BEES return to their pursuit of Redruth at the top of the league tomorrow, having dispatched their promotion rivals from the EDF Energy National Trophy last time out.

Dec 19 2008 by Brian Dick, Birmingham Mail

Next up for second-placed Birmingham & Solihull as they try to eat into the Cornishmen’s seven-point lead is what should be a feisty encounter at Stourbridge and head coach Russell Earnshaw knows his men will be in for a hostile reception at Stourton.

Not only could half the Stour team be made up of former Bees players, but Neil Mitchell’s side will be desperate for revenge after losing the second game of the season, 31-14, at Sharmans Cross Road.

Earnshaw has told his squad what to expect. “They are at home, it’s a derby, they will throw everything at us. It is their cup final,” he said.

“They know they are not going to get promoted and probably not going to get relegated, although they could do with the points, so they will be well up for it.

“If they beat us, that is their season. They will be pretty happy and I will get phone calls from Stourbridge players reminding me of it. I’ve watched them a couple of times and they are not a bad side.”

Bees aren’t, either; according to the form-book, they should emerge victorious, although slips against Wharfedale and Tynedale mean they can be vulnerable. They got back on track last weekend, however, with a morale-boosting victory over a rotated Redruth side that booked them a place in round four of the cup.

Earnshaw also made changes to his line-up with several reliable forwards rested and back in contention for this weekend.

Two of those, Jim Jenner and Matt Long, will hope for recalls tomorrow, particularly the former who goes back to Stourton Park for the first time since leaving in the summer.