A near-flawless kicking performance from scrum half Louis Silver – slotting nine penalties and two conversions - helped Luctonians secure a convincing 22-41 win at Portway, a result which leaves the Bees second from bottom in the table and in deep relegation trouble.

In a game that was billed as a ‘must win’ for both relegation-threatened sides, Luctonians not only used the conditions to better advantage but also outplayed their hosts in every department - in front a large crowd bolstered by significant numbers of visiting supporters.

The bright and sunny spring-like conditions at Portway also came with a strong wind blowing down the ground and it was Luctonians who played with the wind behind their backs in the first half. Luctonians used the elements well, keeping the home side pinned down in their own half for most of the first period, with Louis Silver slotting over seven penalties and a conversion to give the men from Leominster a 8 – 28 advantage at the break.

On the 30 minute mark, Luctonians hooker Jordan Street got the first of just two tries scored in the opening period after some-magpie like work at the ruck. Bees full back Ian Briggs was then on hand to cross the whitewash four minutes later, after a Rod Petty quick penalty tap.

Good defensive work in the closing minutes of the half saw the Bees keep the deficit down to 20 points, even though this came at a cost of losing fly half Canning to the sin bin. The question was, could the Bees claw this deficit back in the second half with the wind in their sails?

Excellent ball retention and solid defensive organization from Luctonians kept the Bees at bay for the first 10 minutes of the second period, before replacement prop Nick Bingham - back after a lengthy injury lay-off - crashed over from close range for a try set up by Petty. A restored to the field Canning added the extras to narrow the gap to 15-28.

Hopes of a home comeback were further fuelled by a Chris Goddard try from a driving maul – the Canning conversion further reeled in the lead to 22-28 after 17 minutes. Sadly for the Bees, this was to prove their high water mark for the afternoon.

The Luctonian forward dominance, particularly evident at the scrum thanks in no small part to a typically robust performance at tight head by former Bee Ricky Davies, gave the visitors increasing amounts of ball, which they looked to use along their backline.

Continuing Bees infringements kept referee Makepeace’s already damp whistle wetted, giving Silver two further kickable penalties, which he took with aplomb to restore the lead to 28-34. Lack of precision and penetration from the Bees, with a good dash of at times woeful tactical kicking, began to set in in the final quarter of the game, as the home side chased the game without success or real shape, as the Luctonians grip on the game tightened.

A yellow card for Bees flanker Ashley Scriven inflicted yet further misery and immediately preceded an inevitable try at the end for Luctonians replacement prop Zac Watkins. Predictably, Silver was on hand to rub the final salt into an already gaping wound and close out an emphatic and well-deserved 22-41 win to take back west to Hereford.

The four league points secured by Luctonians at Portway lifts them out of the relegation zone to 13th position on 46 points. Hull – who also failed to pick up any losing bonus points in their defeat by Broadstreet, now share 14th position on 43 points with Stockport anchored at the foot of the table on 10 points.

Bees travel to Stourbridge next Saturday (14th March) and will need to put in a far more convincing performance if they are going to climb out of the increasingly deep relegation hole that they have managed to dig for themselves.

Teams

Birmingham & Solihull – Ian Briggs (T), Aquile Smith, Dai Evans, Steve Johns, Alex O’Malley, Adam Canning (2C, 1P), Rod Petty, Henno Venter, Ashley Scriven, Rob Gregg, Chris Goddard © (T),Matt Spink , Liam Dunne, Will Crane and Stefan Thorpe. Replacements – Nick Bingham (T), Andy Kettle, Steve Leach, Soloman Dacres and Charlie Ding.

Luctonians - Joe Doyle, Jon Hughes, Will Barton, Geraint Langdon, Jimmy Norris, Alex James, Louis Silver (9P, 2C), Sam Jones, Matt Hackley, Dan Smith ©, John Kelly, Chris Jacques, Ricky Davies, Jordan Street (T) and Anthony Marfell. Replacements – Zac Watkins (T), Brad Talbot, Guy Kirby, Myles Edwards and Ryan Watkins.

Referee – Jack Makepeace