It took 25 minutes of the game for Bees Colts to start to exert control on this round of the National Colts Plate competition. The home side started well retaining their own kick off and in the 2nd minute swept up the field for Ross McGee to dot the ball in the corner to take a 5-0 lead. It was then a case of resting on their collective laurels for the next 23 minutes in which time the visitors scored 17 unanswered points. It was only at this point that Bees found their rhythm and started to play the sort of rugby that they knew they were capable of.

The forwards slowly exerted their dominance over the opposition and this gave Bees the opportunity to close the gap before half time. Some deft handling created space for Owen Walker to exploit with his mercurial pace to score a try in the corner.

Half time 10-17
The team talk at half time was all about maintaining the momentum of the last 10 minutes of the first half and it was clear from the kick-off that the intensity was high. This was maintained for the duration of the half and, save for the dying moments of the game when it was all but won, Walsall were shut out. The forward’s dominance created the room for the pacey backs to exploit.

First, fly half, Hari Ladwa, exploited space on the short side of a scrum to run in 30 meters and cross the whitewash. Then shortly after, Ladwa gave Bees took the lead for the first time in the game when forward dominance was rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts. The scoring was ended with the try of the game when the backs swept down the field and winger McGee fixing the last man and passing to Jack Fitzgerald who cantered under the posts, Ladwa adding the extras.

Bees are drawn away to Moseley U18s in the next round of the competition, to be played on Saturday 10th December.