Bees hope to keep Worcester back row Matt Cox for the rest of the season

Dec 15 2009 by Brian Dick, Birmingham Mail

BEES are hoping to call on the services of Worcester back row Matt Cox for the remainder of the season.

The powerful blindside was one of the main positives from Saturday’s defeat to London Welsh, with his strong running and abrasive defence.

Although Cox is desperate to force his way into the first team at Sixways, Warriors’ signing of England Sevens star Chris Cracknell suggests he will get more chances at Sharmans Cross Road.

Particularly if the former Woodrush forward continues to play the way he did against the Exiles.

“He only had one training session with us before Saturday but did really well,” said coach Eugene Martin.

“I spoke to Mike Ruddock, who has Kai Horstmann coming back now, and hopefully as Kai gets better we can have Matt for the rest of the season.

“He showed he is a real impact player. He can carry really well and when you look along our backline we have got guys with good footwork and that are good distributors, but I’d like Matt to range a little wider where his strength can be put to even better use.

“At one point on Saturday he fielded a kick, looked up and had a hooker, back row and a prop ahead of him but he backed himself to run through them and he did just that.”

Indeed Cox was one part of a back row that functioned well against Welsh with Adam Clayton and Rob Bell also putting in strong showings.

However, for the second week running Bell was sent to the sin-bin. The fact that it was for fighting does not overly concern Martin.

“I would rather have a player with a bit of fire in his belly than one who needs a cracker up his backside,” he said. “Rob could play smarter rather than harder but in the last couple of weeks he’s been a bit unlucky and has taken one for the team.”