BIRMINGHAM and Solihull Bees won 36-34 against Harbury in a thriller in a game which acted as a league double-header.
The Bees ran in six tries as Ryan Sleaford and Joel Smyth both crossed twice while Storm Atkins and Joe Rogers also touched down at Portway.
Crucially, Atkins kicked three conversions with Harbury unable to convert a late try which would have the tied the game.
The visitors also played the majority of the second half with 14-men with a Harbury player sent off which led to Solihull’s Jacob Carr leaving the field on a stretcher.
And the result means the Bees sit third in the Counties 2 Midlands West (East) table, one point behind leaders Bromsgrove II.
Solihull were without five key players and Harbury ran in two tries in the first 10 minutes to take an early 12-point lead.
However, the Bees responded soon after as Sleaford barged over the line with three Harbury players unable to stop him and Atkins kicked the conversation.
Harbury restored their 12-point lead virtually straight from the restart with another converted try but lost a player to the sin-bin later in the half.
And Solihull made the most of the extra man as Smyth popped out of the pack to score in the corner and Atkins converted from the touchline.
Harbury crossed for their bonus point try shortly before the break to take a 10-point lead in the interval.
The Bees reduced the deficit just four minutes into the second period as Atkins burst through the Harbury defence to score and converted his own try.
And the game turned on 50 minutes when a strong tackle to the head stopped Jacob Carr’s break and left the youngster needing 17 minutes of treatment.
Medical staff stretchered Carr from the field and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
When play resumed, the referee showed a red card to the offending Harbury player which left the visitors down to 14-men for the remainder of the contest.
And Sleaford scored his second try of the game from the next passage of play as the Bees took the lead for the first time.
Harbury reclaimed the lead with a fifth try moments later only for Rogers to touch down 10 minutes from time and put the Bees back in front.
And Solihull crossed again straight from the restart as Smyth dotted down after good work from Ollie Goodchild to take a seven-point lead with seven minutes left to play.
The Bees lost captain Adam Trombley to the sin-bin for a no arms tackle moments later to even the teams up for the last knockings.
Harbury closed the gap to two points with a try in the corner four minutes from time but could not convert the score to leave the Bees two points ahead.
However, Cam May collected a last gasp Harbury kick which allowed Rogers to kick to touch and bring an end to a breathless contest.
Birmingham and Solihull Bees are next in action against Harborne on Saturday, November 22 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Old Church Road.
