BIRMINGHAM and Solihull Bees earned back-to-back home wins for the first time this season with a narrow 14-12 victory against Coventry Welsh.
A try in either half from Cole Elleman and Ryan Sleaford ensured the Bees won for just the third time this season at Portway.
The result means Solihull sit eighth in the Counties 2 Midlands West (East) table after Coventrians RFC saw their results expunged.
A delay to kick-off, in order to guarantee a referee, meant the game began at 3pm in front of the biggest home crowd of the season.
The Bees dominated from the off as dynamic carries from Ryan Sleaford, Pete Gordon and Ali Cook helped stretch the Welsh defence.
And Solihull scored the game’s first try on 29 minutes when Elleman dotted down after good work from Liam Dunne and Archie Beddard kicked the difficult conversion.
The home side lost the returning Deaglan O’Brien to injury before Welsh won the ball on the halfway line and kicked ahead to score their first try before the break but were unable to add the extras.
Solihull remained on top after the interval and scored their second try on 56 minutes when Sleaford crashed over the line and Beddard converted.
Soon after, the home side lost captain Joe Davies to a nasty facial injury which required stitche.
And Beddard then left the field which a broken arm which required an operation, leaving the Bees down to 14 players for the remaining minutes.
Coventry eventually forced their way over the line and scored a converted try to close the gap to two points with two minutes left to play.
However, the Bees held firm to secure a vital win much to the delight of head coach George Littlechild.
Littlechild said: “Massive win for the guys, with a little more composure in the first half we could have taken the game away from Coventry Welsh, but give Coventry credit they defended well.
“The difference was Archie and his well-taken two conversions.”
Birmingham and Solihull are next in action against Earlsdon on Saturday, November 30 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Mitchell Avenue.
