mark for the visitors.

They had no answer to the growing forward superiority coupled to the extra pace and penetration of the Broadstreet backs, allowing an increasingly dominant home side to notch up three unanswered tries in the final quarter – from left wing Josh Palmer, full back Andrew Murray and No.8 Jack Gibbons. This served only to highlight once again a seeming inability on the part of the Bees to play competitive rugby for a full 80 minutes.

On the evidence of Saturday, Broadstreet appeared to be a cohesive and effective unit who look more capable of further improving their league position. In contrast - despite occasional flashes of individual effervescence - Birmingham & Solihull had the air of a side with a shortage of resolve, with their minds arguably now more focused on wassailing than winning.

Throughout the game, the Bees were guilty on occasions of failing to keep the ball in hand, whilst Broadstreet were allowed too much latitude around the base of the scrum and rucks to launch incisive runs into the heart of the Bees’ defence.

However it will be the manner of their capitulation in the last twenty minutes which will be of gravest concern for the many Bees fans that had made the short trip down the A46. As 2014 draws to a close, without a marked improvement in many departments, there is now a real and imminent danger that the Bees could sleepwalk into a relegation dogfight.

Eugene Martin’s side have an opportunity to get 2015 off to winning ways with a trip to bottom of the table Stockport on Saturday 3rd January. Their first home game of the New Year is then on January 10th against Ampthill.

Teams

Broadstreet – Andrew Murray (T), Jeff Gregson (2T), Nathan Tilsley, Luke Myring, Josh Palmer (T), Ben Palmer (3C), Nick Thatcher, Jack Gibbons (T), Dan Martin,Chris Wood, Matt Solomon, Callum Tucker, Henry Sandys (T), Stewart Pearl and Rob Duugard. Replacements – Gareth Turner, Joe Foreman, Jacques Le Roux, Pierre Ferre and James Otutaha. Pen Try (T).

Birmingham & Solihull – Jimmy Oliver, Ian Briggs, Steve Johns (T), Rod Petty, Aquile Smith, Adam Canning (3C), Matt Williams, Steve Leach, Ashley Scriven, Rob Connolly (T), Chris Goddard ©, Solomon Dacres, Peter Koziot, Will Crane (T) and David Hilton. Replacements – Liam Dunne, Lawrence Finch, Mitch Lee, Dai Evans and Jack Jolly.

Referee – Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts