BIRMINGHAM and Solihull RFC remain top of the Counties 3 Midlands West (South) table after opponents Birmingham Exiles failed to fulfil the fixture.
The Bees were awarded an away walkover and five league points before playing Moseley Oak’s 2nd XV in a friendly having kindly taken up the game at extremely short notice.
This allowed the Bees to play some of their squad players as season debuts were handed to Tom Rees and Deaglan O’Brien whilst Morgan Hennessy, Shaun Pollard-Jenkins, Andy Pearce, Callum Mclynskey, Conal May and Harry Garrett all came into the starting XV.
Moseley Oak proved strong opponents before they coughed up possession on the quarter-hour mark which saw the Bees launch a blistering counter attack as Lewis Edwards rounded a number of defenders before finishing under the posts and converting his own score.
However, Solihull struggled for the remainder of the half under constant pressure from Moseley which saw Oak run in two converted tries to lead 14-7 at the break.
The Bees took control of the game in the second period as Rees scored out wide on debut following some quick ball from scrum half Harry Garrett with Edwards converting.
And Solihull grabbed the game-winning try when Pearce made the most of missed tackle to score with Edwards adding the conversion to secure a seven-point victory.
Birmingham and Solihull are next in action against Chaddesley Corbett on Saturday, October 1 with kick-off at 3pm at Portway.
