Bees, who were without 5 regular first team players suffered further disruption on the morning of the game with Captain, Joe Davies and experienced number 9 Adam Boot both pulling out due to illness.

Up stepped Lewis Edwards to Captain the side, and the boys welcomed back Ali Cook and Adam Trombley who answered the call from their respective Universities in Loughborough and Cardiff to join the squad.

Bees started very quickly (something that has been improving from earlier in the season) in front of a large travelling support, and after 5 minutes after turning the ball over at the ruck, the backs moved the ball at pace first right testing the Coventry defence to its limits to create space the ball then came back left and for winger Cameron May to open the score and silence the noisy Coventry support.

Coventry were unable to control the game with their usual dominate pack as Bees forwards matched and dominated in the tight and were quicker to the breakdown, with Cook in particular making an absolute nause of himself. Another turnover at the ruck resulted in a penetrating counter punch ending with a Tom Jones score in the corner.

Coventry had to change their game plan, trying to move the ball through the backs and an ambitious pass to the winger on the halfway line was intercepted by Edwards who ran the 50 yards unopposed to score under the posts, finished off by converting to the extra 2 points on 22 minutes.

Bees were clearly enjoying the freedom and just before half time after considerable defensive work Bees another turnover deep in their 22 and proceeded at pace to move the ball from defence to attack and run the length of the pitch with some 16 passages of play to score the “try of the game’ by full back Oli Nesbitt to score his first senior try, converted by P J Hatch, allowing the Bees to go into half-time 24-0 up and a bonus point already in the bag.

HALF TIME: COVENTRY WELSH 0 BEES 24

Coventry came out fired up for the 2nd half with a completely different game plan, kicking long and running great lines from depth a feature of previous home games, where they elect to play up the slope first.

This seemed to work and on 50 minutes pressure on the Bees line told with Coventry scoring a try converted by their fly half. Score read 24-7.

Bees counter attacked from the kick off winning the drop out, and after a couple of mauls awarded a penalty which Edwards duly converted to partially cancel out Coventry’s try Bees increasing the score to 27-7, and in control of the game.

Bees were reduced to 13 for 6 minutes with two yellow card for Alex Groves who was having an excellent game, shortly followed by Cook who was victim the new laws on the tackle which penalises a ball carrier for dipping too low into the tackler.

Coventry tried to take advantage of the situation, and whilst the depleted Bees side put up a spirited they took advantage of their superior numbers in the pack to opt for a 5m scrum when awarded a penalty. Despite the scrum appearing to wheel beyond the 90, the Cov Welsh number 8 picked up turned and dropped over the line to score the try. A successful conversion made the score to 27-14.

Back to a full complement, Bees were able to adjust, and a fine interplay between the backs and forwards allowed Calum Antonio to score his 1st senior try, converted by Edwards which seemed to break Coventry’s resolve, taking the score to 34-14.

With the bench being utilised the experience of Bowater & Johnson, Bees were able to manage the game and control long passages of play with the clock ticking down, Coventry Welsh killed the the ball. The resulting penalty was slotted by Edwards, which capped an excellent day for him and playmaker.

FULL TIME: COVENTRY WELSH 14 BEES 37

This is by far the best Bees performance of the season, showing signs of how they played over the past couple of years, which was enjoyed by the large numbers of travelling fans.

Confidence will be high, going into the next game which is @ Portway 18th Nov vs Uttoxeter RFC KO is 2.15PM, look forward to your support Saturday.