RUGBY UNION: A DOZEN points would’ve been enough to see Birmingham and Solihull Bees to victory against Bournville on Saturday.
But instead the Bees put 54 points past their league rivals to complete another convincing performance.
Going into the break 30-8 up with the bonus point already secured, an impressive defensive display in the second half saw the home side increase their points tally to 54 points, without conceding any points.
A series of mini showers before kick-off resulted in the game taking place in greasy conditions, something which appeared to favour the Bees.
Jack Jolly settled early nerves as he slotted home an early penalty.
Growing pressure from Bournville resulted in a penalty of their own though as fly half Alex Warner calmly converted.
Bees scored their first try of the game following Bournville’s equalising penalty though when full back Harry O’Brien gave a long miss-pass to debutant JT Nabetelevu.
The former Longton winger showed good pace to score the first try of his Bees career.
Leading by five points – after Jolly failed to convert Nabetelevu’s try – the men in black and yellow turned up the heat from the re-start.
Bournville’s Jack Price and Drew Harper were then shown yellow cards – leaving the Bees with a two-man advantage.
Max Rodman then crossed the line for his first try of the season before Tom Holliday was shown a yellow card, Bournville’s third of the match.
Bees’ lead was stretched to 23-3 when fly half Rodman was tripped by Warner – Bournville’s fourth yellow card – which allowed Jolly to kick Birmingham and Solihull into a 20-point lead.
The hosts had a chance to get points of their own on the board when Warner was presented with a simple penalty kick. But it wasn’t to be Bournville’s day when his effort went wide.
Failing to give in, Bournville registered their first try of the game when Warren Oliver scored in the corner after some good set piece play.
But Oliver’s try proved to be the last success Bournville tasted as Bees restricted the home side to just eight points and went on to add 14 points of their own in the second half.
Nabetelevu added his second try before Jimmy Oliver put the game to bed with his breakaway try, which was converted by Jolly.
Another converted penalty extended Bees’ lead to 32 points before Nathan Tilsley was rewarded with a try towards the end of the game.
Danny Wright concluded what had been a miserable game for the home side when scoring with the final play as Bees won 54-8.
The Bees are next in action against Bridgnorth on Saturday, September 16, for their first away game of the season.
Kick-off is at 3pm.
Picture: Manjit Narotra.
