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BackSun 21 Sep 2014 ·  Sunday Division 1
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Colts
40
14
North Midlands Colts League
Terence Dight29 Sep 2014 - 21:02
Bees travelled to Wolverhampton and were beaten 40-14 by last year's under 17 National Cup Winners.
With 5 first choice players injured or unavailable it was always going to be a big ask to register a win. Bees welcomed new recruit Peter Wardell at prop and under 17's Mason Dhani-Ali for their debuts. As expected the well drilled home side put Bees under pressure from the kick off using their big forwards to drive at their somewhat smaller opponents. Superb defence and tackling was frustrating Wolves who spilt the ball in the tackle numerous times with Bees also turning the ball over on three occasions at the breakdown through scrum half Cameron Powell, no 8 Simon Ridler and second row Jamie Watson.
The visitors may have cleared their lines through fly half Josh Wardle but the relentless pressure continued. However it wasn't until the 15th minute that the deadlock was broken, when a missed tackle led to the first of four first half tries for the home team. The conversion was added. Some 7 minutes later the quick Wolves centres, ran the ball wide and outstripped the defence for an unconverted try. Just before the break two converted tries in quick succession seemed to break the hearts of the visitors to leave them trailing 26-0.
A determined Bees side restarted by taking the game to Wolves and with some quality ball of their own they began to look dangerous when moving the ball wide and after 5 minutes a well rehearsed move saw wing Matthew Dight take the ball through the centre to score and convert his own try. Some fine clearance kicks from Bees full back Mikey Thomas kept the home side out as they looked to increase their lead.
Then a late tackle on Wardle saw the Wolves player in the sin bin. Bees took advantage as Wardle himself followed up to score after a fine break from centre Dan Bagby. Dight converted. At 26-14 Bees had their tails up and with just 7 minutes remaining had thoughts of a great comeback.
Wolverhampton had other ideas though and from the restart the visitors failed to secure the ball, which was spilt and a missed tackle led to a simple score. The home side then had the last say with some fine inter passing though their forwards to score on the final whistle.
The visitors may have cleared their lines through fly half Josh Wardle but the relentless pressure continued. However it wasn't until the 15th minute that the deadlock was broken, when a missed tackle led to the first of four first half tries for the home team. The conversion was added. Some 7 minutes later the quick Wolves centres, ran the ball wide and outstripped the defence for an unconverted try. Just before the break two converted tries in quick succession seemed to break the hearts of the visitors to leave them trailing 26-0.
A determined Bees side restarted by taking the game to Wolves and with some quality ball of their own they began to look dangerous when moving the ball wide and after 5 minutes a well rehearsed move saw wing Matthew Dight take the ball through the centre to score and convert his own try. Some fine clearance kicks from Bees full back Mikey Thomas kept the home side out as they looked to increase their lead.
Then a late tackle on Wardle saw the Wolves player in the sin bin. Bees took advantage as Wardle himself followed up to score after a fine break from centre Dan Bagby. Dight converted. At 26-14 Bees had their tails up and with just 7 minutes remaining had thoughts of a great comeback.
Wolverhampton had other ideas though and from the restart the visitors failed to secure the ball, which was spilt and a missed tackle led to a simple score. The home side then had the last say with some fine inter passing though their forwards to score on the final whistle.
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