Bees call up rookies for British & Irish Cup opener

Dec 10 2010 by Brian Dick, Birmingham Mail

BEES will give their fringe players the chance to stake a claim for a more regular role when they begin their British & Irish Cup programme at home to Doncaster on Sunday.

With three games in six days, coach Eugene Martin will hand full debuts to youngsters Will Webster and Danny Wright while also affording Sam Robinson a chance to kickstart his career in Solihull.

The young fly-half has not started for two months and saw his loan spell with Stour blighted by the bad weather but gets his chance this weekend with Mark Woodrow rested for Wednesday night’s visit of Cornish Pirates.

Lock Wright, who came off the bench in last Saturday’s reverse at Plymouth, makes his first start but it is rookie Webster who has most to gain. The inexperienced back-rower has not seen any action with Bees this season after joining from Bridgwater & Albion in the summer. But Martin says he deserves his chance. “He has a tremendous attitude,” the Kiwi said.

“He is a classic case of a young lad who contacted Russell and is prepared to train, travel and listen and learn. He has been watching the likes of Rob Connolly and Mike Denbee do their thing and he has got his chance.

“He’s looked good in training and this weekend is going to be a positive experience for him.”