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Birmingham/ Solihull

13

11

Lions

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Lions came to Sharman’s Cross Road seeking to exact revenge for a home defeat earlier in the season, but failed by a whisker despite enjoying the lions’ share of possession in a dour local derby.  The defeat owed no small part to a superb defensive display by the Bees that took the sting out of the Lions’ attacking edge. 

Lions made two enforced changes to the team that performed so well in putting Manchester to the sword.  Paul Shadbolt replaced the injured Phil Greenbury at prop, and Will Pilkington returned to the fray in the back row after the late withdrawal of Sam Tovo.  Bees had giant South African Guy Manson Bishop making his debut at number 8……brick outhouses have nothing on this bloke!!. 

Lions were first to have the benefit of a strong wind that was blowing diagonally across the pitch and were quickly into their stride.  A bullocking run down the right touchline by Pete Roberts was carried on into the Bees’ 22 by Tristan Prosser-Shaw.  As Lions spun the ball back left, it looked like the whole of the Bees’ back line was well offside, and referee John Barnes awarded the penalty in front of the posts.  Cliff Richards made no mistake with the kick from 22 metres despite the blustery conditions. 

Tim Collier was cynically taken out at the line-out, but resumed after extensive treatment.  It looked a certain yellow card offence, but referee John Barnes deemed a “talking to” was all that was needed by the offending Bees’ forward.  The penalty gave Lions another line, and this time it was Tristan Prosser-Shaw who had his legs taken from under him, but this time the referee did not even award a penalty. 

Lions were making little headway against a determined Bees’ defence, and too many times the player in possession was isolated in the tackle allowing the Bees’ back row to steal the ball.  Bees attempted to move the ball wide, but a promising situation was lost through a knock on in the centre. 

Back came Lions, and again it was that man Pete Roberts who made inroads deep into Bees’ territory.  The inside pass to Paul Shadbolt was good, but the prop was taken with a high tackle from behind and the chance was lost.  Again the referee chose to ignore the offence, and Bees were able to clear their lines. 

Richard Davies was next to show his paces with an audacious break from his own line, but the pass to the support was a poor one and Bees breathed a sigh of relief as they regained possession. 

Bees’ heavy forwards were gradually taking their toll on the Lions’ tackling, and from a typical drive, hooker Fergie Gladstone was yellow carded for handling on the floor in the shadow of his own posts in attempting to stem the tide.  Matt Gallagher converted the penalty to put Bees on level terms.  Lions brought on “Pig” Brittin to cover at hooker at the expense of flanker Will Pilkington. 

A sniping run by Gavin Cattle and a chip over the defence had Cliff Richards snatching the ball from under the Bees’ scrum half’s nose, and following it with a superb line kick to gain Lions 50 metres.   

The Lions scrum, which had looked solid at the start of the game, was now under pressure with a man short, and Bees managed to wheel the next couple to gain the put in.  However, Lions defence was also in a mean mood as Bees sought to drive home their numerical advantage. 

With Fergie Gladstone back on the field, an excellent kick by Richard Davies into the wind held up long enough for Phil Reed to collar Andy Smallwood as he covered the kick.  When the winger failed to release the ball, referee John Barnes had no option but to show him the yellow card.   

Now it was Lions turn to make the extra man pay as they sought to break down a resolute defence.  Again Bees were penalised for taking the man out in the line-out, and they were marched back another 10 metres as they protested their innocence.  Up stepped Cliff Richards to plant the ball firmly between the posts to restore Lions’ lead. 

With half time approaching, Bees started to exert some real forward pressure, but the Lions’ defence looked solid against the big Bees’ pack.  Bees brought some variation into their play as they moved the ball wide, and a lovely inside pass almost had the man through, but again the Lions’ defence held.  On the stroke of half time, Bees again spun the ball wide, and this time Alistair Newmarch failed to nail his man, and the prolific Nick Baxter was able to cross unopposed.  Matt Gallagher added a superb conversion from wide out into the swirling wind to give Bees the lead at the half way mark. 

Half time 

Birmingham & Solihull 10            Lions            6

Lions needed an early score, and they almost got it as Tom Walsh made a typical blind side break to put Pete Roberts in space.  Unfortunately the wing was forced into touch just short of the line and Bees were able to clear from the subsequent line-out. 

A couple of penalties allowed Bees to gain a foot hold in Lions’ 22, and it was that man Baxter who was almost through again on a crash ball from a well worked move from a scrum.  Desperate defence by Lions denied a score, and more crunching tackles turned the tide to give Phil Reed a run down the wing, but again the break failed to develop as the cover raced across. 

Unfortunately for Lions it was Bees that got the next score, as Matt Gallagher converted a penalty when Lions drove into the maul from the wrong side right in front of their posts. 

Again Lions hit back, and Phil Reed was away but was recalled for a forward pass.  Lions now brought on Pig Brittin for Will Pilkington, with Fergie Gladstone moving to flanker.  Playing into the strong wind, Lions tactics were to pick up and drive, and they did this to good effect, but brilliant defensive work by Bees denied a score as Lions were forced into touch at the corner flag. 

More Lions’ replacements followed, with Tom Woolrich coming on for Paul Shadbolt at prop, and Mark Edwards taking over from Tom Walsh at scrum half.  The fresh legs looked to be working as Lions camped on the Bees’ line, but again superb defence by Bees denied the score that Lions were desperately striving for.  A number of Bees “injuries” allowed them to draw breath and disrupt the Lions’ momentum, but all the Lions’ movement was sideways with no-one really able to break the gain line. 

	Lions now played their final card, with Jacques Steyn coming off the replacement bench.  Strangely the centre went to fly half, with Richard Davies moving to full back and Cliff Richards coming off.  However, the change almost immediately paid dividends as Jacques cleverly created the overlap, and this time Lions made no mistake as Pete Roberts crashed over in the corner.  Unfortunately Richard Davies could not emulate Matt Gallagher’s magnificent touchline conversion, and Lions were now 2 points adrift with 10 minutes remaining.  Lions now refused to kick for position as they tried to run everything.  The Lions’ contingent asked the touch judge how much time was left………5 minutes was the response.  With Paul Thompson on for Tim Stannard, Lions now threw caution to the wind.  A scintillating break by lock Chris Jones looked as though it would snatch victory for Lions, but his pass to the supporting Mark Edwards was not a good one and the chance was lost as the referee blew for full time.  So much for five minutes left!!
Jacques makes the overlap
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Pete Robert scores in front of most of the crowd
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Oh Bu#Ger

Final result: 

Birmingham & Solihull 13            Lions            11

Despite some strange decisions by referee John Barnes that had both sets of supporters scratching their heads, Lions had no-one else to blame for this defeat but themselves.  They certainly enjoyed enough possession, but despite several promising breaks, they were denied by a superb defensive display by Bees. 

Lions must now pick themselves up ready for the clash with table topping Rotherham next Friday evening.  A good display would set things up nicely for the crucial clash with Henley the following week.  

Peter Roberts

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Lions team

Rugby met Birmingham/Solihull for the first time at Webb Ellis Road at the beginning of October having lost at Manchester the previous weekend. Supporters will hardly need reminding of the fact that the team’s performance that day set the scene for a run of poor results that was not arrested until the visit of Otley at the beginning of December..

Last Saturday, with probably their best forward display of the season, the Lions beat Manchester for the first time in the professional era. Can they continue to mine that seam of gold next Saturday and do the same to the Bees?  

The men from the Midlands’ biggest city seem to have taken over the mantle that has been for so long in the possession of Moseley. Their departure from the Reddings to be tenants at the university, though keeping their heads above the figurative waterline has seemingly done little to revive their playing fortunes.  

The Bees have actually done better away from home this season with four games won (Bracknell, Henley, Moseley and Rugby) and four lost (Bedford, London Welsh, Otley and Worcester). At home they have lost five (Coventry, Exeter, Rotherham, Wakefield and Worcester), won three (Bracknell, Manchester and Otley) and drawn with Bedford. Their table position owes a lot to their bonus points total; with eight they are second equal behind Rotherham. 

In the Manchester preview I said, “The Lions have to approach this game as if they were the Wallabies; losing is a non-word.”  The team got that approach just right on the day. More of the same please, but perhaps fewer penalties than points next time!