News from August

Smiling Despite Defeat

Taken from www.icsolihull.co.uk - 29 August 2003

A stirring second-half fight back against Edinburgh gave Pertemps Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard something to smile about on Sunday.

Despite going down 41 - 29 at Goldenacre, Maynard was happy to see his side respond from a 36 - 5 deficit at half time and was delighted with their efforts.

Bees replaced Rotherham Titans as Edinburghs opposition for the prestigious fixture and performed well against one of Scotland's leading sides who are also a team of full-time professionals.

"We gifted Edinburgh three tries from turn-overs which was disappointing but once we got our act together we pushed them very hard, "Maynard Said.

"You have to remember that Edinburgh are regarded as being the best of Scotland's district sides and they are full-timers. I think that we can take a tremendous amount o encouragement from our performance."

Maynard was particularly pleased with the performance of props Andy Gravil, Jim Thorp and Matt Long in the second half and of fly half Mark Woodrow who is on trial from Bristol junior side Dings Crusaders. Woodrow came off the bench when former Scotland international Craig Chalmers was injured in the first quarter and produced a mature performance which included three conversions and a penalty.

Hooker Alan Hubbleday scored the Pertemps Bees only first half try and Gravil, number eight Jim Jenner and flanker Duncan White, formerly with Moseley and the Gloucester Academy, followed him to the line in the second half.

The Pertemps Bees complete their preparations for their opening National One game against Exeter on September 6 with another friendly against Caerphilly at Sharmans Cross Road tomorrow (2.30pm).

Bees complete successful tour

22 August 2003 taken from www.icsolihull.co.uk

Pertemps bees completed a successful pre-season tour of South Wales with a 22 - 21 win over Swansea at Morriston RFC on Sunday.

The win followed a 49 - 5 win in their opening match against Llandovery at Church Bank and came against strong opposition who only conceded defeat in the final period of a match played in35-minute thirds.

After a tough trainin session at Swansea University on Saturday Pil Maynard, the Pertemps Bees' director of rugby, again rotated his squad and used the game to assess the potential of most of the trialists in the tour squad.

Two of them, flanker Peter Knight and full-back Nathan Bressington, took their chance to impress by scoring tries along with former Worcester winger Tom Richardson and full back Dave Knight who continued his encouraging comeback from a serious facial injury sustained last January, by scoring his second ry of the tour.

Knight's try came in the final period and sealed victory. Only one of the tries was converted by Mark Woodrow, another trialist.

Maynard said: "It's always difficult starting your season down here because the opposition is very tough. But we are delighted to have come away with two wins and the players worked very hard indeed.

"We know there are areas we need to improve in but the good thing is we have identified them at an early stage and that gives us the change to work on them before we start our National One league season."

The Pertemps Bees continue their prearations for the opening league game against Exeter at Sharmans Cross Road facing Edinburgh at Goldenacre tomorrow and Caerphilly at Sharmans Cross Road on August 30.

Team News

Bees will be travelling to Webb Ellis Road for the pre-season friendly against Rugby Lions without Jim Jenner.

Jenner missed the tour of South Wales last weekend due to a bruised hip. Jenner will sit out of the Rugby Lions fixture in hope that he will regain fitness in time to make his club debut against Edinburough on Sunday (at Goldenacre).

The Bees will also be without another summer signing, Craig Chalmers who will be rested for the long trip up to Edinburgh.

There will be a number of triallists wanting to impress Phil Maynard on Wednesday, including Duncan White who had a good tour of South Wales.