BIRMINGHAM and Solihull Bees ended a successful season with a 15-9 defeat against Harbury having already secured the Counties 3 Midlands West (South) title.
Bees were beaten for just the second time this season and failed to score a try as Lewis Edwards kicked all nine of their points at Waterloo Fields.
Solihull finished the campaign on 90 points from 20 matches having won 18 games and had the league’s meanest defence having shipped just 187 points all season.
The Bees rustiness showed throughout, having not played a competitive match since they were crowned champions a month ago.
Injury and unavailability meant that Bees were without any recognised centres as head coach James Panter moved Alex Groves and Harry Garrett into the position in what was a newly-formed partnership.
Bees took the lead within the first minute as Edwards kicked a penalty from in front of the posts after Harbury infringed at the breakdown.
However, the home side recovered to take the lead with the game’s first try in the corner which was superbly converted.
And after Groves suffered an eye injury, head coach Panter was forced to make a rare league appearance from the bench.
Scoring chances were at a premium all game, as both teams kicked a penalty before the half was out to send Harbury into the break with a four-point lead.
The home side held firm in the second period, despite a period of sustained Bees pressure, as Edwards kicked his third penalty to close the gap to a single point.
And after Solihull were reduced to 14 players, Harbury scored their second try in the corner to seal the win with Bees unable to respond in the final couple of minutes.
