Battling Bees go down 53-25 to Bedford in game of 11 tries

Oct 12 2009 by Mark Woodward, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM & Solihull player-coach Russell Earnshaw wants this week’s meeting with the RFU to provide the fillip his team need to get their season started after they suffered a heavy defeat at Bedford.

Earnshaw is hopeful that new investors will meet the game’s governing body and help to steady the ship.

“Once we get that stability it will take a weight off the players’ minds, they can stop worrying about mortgages and families,” he said.

The Bees lost 53-25 in an exciting game that featured 11 tries and a commitment to running rugby from both sides.

Simon Hunt’s kicking kept Bees in the match early on when the home side were threatening to run away with it. He then became the first player to breech the Bedford tryline this season after some concerted pressure from the visitors.

Despite trailing 32-13 at the break, Bees came out fighting in the second half and, after some committed defending had held off early Bedford attacks, Rob Connolly went over from close range.

When Chris Brightwell broke on the 22-metre line in the 71st minute and raced in under the posts it raised the prospect of an unlikely comeback.

However, those hopes were snuffed out just moments later as Bedford right-winger Duncan Taylor bounced off a couple of tackles to go in at the corner.

Ian Davey was the Bees’ tormentor-in-chief, the speedy left-wing going over for four tries.

BEDFORD: Fielden (Pritchard, 45), Taylor, Roberts, Vass, Davey, Davies, Veenendaal (Dorrian, 64), Walsh, Locke, Boulton, Harlock, Rae, Harding (Goodman, 10), Lewitt, Tupai. Not used; Richmond, Lilley, Spencer, Knight.

B’HAM & SOLIHULL: Culpin, Hunt, Tomlinson (McLean), Mitchell, Akinluyi, Petty, Williamson (Brown, 62), Long, Reece (Gardner, 78), Davis (Dowding, 62), Davidson, Ault (Halavatau, 50), Brightwell, Connolly, Earnshaw (Clayton, 21). Not used; Dowding, Martin.

Referee: T Hall (RFU).