BIRMINGHAM and Solihull Bees missed a late conversion attempt to win the game in an agonising 26-25 defeat against Old Wheatleyans.
The returning Lewis Edwards failed to kick a difficult conversion at the death after the former, Mikey Essex and Oli Nesbitt crossed for the Bees at Norman Place Road.
And the result means Solihull sit sixth in the Counties 2 Midlands West (East) table.
A much-changed Bees side were without nine players through injury while seven players were also unavailable with Edwards making his return and head coach James Panter starting at fly half.
Bees defended well in the opening exchanges and took a surprise lead with their first attack as Edwards kicked a penalty after Old Wheatleyans collapsed a ruck.
And the Bees then crossed for the game’s first try when Essex picked a line which cut through the home defence to score under the posts with Edwards converting.
However, Old Wheatleyans began to settle and scored two quickfire tries to take a narrow two-point lead into the break.
Solihull reclaimed the lead after Old Wheatleyans were caught on the wrong side of the ruck and Edwards kicked his second penalty of the match.
However, Bees failed to clear their lines from the restart which allowed Old Wheatleyans to score their third try following a flowing move.
The visitors once again showed their fighting spirit to retake the lead as Edwards dotted down and converted his own score to swing the match back in the Bees favour.
Old Wheatleyans responded with their bonus point try on 70 minutes as the home side’s fly half capitalised on a lapse in concentration in the Bees defence to score under the posts.
Bees pinned Old Wheatleyans inside their own half thereafter and finally found a way through when Nesbitt crossed unopposed close to the right touchline.
However, Edwards was unable to kick the tricky conversion as Old Wheatleyans saw out the remaining minute with the Bees forced to settle for a losing bonus point.
