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Orgee eyes Twickenham
11 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk
 
Pertemps Bees skipper Ed Orgee says his side will need no motivation for their Powergen Cup semi-final contest against Newcastle on Sunday.
 
Ed Orgee

The Bees, who made the last four after stunning the mighty Wasps, are aiming to become the first team outside the top division to reach the final.

"Going to Twickenham would be a carrot for all of us," he said.

"Reaching the final would be a massive deal for the players and would raise the profile of the club."

Orgee has played at Twickenham before for England Students but he understands his side must produce another heroic display if he is to play there again.

"We've taken a lot of confidence from the Wasps game and now we must repeat that performance," he said.

"We have to be at our best to have any chance of beating Newcastle, while they have to have an off day.

"They'll be motivated because there is a game at Twickenham at stake and with that comes passage into Europe. But we have to match their intensity and take them on up front."

Woodrow powers Bees bid
11 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk
 
Jonny Wilkinson was at Newcastle's training ground by eight o'clock one morning last week to make an early start on his kicking practice.
Pertemps Bees fly-half Mark Woodrow celebrates victory over Wasps

Mark Woodrow manages barely an hour a week and has to persuade his old club to turn the floodlights on if he wants a few extra penalty attempts.

But the Pertemps Bees fly-half is no less determined than England's World Cup hero to be playing in next month's Powergen Cup final.

While Wilkinson hopes his shoulder will have healed in time for next month's showpiece, Woodrow could force him to choose another comeback target.

The Bees - the old Birmingham/Solihull amalgamation - are buzzing after causing the biggest Cup upset in the professional era in a remarkable quarter-final.

Mark Woodrow kicks a penalty against Wasps
Woodrow landed 18 points
Woodrow kicked six penalties in a 28-24 win over English champions Wasps, as the National League One side fought back from 19-6 down.

Wilkinson's Falcons are next in Sunday's semi-final at Kingston Park, with the prize a place at Twickenham.

That Woodrow can even contemplate running out at 'headquarters' proves the magic of the Cup is alive and well.

The 23-year-old is a full-time electrician who lives and works in Bristol but finishes early on Tuesdays and Thursdays so he can drive to Birmingham for Bees training.

"I try to get up there by six so I can get as much kicking practice as possible," he told BBC Sport.

"This week we will try to find any little weaknesses we can exploit, the same as Newcastle will. The only difference is they will have five days to do it - we will have three hours!"

Woodrow has largely played for the same Bristol club - Dings Crusaders - in the South-West leagues since he was 10.

A season with Bath's Under-21s, and brief spells at Exeter and Newbury came to nothing until he impressed in the County Championship for Gloucestershire last year.

People are saying it can't happen twice, but we have nothing to lose
Mark Woodrow
That alerted Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard, who recruited Woodrow as an understudy to former Scotland fly-half Craig Chalmers.

But Chalmers has barely played since the new year with a shoulder injury, allowing Woodrow to take centre stage.

He admits he would love to use the Bees' Cup run as a springboard to a professional contract.

"Getting paid for something I love doing would be a dream for me," Woodrow said. "It is something I have wanted ever since I started playing rugby.

"Hopefully I might go that way with Birmingham if we become a Premiership club. We have had a great season and I owe them a lot for giving me this opportunity."

So have Wasps felt the full force of the Bees' sting? Or are the Falcons about to have their own wings clipped?

"After the first 10 minutes against Wasps we realised they were just the same as us, and once we got in their faces they started to make the same mistakes," Woodrow added.

"It was an amazing victory and people are saying it can't happen twice, but we have nothing to lose.

"To repeat it against Newcastle would be out of this world. But if we have the same attitude hopefully we can keep in touch and take it all the way."

Bees and Borough may share venue
11 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees are in weighty consultation with their football club neighbours, Solihull Borough, over the possibility of a ground-sharing scheme that could see the Bees established in a new home this season.

Their last First Division home match of the season, against Plymouth Albion, could be played at Damson Park on April 10..."With a fair wind. If things go well," Phil Maynard, the Bees' director of rugby, said.

"We can't say too much about it at this stage; we can't discuss the mechanics of the move but we are pretty deeply into our negotiations with the board of Solihull Borough."

The football club's ground is, in terms of amenities, a fair step up from Sharmans Cross Road, which is a ground for touchline viewers - all those who cannot cram into their 150-capacity, standing room only, "grandstand."

There is covered, seating accommodation for 400 at the football ground and the capacity of 3,000 far exceeds Sharmans Cross.

But this would still not comply with the Premiership's insistence of a minimum capacity of 8,000, a fact that conspires against the Bees' stated ambition of reaching the highest division within the next two years.

To which Maynard replied: "That's not a problem; there's plenty of room for expansion but there's a great deal to talk about yet."

What has not been disclosed is the duration of any share scheme with Solihull Borough.

Ultimately, the Bees' future will hinge on whether planning permission is granted for housing development at their existing home at Sharmans Cross. Whether, as Maynard puts it, chimneys or grass will be growing there. What comes out of the sale of the old ground could influence a decision on whether, at the very end of the day, the Bees move to the ground that they own at Portway.

As the club stress in their statement, the move to Damson Park is only one of a number of options. But if it comes about and makes an appeal as a long-term arrangement, what of Portway then?

"We get to keep it, whatever happens," Maynard said. "That's the glory of it. And perhaps it can be developed as a centre of excellence for all sports."

Bees director, Lawrence Grove, unveiled the scheme at yesterday's press conference originally called to promote Sunday's Powergen Cup semi-final with Newcastle Falcons.

Quite what the club's members will make of it the Lord alone knows but, undeterred, Grove ploughed on.

"There has been a lot of speculation about our current facilities or want of them," he said, knowing the latter to be the case.

"Our success this season, not only in the Powergen Cup but also in the league, has exceeded our expectations and we have aspirations to be in the Premiership in two years.

"Our existing facilities need vast improvement and, whilst we do have plans to relocate to our second facility at Portway, it is unlikely the necessary planning permissions and approvals will be achieved within the desired period."

The football club have yet to give the go-ahead although serious discussions about the pitch requirements seem to be underway. Whatever happens during the next few days, both boards have some fast talking to do if Damson Park is to host both codes before the end of the season.

Twickenham is the incentive
11 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icnewcastle.com
 
Pertemps Bees skipper Ed Orgee insists the prospect of a run-out at Twickenham is all the incentive his team needs to re-write Powergen Cup history.

The Bees, formerly known as Birmingham and Solihull, face Newcastle at Kingston Park on Sunday with the winner claiming a lucrative trip to HQ for the showpiece final on April 17.

No team from outside the top division has ever progressed beyond the semi-final stage of the competition and the odds are stacked against Phil Maynard's National One part-timers bucking the trend.

But Orgee believes the fact his team are one match away from a dream trip to the home of English rugby will provide the motivation to claim another shock victory over Zurich Premiership opposition.

"I've played at Twickenham before - it was for England students against the Combined Services. It was a great feeling to run out on the pitch. Obviously the stadium was fairly empty but it was still a very memorable day," he said.

"Going back to Twickenham would be a carrot for all of us. I would love to go back there, especially in front of a big crowd. It would also be a massive deal for the players and would raise the club profile."

The Bees owe their place in the semis to a dramatic 28-24 victory over Wasps at the Causeway Stadium, undoubtedly the greatest upset in professional club rugby.

No-one gave them a chance against the reigning English champions, who were chasing silverware on three fronts.

But now they must defy the odds again to continue their march to Twickenham with back row forward Orgee demanding his side repeat their heroics.

"The moments after the Wasps game were total elation for us." he said. "But on reflection, after we'd looked at the video, we realised we'd played very well and deserved to win the game. We've taken a lot of confidence from that match.

"Before the game I thought we'd be competitive but it was not until the last 20 minutes that I actually felt we could win. When the whistle went we were all in total disbelief.

"Now we must repeat that performance. We have to be at our best to have any chance of beating them, while they have to have an off day."

Newcastle's has been an indifferent season - they have been plagued by inconsistency in the Premiership and the Powergen Cup represents their only chance of a trophy.

But they are still hard to beat at Kingston Park and boast plenty of firepower - not least in Tongan powerhouse Epi Taione who on his day can smash through the tightest of defences.

Jenner enjoys return to spotlight
11 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk
 
Jim Jenner regards the 2001 Powergen Cup final as his most treasured rugby memory, but there will be no room for sentiment from the Pertemps Bees No 8 when he faces Newcastle, his former club, in Sunday's semi-final at Kingston Park.

Jenner helped Newcastle lift the cup by scoring the third of their four tries against Harlequins at Twickenham. After two seasons with Worcester, Jenner retired from full-time rugby last summer to help his brother run a chain of nursery schools in the Midlands.

When he decided to join the bouncers, teachers, students and surveyors who make up the part-time squad at Solihull-based Bees he believed that his days in the media spotlight were over. But, since the Bees ousted Wasps 11 days ago in the biggest cup upset since rugby went professional, Jenner has been in constant demand for interviews.

"Quite a few players in the squad have played in the Premiership and are used to doing interviews, so they were a little more blase about our win initially. But we seem to have captured the public's imagination and I think it's only just started to sink in that we beat the Premiership champions," Jenner said.

"It was a very special moment and very different to winning the cup with Newcastle. I would still say the 2001 final remains the highlight of my career because it was in front of a full house at Twickenham, I scored an important try and it was such a big occasion for the club."

Jenner retains fond memories of his only season on Tyneside and he keeps in contact with former team-mates who will be opponents on Sunday. "I had a wonderful time at Newcastle, we had a close-knit squad and I keep in touch with Hugh Vyvyan and Andrew Mower," Jenner said. "It's a club I've still got a lot of affection for and I am very excited about playing there for the first time since I left."

The fact that Newcastle sent their scouts to watch the Bees lose to Orrell last Sunday suggests they do not intend to make the same mistake as Wasps by underestimating them. But Jenner believes Newcastle may still struggle to motivate themselves against lower-ranked opposition.

"They insist that they will not be taking us for granted but I am sure they are confident that they have got an easy ride to the final," Jenner said. "But we've already proved that we can cause Premiership sides trouble and, if Newcastle aren't focused, anything can happen."

Twickenham date would be the Bees knees
10 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees skipper Ed Orgee insists the prospect of a run-out at Twickenham is all the incentive his team needs to re-write Powergen Cup history.

The Bees, formerly known as Birmingham & Solihull, face Newcastle at Kingston Park on Sunday with the winner claiming a lucrative trip to HQ for the showpiece final on April 17. No team from outside the top division has ever progressed beyond the semi-final stages of the competition and the odds are stacked against Phil Maynard's National One part-timers bucking the trend, but Orgee believes that the fact his team are just one match away from a dream trip to the home of English rugby will provide them with the motivation to claim another shock victory over Zurich Premiership opposition.

"I've played at Twickenham before - it was for England students against the Combined Services. It was a great feeling to run out on the pitch. Obviously the stadium was fairly empty but it was still a very memorable day," he said. "Going back to Twickenham would be a carrot for all of us. I would love to go back there, especially in front of a big crowd. It would also be a massive deal for the players and would raise the profile of the club."

The Bees owe their place in the semis thanks to their dramatic 28-24 victory over Wasps at the Causeway Stadium, undoubtedly the greatest upset in professional club rugby. No-one gave them a chance against the reigning English champions, who were chasing silverware on three fronts at the time, but the midlands club paid little attention to the script.

And now they must defy all the odds once again if they are to continue their march to Twickenham with back row forward Orgee demanding that his side repeat their heroics against Wasps.

"The moments after the Wasps game were total elation for us. But on reflection, after we'd looked at the video, we realised we'd played very well and deserved to win the game. We've taken a lot of confidence from that match," he said.

"Before the game I thought we'd be competitive but it was not until the last 20 minutes that I actually felt we could win. When the whistle went we were all in total disbelief. Now we must repeat that performance. We have to be at our best to have any chance of beating them, while they have to have an off day."

Newcastle have endured an indifferent season - they have been plagued by inconsistency in the Premiership and the Powergen Cup represents their only chance of finishing the season with a trophy. But they are still hard to beat at Kingston Park and boast plenty of firepower - not least in Tongan powerhouse Epi Taione who on his day can smash through the tightest of defences.

"They have strength everywhere. They have a very destructive runner in Epi Taione and he can make big inroads. We will have to get to him early and try and stop him building any momentum," said Orgee. "But I have respect for a lot of their players, especially Mark Andrews who is one of the game's great second row forwards. They have quality all over the pitch. They'll be motivated because there is a game at Twickenham at stake and with that comes passage into Europe. But we have to match their intensity and take them on up front."

Bees get real in cup dream
10 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 

Pertemps Bees can't rely on the shock factor again when they take on the Newcastle Falcons, warns director of rugby Phil Maynard.

Maynard does not expect Powergen Cup semi-final opponents Newcastle to be as complacent as Wasps were in the quarters.

But even if the Bees do bow out at Kingston Park, he has thor-oughly enjoyed the club's Cup ride.

"Newcastle will not take us lightly," said Maynard of the Premiership side.

"They are one game away from Twickenham and we know that they will do us no favours at all.

"It's a very tough game for us and, regardless of what happened at Wasps, we are likely to be up against it.

"We have a small squad and our players are starting to get battle-weary while Newcastle have just had a weekend off so they will be nicely refreshed.

"Realistically, it's likely to be the end of the line for us. But we enjoyed our day out at Wasps, we will enjoy this weekend and when we look back on the competition we will have some fabulous memories.

"If nothing else it has reminded people that rugby is played in Birmingham and that there is rugby life outside the Premiership."

Newcastle scouts at last weekend's 29-24 defeat to Orrell will have been confused as to which Bees side they will face.

"We managed to combine our worst and our best qualities in one performance, but I'm not sure that the spies will have discovered anything that they didn't already know about us," said Maynard.

Meanwhile the Bees are optimistic that hooker Rob Merritt and centre Mike Davies will be fit for Sunday.

Davies twisted an ankle at Wasps eight days ago and was forced to sit out last weekend's game, while Merritt suffered an elbow injury against Orrell.

"We don't think it's too serious and we're confident that Rob will be fit to face Newcastle," said Maynard.

"Mike Davies should also be fit to return, having had a week's rest, although we will give him a fitness check this week."

Maynard embarks on a mission
10 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

In the business world they call it managing expectations, in the sporting parlance it's known as mind-games but to part-time rugby players it's called realism.

Pertemps Bees have officially begun their "We're not worthy" routine ahead of Sunday's Power-gen Cup semi-final against Premiership side Newcastle Falcons.

Just as he did before beating London Wasps in the previous round, Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard, yesterday began to hail the superiority of the Kingston Park side while playing down the chances of his own side.

The process begins with a downbeat analysis of last Sunday's league loss to another full-time team, Orrell. "We managed to combine our worse qualities and our best qualities into that one performance but I'm not sure that the spies from Newcastle will have discovered anything that they didn't already know about us," Maynard said.

"They will not take us lightly," he said. "They are one game away from Twickenham and we know that they will do us no favours at all.

"It's a very tough game for us and we are likely to be up against it. We have a small squad, we've only had one weekend off this season and our players are starting to get battle-weary," he added.

And if he could, he'd call it all off and just go home. "Newcastle's players have just had a weekend off, they will be nicely refreshed and that makes our task more difficult.

"Realistically it's likely to be the end of the line for us. But we enjoyed our day out at Wasps, we will enjoy the weekend in Newcastle and when we look back on the competition we will have some fabulous memories.

"If nothing else it has reminded people that rugby is played in Birmingham and that there is rugby life outside the Premiership."

Maynard would have anyone who happens to be listening believe that a heavy beating at the hands of Newcastle is fait accompli but it is safe to assume he is sending out a very different message to his players.

Those players seemed to have the semi-final on their mind when they were blown away in the first 15 minutes by a fired-up Orrell side in their last outing.

Whether they were still hung-over from the Wasps game or saving themselves for the Falcons is difficult to say but that loss killed off any hopes they had of finishing second in National One. That result could also prove costly in terms of personnel with hooker Bob Merritt coming off in the last minute.

Merritt, whose 100 per cent accuracy at the line-out was a key factor in the win at Wasps, suffered an elbow injury and was replaced by Alan Hubbleday.

"We don't think it's too serious and we're confident that Rob will be fit to face Newcastle," said Maynard.

Another important player with a question mark hanging over his fitness is centre Mike Davies who twisted his ankle at Causeway Stadium. "Mike should also be fit to return having had a week's rest although we will give him a fitness check in training this week." Davies's return would be a major boost to Bees' defensive plans because the Welshman is not only a strong runner in attack but adds steel to the midfield.

One player who will not be included in the squad for Newcastle is fly-half Jason Strange who is cup-tied. The former Newport player joined Pertemps Bees on loan from Rotherham last week and kicked three conversions on his debut against Orrell.

But the 30-year-old played in Rotherham's sixth round cup defeat by Newcastle in November and will have to wait until at least the National League home game against London Welsh on March 20 for his next outing.

Strange eager to impress
9 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees' new boy Jason Strange wants to get his season back on track after joining a club on the up.

Strange is cup-tied for this Sunday's Powergen Cup semi-final at Newcastle after playing for struggling Rotherham in the sixth round of the competition --also against Newcastle.

But despite hoping Mark Woodrow has a great game this weekend, the on loan fly-half is aiming to keep him out of the side from then on.

And after spending five months at a club without a win, he can already feel the benefit of being at the confident Bees.

"Despite the result I enjoyed it against Orrell on Sunday," said Strange, who played over half an hour as a replacement. "It was just nice to get some game time under my belt.

"My appearances have been pretty limited at Rotherham in the last few months. I wasn't really given the opportunity to prove myself since before Christmas.

"I was out for four to five weeks with an ankle ligament injury, but since coming back to fitness I've been out of the side. That's why it's good to come here on loan - I'll be here until the end of the season, although Rotherham can call me back if they need to."

Wales A cap Strange joined promoted Rotherham from Newport this season, but the Titans have suffered a nightmare winless streak in the Premiership.

So despite dropping down a division, the 30-year-old is enjoying the atmosphere in the Sharmans Cross Road camp.

"You can notice the difference in mood straight away," said Strange.

"At Rotherham it was a dificult time, because when you lose five or six games on the trot it just becomes a habit and hits the morale and confidence.

"But there's a terrific spirit with the Bees.

"It's been a great season for the club and hopefully that can continue at Newcastle on Sunday."

Strange's goalkicking prowess - his three late conversions earned the Bees a bonus point against Orrell - could be crucial in his personal battle with Woodrow.

Woodrow's overall kicking record has been patchy, his man-of-the-match dis-play against Wasps aside.

Bees fear Falcons sting
9 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk
 
Pertemps Bees boss Phil Maynard fears a 100-point loss if his side repeat their recent league form against Newcastle.

Pertemps Bees players celebrate their win over Wasps

Falcons v Bees
Sunday, 14 Mar, 1415 GMT
Live on BBC Grandstand

The Birmingham/Solihull National League club are one step from a Twickenham final after their shock Powergen Cup quarter-final win over Wasps.

But Maynard warned: "If we had played as badly against Wasps as we did against Orrell (a 29-24 loss) last week we would have lost by 100 points.

"And if we play as badly against Newcastle we will lose by 100 points."

Newcastle sent scouts to assess the Solihull-based Bees in advance of Sunday's semi-final but it may have been a wasted trip.

"We managed to combine our worse qualities and our best qualities into one performance but I'm not sure that the spies from Newcastle will have discovered anything that they didn't already know about us," Maynard said.

Realistically it's likely to be the end of the line for us
Bees boss Phil Maynard
Wasps rested half-a-dozen frontline players and paid the price, but Maynard does not expect the Falcons to follow suit.

"They will not take us lightly," he added. "They are one game away from Twickenham and we know that they will do us no favours at all.

"It's a very tough game for us and, regardless of what happened at Wasps, we are likely to be up against it. We have a small squad, we've only had one weekend off this season and our players are starting to get battle-weary.

"Newcastle's players have just had a weekend off, they will be nicely refreshed and that makes our task more difficult.

"Realistically it's likely to be the end of the line for us. But we enjoyed our day out at Wasps, we will enjoy the weekend in Newcastle and when we look back on the competition we will have some fabulous memories.

"If nothing else it has reminded people that rugby is played in Birmingham and that there is rugby life outside the Premiership."

The Bees hope to have centre Mike Davies (ankle) and hooker Rob Merritt (elbow) fit for the biggest match in the club's history.

But fly-half Jason Strange, a recent signing from Rotherham, is cup-tied.

Bees are given taste of the honey
9 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icteeside.com
 
Newcastle's Powergen Cup semi-final opponents Pertemps Bees are set to cash in on their success after all.

The Birmingham National Division One side are to get £20,000 from the RFU following their surprise Powergen Cup quarter-final win over Wasps - and they will also get a share of the gate when they face the Falcons, who could yet have hooker Matt Thompson back in their side, at Kingston Park on Sunday(2.15).

The Bees beat Wasps 28-24 to reach the last four of the cup and they looked set to receive no money because of a Premier Rugby-RFU deal which only financially rewards Premiership sides in the cup.

But RFU officials have said the Midlands side would get a payment to compensate them for money they would have earned from appearing in the Powergen Challenge Shield. Terry Burwell, of the RFU, confirming the pay-out said: "On behalf of the RFU I'd like to congratulate Pertemps Bees on their achievement in reaching the semi-final."

The Bees will also receive 40pc of the gate money from their quarter-final against Wasps and 12.5pc of Sunday's semi-final gate. Additionally, they will also get a £4,500 grant for their travel expenses to Newcastle for the game.

It looks like Falcons hooker Matt Thompson has a chance of playing in the tie just days after it was thought he would need a cartilage operation.

Thompson damaged a knee in the quarter-final win over London Irish and has twice been to see a specialist, who advised a wait-and-see policy rather than an operation.

Bees hoping to keep Jonny away
9 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

They are all that stands between the heart-warming reunion of an injured nation and its conquering hero but Pertemps Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard is not the sentimental type.

The English rugby fraternity, still pining for golden boy Jonny Wilkinson after Saturday's humbling by the Irish, received the news it wanted yesterday as reports emerged that the kicker of That Drop-Goal could return to the field before the end of the season.

Although he'll be too late to contribute to his country's Six Nations campaign he could still play at Twickenham in the final of the Powergen Cup scheduled for April 17.

The only problem is that Maynard's merry bunch stand in his way and although Wilkinson won't feature in Sunday's cup semi-final when his Newcastle Falcons take on Bees, talk on Tyneside is that he could make it back for the set-piece final if they get there.

Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew said: "I've a feeling there is still a sting in the tail to come from Jonny this season. He is fully involved with everything we're doing in training, except for the contact stuff.

"I think he will make his mark. The Powergen Cup final on April 17 is within range but, first, we have to win the semi-final," the former England fly-half added.

But Maynard and his team relish their role of party-poopers and he said yesterday: "I would like to make sure we don't get another look at Jonny Wilkinson this season.

"But there is no chance that Newcastle will take us as lightly as Wasps did. The cat is well and truly out of the bag for us."

It seems as though said moggy was hibernating last weekend when Bees flopped to a disappointing defeat in their National One clash with Orrell.

Maynard agrees that that was not ideal preparation for the meeting with a side that has made it to the cup final in three of the last six years.

Indeed, he confessed, a similar performance on Sunday to that tendered two days ago would result in an extremely heavy defeat.

He said: "With a tiny part-time squad having had a momentous win last week it was always going to be difficult against supposedly one of the best sides in this division. We were cocky and we did not pay due attention to keeping the ball in the first half and we paid the price for it. We conceded two very soft tries around the fringes which you would never expect from us. It was just indicative of the whole day."

Not quite the whole day, Bees were dire in the first half but edged the second as Maynard sent on fresh legs to score three tries in the last 15 minutes.

He said: "The last quarter annoyed me even more because I didn't think Orrell were very good for the amount of money they have spent.

"The lads that came on brightened it up and if Terry Sigley had not gone in the bin we would probably have done it earlier. It just all came at the wrong time. I planned to get some lads on early to freshen it up. Maybe we should have started with them.

"Maybe, looking back with hindsight, in which we have all got degrees, I should not have picked Mark Woodrow and Paul Knight at half-back from the start. They looked tired from the outset."

But it is not all doom and gloom and Maynard was keen to emphasise the positive. "We took a point off a side that is a full-time, £1.5 million professional outfit and we are disappointed, having already beaten Wasps last week, that we did not do better.

"Let's keep it in perspective. We have achieved more than we set out to at the start of the season. We are likely to finish at least fourth and have achieved our season's targets already."

And wouldn't they grace Twickenham with their presence?

After all, Jonny Wilkinson has played there before. ..SUPL:

Bees given sharp cup warning
8 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees boss Phil Maynard has insisted he wouldn't swap Dave and Paul Knight for anybody ahead of tomorrow's visit of Orrell.

The clash is given extra spice by the presence of full-back Leigh Hinton and scrum-half Gavin Cattle, who both left the Bees last summer for full-time rugby with Orrell and a shot at reaching the Premiership.

However, the North-West side have not seriously challenged for the National One title this season and indeed are only one point ahead of the Bees.

And in the meantime the Knight brothers - who both signed new playing contracts this week - have flourished in Hinton and Cattle's former positions.

"A couple of players did leave last summer - and they've had a marvellous season, haven't they?" said Maynard pointedly about the pair.

"But it's worked out perfectly because it was always a dilemma who to play at full-back and scrum-half, and now Dave and Paul have really blossomed as players.

"They've played some of their best rugby this season."

Paul has committed himself to another two years at Sharmans Cross Road, while Dave has done likewise for one season after this.

Beyond any personal battles, Maynard and his players have high hopes of upsetting another full-time side this weekend and keeping alive their dream of finishing as runners-up to Worcester.

They came desperately close to winning at Edgehall Road in November before slipping to a 20-13 defeat.

The only change from Sunday's 28-24 dream win over Wasps is a forced one.

Mike Davies' ankle injury means the Bees will start with the centre pairing that ended the game so well last week, Shaun Woof at 12 with Luke Nabaro outside him.

Fly-half Jason Strange comes onto the bench days after his signing from Premiership strugglers Rotherham.

But even his top flight experience could not tempt Maynard to drop Mark Woodrow after his sterling work at Wasps last week.

* Bees have been forced to bite the bullet and accept £20,000 from the RFU as reward for reaching the sem-finals of the Powergen Cup.

The club are furious at, in their eyes, being treated like second class citizens after gatecrashing the Premiership party by beating Wasps last Sunday.

But after making their point about the double standards for non-Premiership clubs, they will take the RFU's compensation offer.

BEES: D Knight, Baxter, Nabaro, Woof, Takarangi, Woodrow, P knight; Tkachuk, Merritt, Sigley, Davidson, Orgee, Fakatou, Carter, Jenner. Replacements: Long, Hubbleday, Walton, White, Richardson, Strange, Gregory.

Bees take RFU cash
6 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
The sabre rattling is over. Pertemps Bees have accepted a £20,000 payment plus expenses from the Rugby Football Union as a reward for reaching the semi-finals of the Powergen Cup.

It may still be seen as scant remuneration for giving up a place in the Powergen Shield where they stood to win £30,000 had they played in and eventually won the tournament.

The RFU agreed to find additional funds to compensate the Bees after a loophole was exposed in competition funding by their quarter-final win at London Wasps last Sunday. There is no provision in the cup prize money pool for a National League club progressing to the last four of the cup.

Pertemps Bees' board members agreed the settlement after a telephone conference this morning in which they pressed for a greater hand-out.

"We are grateful to the RFU for recognising our achievement in reaching the semi-finals of the Powergen Cup," said Pertemps Bees' director Lawrence Grove.

"There is no provision for funding for National League clubs reaching this stage of the competition and the RFU have listened to our representations.

"While we are disappointed that we could not be reinstated into the Powergen Shield we hope that, having raised a number of apparent anomalies in the regulations, that those will be reviewed for next season."

With the potential row now resolved Bees can return their attention to tomorrow's clash with Orrell in the league which could settle the second and third places in the First Division.

Maynard hails Bees brothers
6 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees boss Phil Maynard has insisted he wouldn't swap Dave and Paul Knight for anybody ahead of tomorrow's visit of Orrell.

The clash is given extra spice by the presence of full-back Leigh Hinton and scrum-half Gavin Cattle, who both left the Bees last summer for full-time rugby with Orrell and a shot at reaching the Premiership.

However, the North-West side have not seriously challenged for the National One title this season and indeed are only one point ahead of the Bees.

And in the meantime the Knight brothers - who both signed new playing contracts this week - have flourished in Hinton and Cattle's former positions.

"A couple of players did leave last summer - and they've had a marvellous season, haven't they?" said Maynard pointedly about the pair.

"But it's worked out perfectly because it was always a dilemma who to play at full-back and scrum-half, and now Dave and Paul have really blossomed as players.

"They've played some of their best rugby this season."

Paul has committed himself to another two years at Sharmans Cross Road, while Dave has done likewise for one season after this.

Beyond any personal battles, Maynard and his players have high hopes of upsetting another full-time side this weekend and keeping alive their dream of finishing as runners-up to Worcester.

They came desperately close to winning at Edgehall Road in November before slipping to a 20-13 defeat.

The only change from Sunday's 28-24 dream win over Wasps is a forced one.

Mike Davies' ankle injury means the Bees will start with the centre pairing that ended the game so well last week, Shaun Woof at 12 with Luke Nabaro outside him.

Fly-half Jason Strange comes onto the bench days after his signing from Premiership strugglers Rotherham.

But even his top flight experience could not tempt Maynard to drop Mark Woodrow after his sterling work at Wasps last week.

* Bees have been forced to bite the bullet and accept £20,000 from the RFU as reward for reaching the sem-finals of the Powergen Cup.

The club are furious at, in their eyes, being treated like second class citizens after gatecrashing the Premiership party by beating Wasps last Sunday.

But after making their point about the double standards for non-Premiership clubs, they will take the RFU's compensation offer.

BEES: D Knight, Baxter, Nabaro, Woof, Takarangi, Woodrow, P knight; Tkachuk, Merritt, Sigley, Davidson, Orgee, Fakatou, Carter, Jenner. Replacements: Long, Hubbleday, Walton, White, Richardson, Strange, Gregory.

Maynard makes a Strange signing
5 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees received a triple boost today by signing Rotherham fly-half Jason Strange and securing contract extensions from Paul and Dave Knight.

Strange, aged 30, has regis-tered with the Bees until the end of the season and is on the bench for Sunday's game against Orrell. The Knight brothers - scrum-half Paul and full-back Dave - have signed on the dotted lines after having a fine season at Sharmans Cross Road.

"Jason has got experience in the Premiership and will be a good addition to the squad," said director of rugby Phil

Maynard, who nevertheless keeps faith with in-form Mark Woodrow.

"And we're delighted that Dave and Paul have extended their contracts with us."

Strange's arrival is a timely boost as it provides the competition at fly-half that Woodrow has lacked because of Craig Chalmers' persistent injuries.

Meanwhile, Maynard's men are National League One's side of the month for February after their heroics at Wasps.

The award is due solely to the Cup win, though, as Maynard freely admits that their league form has been patchy.

 

Bees: We are all still buzzing
3 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees boss Phil Maynard says last weekend's Cup heroics will - far from exhausting the side --inspire them against Orrell on Sunday.

The director of rugby is adamant that the return to league rugby between trips to Premiership giants Wasps and Newcastle should not be taken lightly.

And he thinks the exertions of Sunday's 28-24 win are the perfect preparation for the visit of another set of full-timers to Sharmans Cross Road.

"I did think beforehand that the Wasps game would be an excellent way to prepare for the challenge of Orrell," said Maynard.

"It was too - with the added bonus that we won!

"Obviously it was a tough game on Sunday but the mood that the troops are in this week more than makes up for any tiredness. We'll go in with all guns blazing."

Maynard is demanding that his squad remove the March 14 semi-final at Newcastle from their minds. "I will be reminding the players in training this week to put all thoughts of the semi-final out of their minds," he added.

"The Orrell game is a clash between second and third in this division and it might well determine who finishes as runnersup to Worcester.

"It's another game against full-time opposition and we will need to be as committed and focused as we were at Wasps. If we allow our thoughts to drift back one week or forward to Newcastle we will be in trouble."

If nothing else, the squad's continuing desire to show former tem-mates Gavin Cattle and Leigh Hinton that they were wrong to join Orrell last summer will spur them on.

Last night's training session, coming so soon after their quarter-final, was non-contact and concentrated on fitness work.

But Maynard said: "We will not be taking it easy."

The Bees' only fitness worries are centre Mike Davies, who twisted an ankle and came off at Wasps, and their new national star Mark Woodrow who has a slight groin strain.

But they are both expected to be fine to rejoin the back line for Sunday.

l Bees have received an initial allocation of 300 tickets for the Powergen Cup semi-final against Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

Tickets will be on sale at Sharmans Cross Road from Thursday March 11 and are priced £21 for seats (concessions £11) and £13 for standing (concessions £7). Further tickets may be made available by Newcastle depending on demand on Tyneside.

Bees are organising coaches for the trip to Kingston Park and bookings can be made on 0121 704 4907. The match, the biggest in Bees' history, will be televised live on BBC's Grandstand.

Bonus for Bees after win leads to loss
2 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.guardian.co.uk
 
Pertemps Bees will be able to hive away some of the proceeds generated by Twickenham through the Powergen Cup after surprisingly reaching the semi-finals by knocking out Wasps.

The National League One club thought they would receive nothing for reaching the last four, where they will face Newcastle at Kingston Park next Sunday week. However, the Rugby Football Union is looking at ways of diverting some prize money to the club, who also receive 12.5% of the gate and a £4,000 travel allowance.

The long-term agreement between the Zurich Premiership clubs and the RFU - the means by which the finances of the sides are decided - does not make any provision for a first division team reaching the last four of the Powergen Cup. That is a surprising oversight given that the competition is a distant third in the top clubs' pecking order, behind the league and Europe.

Wasps fielded a largely reserve side against the Bees at Wycombe on Sunday and, despite scoring four tries to two, were well beaten in what was arguably the biggest shock the tournament has seen. Last season, home advantage counted for nothing as a makeshift Bristol crashed out to the then first division Rotherham, the start of a rapid decline for the Shoguns which culminated in the clubs swapping divisions.

Had the Bees lost, they would have entered the Powergen Shield, the final of which is played as a warm-up to the main event at Twickenham next month, with £30,000 on offer to the winners. Aggrieved at the prospect of losing a pay day that is almost 10% of their annual budget, the club asked the chairman of First Division Rugby, Geoff Cooke, to take up their case with the RFU. The upshot was a statement from the RFU's Community Rugby and Operations Manager, Terry Burwell, who said the governing body was "actively looking at ways of ensuring that Pertemps Bees are not financially penalised for their progress in the Powergen Cup."

The Bees' director of rugby, Phil Maynard, said after the victory that his part-time players, whose average annual wage is £10,000, would not receive a win bonus because the club would not receive any money for making the semi-finals, although they will get 40% of the proceeds from the 4,005 gate at the Causeway Stadium.

"There is no precedent for a first division club reaching the semi-finals," said Maynard. "That has created an anomaly, which is why we are making representations to the RFU. So far our achievement has cost us money because we are no longer in the Powergen Shield.

"There is a perception that there is no rugby outside the Premiership, which fails to recognise how professional the first division is. Players warming benches in the top flight would be better dropping down a division and playing some high quality rugby."

The Wasps director of rugby Warren Gatland denied he had taken victory for granted, having decided to rest a number of his key players because of the hectic end to the season with the club in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and second in the Premiership. "We gave a chance to players who felt they were worth a place in the first team and perhaps some think they are better than they really are," he said.

The other three semi-finalists, Newcastle, Sale and Leeds, either have little or no chance of finishing in the Premiership top three and qualifying for the championship play-offs. The Powergen Cup is, to them, a means of qualifying for the Heineken Cup and salvaging a disappointing season, whereas to Gatland it was a distraction.

Tetley's stopped sponsoring the tournament three years ago because of what it felt was a stark depreciation in its value. Bath's coach John Connolly, speaking before his side's quarter-final defeat at Leeds, questioned its value in a congested season. But the Bees may have done the organisers a favour by rekindling interest after a weekend which saw the quarter-finals yield an average attendance of 4,000, half the number attracted to Premiership matches.

·Wales's ploy of substituting the prop Adam Jones after 30 minutes of an international has been shelved after he was pulled out of the squad to face France in Cardiff on Saturday because of an ankle injury. He spent the weekend on crutches after being injured during Neath-Swansea Ospreys' victory in Munster and he was yesterday replaced by the 24-cap Ben Evans. The Wales captain Colin Charvis returns having recovered from a finger injury.

RFU to reward Pertemps Bees for Cup success
2 March 2004 ~ taken from http://www.independant.co.uk
 
The Rugby Football Union yesterday decided to reward the Birmingham Pertemps Bees financially after their stunning defeat of Wasps in the quarter-finals of the Powergen Cup.

The part-timers from the Midlands did not expect to receive anything following Sunday's victory over the Premiership champions, because all the season's RFU prize-money was to be divided between the top-flight clubs based on league position and progress made in the cup.

However, following the Bees' 28-24 win, the RFU's community rugby and operations director, Terry Burwell, said: "Due to Birmingham Pertemps Bees' superb performance and their ongoing participation in the Powergen Cup, there is some doubt regarding their participation in the Powergen Shield."

The Shield is a four-team competition made up of the losers of the Powergen Cup quarter-finals, whose winners take home £30,000.

"Although we have not received a formal approach from Birmingham Pertemps Bees, we are actively looking at ensuring that they are not financially penalised for their participation in the Powergen Cup," Burwell continued.

Before yesterday's decision from the RFU, the Bees' director of rugby, Phil Maynard, said: "The ironic thing is we didn't get a penny for Sunday. There is no precedent for an FDR [First Division Rugby] club getting this far. It's cost us money because we are now out of the Shield semi-final, which we'd like to have won against Wakefield at home," he said. "That would have taken us to Twickenham and given us the opportunity to earn £30,000. But there's an anomaly occurred which we are making representations about to the RFU at the moment."

The Bees will now receive 40 per cent of gate takings from Sunday's match, and face Newcastle in the last four.

The former New Zealand forward Zinzan Brooke is relishing the prospect of coaching the Barbarians against Leicester in the NIG Challenge match tomorrow. The 39-year-old, capped 58 times by the All Blacks, also played three times for the Barbarians - twice against Leicester.

"Barbarians rugby is not really about structure, it's about instinct and combinations. The Barbarians like to play with great freedom," Brooke said.

The Baa-Baas squad includes Wales' points-scoring record holder Neil Jenkins, South Africa's Joost van der Westhuizen and the legendary Fijian Sevens player,Waisale Serevi.

Roar us to glory!
26 february 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

The Bees will be roared on by their largest ever contingent of travelling supporters when they play the biggest match in the club's history this weekend.

The club take on Premiership giants London Wasps in the Powergen Cup quarter-final on Sunday, and some 500 supporters - more than at many of their home gates - are expected to make the trek to High Wycombe.

The party includes a sizeable contingent from the Bees' mini and junior section with around 300 fans already booked on official Bees' supporters coaches.

There will also be coaches travelling from as far afield as Bristol and Hinckley, organised by friends and family of Bees' fly-half Mark Woodrow and lock Rob Walton respectively.

"Obviously we would have preferred a home draw against any of the Premiership clubs, but we have been overwhelmed by the interest that the quarter-final has generated," said Phil Maynard, the Bees' director of rugby.

"The players and coaching staff greatly appreciate the support we have had this season and we hope that everyone travelling from the Midlands to Wasps on Sunday really gets behind the team."

Places on official Bees' supporters coaches can be booked on 0121 704 4907.

Bees skipper in cup pledge
26 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees go into this weekend's Powergen Cup special at London Wasps with the message: Don't underestimate us.

The Sharmans Cross Road side know they will be big outsiders for Sunday's Cup quarter-final at the Causeway Stadium.

But skipper Ed Orgee says they don't want to be seen as no-hopers, just there to make up the numbers.

"For a few players this will be the biggest game of their careers, but we do have a lot of experienced names," said Orgee.

"For example, Jim Jenner has been to a Twickenham final and scored a try while there are several other players with top level experience."

Number eight Jenner's recovery from a slight neck injury is vital to the Bees' slim chances, but Hese Fakatou, Nathan Carter and Kevin Tkachuk are also tough experienced forwards.

Shaun Woof and Luke Nabaro have Premiership experience, too, and with Wasps missing a host of players the experience gap may not be as great as expected. Wasps have got a few injuries, plus they're without their England players, and if you take them out you're left with a few players that aren't that well known," said Orgee.

"There's probably not that much difference between a squad player at Wasps and a first teamer with one of the big National One teams, and I think we've competed well against sides like that. Obviously we're still second favourites, but if we can get at them in the first 20 minutes and stay in touch then it will start to play on their minds.

"Fitness could be an issue, although we've shown good staying power this season. It is important that we finish well, because it would be a shame if we did all the hard work but then let them score heavily in the final quarter."

Orgee and several current team-mates were almost involved in a big Powergen Cup upset two seasons ago, when they led bravely at Northampton Saints until losing in the last 15 minutes.

But the captain - who unfortunately was sinbinned in that game - says the Bees are a much better side now than then.

Lion Chalmers still a worker Bee
Much-travelled Scot is close to the end of his rugby journey
26 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.guardian.co.uk
 
Reluctantly Craig Chalmers agrees: this may be his last season as a rugby player. He is 35 and says he is considering options, which include possibly staying with his present club, Pertemps Bees, in the English First Division.

Chalmers was their big-name signing in the summer but a series of minor injuries, plus the form of a 23-year-old electrician from Bristol, have meant the former Scotland international has started fewer games than either he or the club anticipated.

On Sunday Pertemps - Birmingham-Solihull until the Midlands employment agency signed a three-year, £250,000 sponsorship deal - play the biggest game in their history. When they announce the team to visit Wasps in the quarter-final of the Powergen Cup, either tonight or tomorrow, they are likely to give the No10 shirt to Mark Woodrow, a former Bristol Dings Crusader.

The best Chalmers can expect is to start from the bench. He is recovering from a damaged tendon in his shoulder and has missed several of the twice-weekly training sessions held under lights, two lights, at the club's ground in one of the smarter parts of Birmingham.

Pertemps are a club with ambitions. They have just turned down a takeover offer from a consortium, represented by the former England coach Dick Best, which wants to introduce a team of South African professionals into the English leagues. Instead they intend to continue their push for the Premiership alone, selling their eight-acre site and moving to 40 acres acquired when Birmingham and Solihull merged in 1989.

Chalmers, capped 60 times by Scotland, is mulling over "a few little things at the moment".

He said: "I'm not too sure what's going to happen. It might be, it might not be [his last season]. When you get to my age you have to look at the injuries and time commitment. I'd love to go coaching and, if I got a job that I enjoyed, then right tomorrow I'd say I'll stop playing and make this my last one."

One of his options is to return to Scotland. He still has a house in Melrose - he played for the club there when he was first capped, against Wales in 1989. He was only 20 and took to international rugby like a duck to water. He scored a try and a drop-goal in that first game and the same year went with the Lions to Australia.

Ten years later his international career ended as a late replacement against the Argentinians, again at Murrayfield. Two years after that he headed south for London and Harlequins. In seven months he played in two cup finals, the Parker Pen and the Powergen.

Then came a move to the ambitious Worcester side, bankrolled by Cecil Duckworth. He saw out a two-year contract, and still lives in the city, but when Birmingham came calling he agreed his first part-time deal in the professional era, backed up with a job with one of Pertemps' subsidiaries, helping the unemployed get back to work.

If he has one regret it is not moving south sooner. "I came down when I was just getting over injury, but I was still competitive," he said yesterday. "I had a good time with Quins, but it was a level above anything I had played week in, week out.

"Leicester spoke to me three times over the years, starting in 1992. Wasps, London Scottish, when they were still in the Premiership, and Sale also called. As did Saracens the year I signed for Worcester. So I had plenty of offers.

"You look back and it would have been a great thing to have done, but Melrose was always my club and I had some great times. A great team kept together until the professional era came around."

Chalmers said he was tempted to return to the Borders club at the end of last season, but a job coaching at a private school in Edinburgh fell through at the last moment. "If I'd got it then I probably would have gone back."

If he does head north at the end of this season he may also try to eke out one year as a player-coach. "I keep myself reasonably fit - no matter what they'll tell you here. But the older you get, it's the contact sessions that you want to sidestep. You've got to use your head.

"I played against the Edinburgh boys at the start of the season and I got late-tackled three times in the first 10 minutes, so they were obviously glad to see me. As long as people are doing that to you it's obvious they still see you as a threat."

And what about Wasps on Sunday? Pertemps, who are third in the First Division, have made no special preparations other than to hire a coach for the players, who usually save money by travelling by car.

"We have to turn up and be our best, otherwise it's going to be a long, hard afternoon. There will be a lot of fear, but it's good to have fear in you - it drives you on." But to what?

 

Bees determined to give Wasps a nasty sting despite gulf in ability
26 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.timesonline.co.uk
 
WASPS will confront Bees in High Wycombe on Sunday. Residents of the Buckinghamshire town need not fear: this is not a clash between rival swarms of the Hymenoptera insect family, merely a Powergen Cup quarter-final between London Wasps, high-flyers in the Zurich Premiership, and Pertemps Bees, the part-timers of the National League first division and the only survivors from outside the Premiership.

Theres been quite an atmosphere about the lads this week, Phil Maynard, the Bees coach, said. Theres a real buzz about the place. Ah, sorry for the pun. Im supposed to be avoiding those.

The Bees, renamed from Birmingham and Solihull at the start of this season at the behest of a sponsor, at present lie third in the first division. Although Wasps, second in the Premiership, are only 13 places higher in the pecking order, this represents a gaping chasm in club rugby.

The comprehensive failure of Rotherham to bridge the gap between the divisions after promotion last year they have lost all of their 17 Premiership games to date has cast a shadow over the aspirational first division clubs.

It is a situation that could have serious repercussions for the English game. Were largely ignored by the Premiership, Maynard said. This division has a big role to play in the development of players, but the Premiership clubs just look to their own academies, and the academy system is not working. They are hoovering up all the young talent, but then bring in South Africans and New Zealanders to fill the first-team spots.

You can argue that its a business, but in my view its short-sighted. When you look around for a young Englishman in a specialist position, it can be difficult to find one. Hes probably languishing in someones academy team. We might win the Six Nations with this system but is it going to win the next World Cup?

There is, at least, the incentive of promotion for first division clubs, which many Premiership clubs have fought against. They talk about not ring-fencing the Premiership but in effect they have done that with the way that the RFU distributes money, Maynard said. That makes it difficult to compete unless youve got a rich sponsor to throw money around. Or you run a well-organised club that can operate on a financially secure basis, which is what were trying to do.

When Pertemps, the recruitment company, offered the club £250,000 over three years if they agreed to a name change, there were few dissenting voices. Its the way forward, Maynard said. If youre offered that sort of money to change your name, its hard to turn down. They could have called us Vicky for all I care.

The cash injection has enabled Maynard to strengthen his side with half a dozen new recruits, but still leaves the club behind most of its professional rivals in the first division. Maynard estimates that they would need to treble the playing budget just to compete seriously for promotion.

They are, however, driven by ambition. Their ground may only have one rickety stand and a clubhouse best described as lived-in, but it could be the key to a professional future. The Bees hope to sell their ground to developers and move four miles to their second ground, Portway, where they could build a stadium fit for professional rugby.

Meanwhile, progress on the field continues. Craig Chalmers, the former Scotland fly half, joined this season, although he wont play on Sunday because of a shoulder injury. There are internationals in Hese Fakatou, of Tonga, and Kevin Tkachuk, the Canadian who played in the World Cup. In Jim Jenner, they have a No 8 who has played in a cup-winning side at Twickenham, with Newcastle Falcons in 2001.

Their targets for this season were a top-five finish and a good cup run. While the Powergen Cup adventure may end on Sunday, they have a second chance of a trip to Twickenham when they play Wakefield in a Powergen Shield semi-final four weeks later. But will a second chance be required? It will take a plague to hit the Wasps squad for us to go through, Maynard said. But its the cup, you never know.

HOW THE CLUBS COMPARE

WASPS

Founded: 1867
Honours: English league/ Premiership champions: 1989-90, 1996-97, 2002-03; Cup winners: 1999, 2000; Parker Pen Challenge Cup winners: 2003.
Present internationals: 14.
Most-capped England player: Rob Andrew (71 caps).
Full-time professionals: 41.
Wage bill: £1.91 million.
Average home gate: 8,000.

BEES

Founded: 1989 (as Birmingham & Solihull; merger of two clubs)
Honours: North Midlands Cup: 1993; Midlands I winners, 1998-99
Present internationals: 1 (Kevin Tkachuk, Canada)

Most-capped England player:
Steve Brain (13).
Full-time professionals: Nil.
Wage bill: £350,000.
Average home gate: 500.

Orgee plots heroic downfall
26 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Perhaps no one in the Pertemps Bees squad embodies the selfless efforts that have been made to turn the Sharmans Cross Road have-nots into National One challengers more than Ed Orgee.

As club captain and heartbeat of the forwards, Orgee even moved positions in the summer to help out a side short of quality second rows and, perhaps more than anyone, deserves a day in the sun against London Wasps.

And as typifies the man when he leads his side out for the biggest match in their history, it will be thoughts for his team-mates that fill his head, instead of wondering how he is going to win lineout ball from Simon Shaw, one of the most gifted locks in the country.

"Personally, I am definitely feeling excited about the game, but also a bit apprehensive too to be honest," said the 27-year-old.

"I want us to go there and do really well, so there is a little bit of concern about the guys from that point of view. But as long as we go there and take it to them, I don't see that being too much of a problem.

"I am not too worried about the physicality, but the pace they play at is very high-velocity; that is what concerns me most," he said.

Which could mean an afternoon scampering round after some of the fastest backs in the country, demanding a defensive effort comparable to that which did for Bedford and Exeter earlier in the campaign.

"Our defence has been strong throughout the season but maybe it has lapsed a bit in the last month," said Orgee.

"It is important that we go there with a big strong disruptive defence and we must believe in ourselves that we are capable of doing that.

"We will keep our defence tight if we can because, the longer we disrupt them, the more our confidence will grow and the pressure will be on them."

That's the nil taken care of then; what about putting a few points on Wasps?

"We will take it to them. If we play a tight, limited, game then I am sure we will get beaten.

"When we have been successful this year, we have played with an open style, so we will try to do that," which also requires a big improvement to what was served up in a recent loss to Otley and below-par wins over Wakefield and Coventry.

"The last month, a few of us and me personally have dropped off from the first ten games," he continued. "We have got a small squad and we started in August, so that is only natural. Phil [Maynard] made the necessary step of dropping people last week, which was the kick up the backside we needed. But a long season is not an excuse for not getting up over the next two weeks."

After Wasps comes the small matter of what many are billing as the second-place play-off, with the Lancastrians currently one point ahead in the race to be runners-up to Worcester.

So despite a playing budget that is one of the smallest in the league, Bees are still fighting on three fronts, the league, the cup and the Powergen Shield. But Orgee knows which one he wants.

"Getting second in the league would be a fairer reflection of our season but, from a romantic point of view, if we could beat Wasps that would be magic," he said.

Bees do not fear Wasp's sting
26 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

When Pertemps Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard tells you he is experiencing sleepless nights, it is easy to understand why.

The man leading the Sharmans Cross Road revolution is just days away from taking his rag-tag bunch of part-timers to play London Wasps in the quarter final of the Powergen Cup.

So you would assume the thought of watching his merry band take a skelping or two from the Zurich Premiership champions would be the cause of his insomnia.

But it's not; the 46-year-old is more bothered by a trapped nerve in his neck than worrying about his team of lambs frolicking their way to the slaughter.

Bees don't do slaughtered and speaking at those rarest of events yesterday, a Sharmans Cross Road press conference, Maynard was relaxed and taking everything in his stride ahead of Sunday's last-eight clash.

"We have just got to play with a smile on our face and look to enjoy it," he said to the massed ranks of rugby journalists, surely evidence that something historical was afoot.

And while he admits it would take a plane to crash on Wasps for an upset to take place, typically he is motivated by the challenge rather than cowed by its size.

"Competing is the main thing. We do not want to go down there and disgrace ourselves. They are one of the best sides in Europe and we are going to be up against it, that's for sure, but we have worked hard and had a pretty good season really.

"We topped this league for the first two months and we have only lost four games in competitive rugby so far.

"We had experience against one of the best sides in Europe at the beginning of the season, a pre-season game against Edinburgh Reivers, and we fared pretty well; as long as we stick to our drills and do the basics well, we should hang in there," he said.

Wasps are unlikely to field the brightest stars in their constellation - England internationals Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw, Josh Lewsey and Joe Worsley - but Maynard is not too sure that's entirely helpful.

"It would have been nice to have the England boys on the park and I think, strangely enough, we might have had a better chance," he said. "Of the guys they will have playing for them, I would say 60 per cent will be looking for contracts, so they will not be messing about and will be giving it everything."

Tactically, he knows he is asking his players, most of whom work during the day and train just twice a week, to take a massive step. "Wasps only ever commit two or three players to a ruck and they multi-phase very quickly. They transfer the ball to dangerous parts of the pitch very well, which is not worrying but it is very professional.

"They exploit gaps very quickly and they turn mistakes into points. They are pretty ruthless when they do that, because they have got pace to burn from one to 15.

"All that means our guys cannot spend any time on the floor; as soon as they tackle, they have got to get back up and into the game and we have got to make sure that our defence is as good as it has ever been."

The quarter-final is further than Bees have ever been before and around 500 supporters are expected to make the trip to the Causeway Stadium in High Wycombe, where Wasps play their matches.

Bizarrely a win, however unlikely, might just deprive the club of an easier route to a Twickenham final because, if they do make the semi-finals, they will lose their place in the Powergen Shield.

The Shield is open to the four non-Premiership clubs who get furthest in the Powergen Cup and also boasts a Twickenham showpiece for the final but, if Bees were to get past Wasps and earn a Cup semi with London Irish or Newcastle Falcons, they would have to pull out of their Shield match against Wakefield.

Maynard has made no secrets of the fact that he would love a day out at HQ this season so that the club has tangible proof of the advancements it has made. Not to make it in either competition would really be a pain in the neck.

Prolific Baxter hoping for more Bees burn-ups
26 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk

In Birmingham he is known as the fastest thing to come out of Longbridge other than the MG sports car, but Nick Baxter is keen to banish suggestions that he is running on empty.

The Pertemps Bees winger cemented his place in rugby history two years ago when he became the first player to score 100 National League tries.

He has since extended that record to 125, but almost three months have elapsed since Baxter last scored, the longest drought since he converted to rugby from football 12 years ago.

The tries may have dried up, but Baxter remains a potent attacking force as he intends to demonstrate on Sunday when Bees, formerly Birmingham-Solihull, play the biggest match in their history, a Powergen Cup quarter-final at Premiership champions Wasps. "I'm passionate about scoring tries, and so to go three months without one is a little bit strange," Baxter said.

"It's my worst run without a try, but not my worst spell of form. This season I've been encouraged to be more of a strike runner, creating space for others, and it seems to be working.

"I would rather not be scoring tries in a team that's third in National One, and in the quarter-finals of the cup than be leading try-scorer in a side struggling to stay up."

Baxter, 29, was persuaded to take up rugby by school friends who played for Kings Norton, his local club in south Birmingham, and once he had learnt the basics of how to ground the ball, he acquired the try-scoring habit.

"In my first game for the Kings Norton colts, I actually crossed the line three times," he said. "But I had no idea what I was doing. So the first time I bounced the ball American football-style, the second time I ran past the dead-ball line, but eventually I got it right."

Baxter marked his senior debut with four tries, and his potential was quickly identified by Phil Maynard, then his coach at Kings Norton and now the Pertemps Bees director of rugby.

Baxter followed Maynard to Worcester in 1994, played a prominent role in their dramatic rise through the leagues for seven years and won international sevens honours with England in the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Despite overtures from Leeds and Calvisano, Baxter, a wine salesman, decided to stay close to his Longbridge roots. He is enjoying his rugby time with Maynard, whom Baxter credits for turning around Bees, a club with spartan facilities and a part-time squad assembled on a budget of less than £500,000.

"We have the worst facilities in our league and a shoestring budget, but a fantastic team spirit," Baxter said.

"There's a nice relaxed atmosphere about the place and that's down to Phil. He's got no time for money grabbers or mercenaries, he likes players with a bit of character."

Whether character will be enough to spare the Bees from a drubbing on Sunday remains to be seen. "We'll enjoy the day out and try to make sure we earn their respect," Baxter said.

London Wasps team news for Sunday
25 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.wasps.co.uk
 
London Wasps Director of Rugby, Warren Gatland, has named his side for this Sundays Powergen Cup match against the Pertemps Bees. The side sees the return of England players Simon Shaw and Stuart Abbott.

Shaw has been involved with the England Six Nations squad while Abbotts been recovering from an ankle injury. Shaw is named captain and becomes the eighth player to lead the Wasps side this season after Lawrence Dallaglio, Rob Howley, Craig Dowd, Alex King, Paul Volley, Phil Greening and Mark Denney.



The side also sees starts for Academy players Tom Rees and Michael Roberts at flanker and wing respectively. The young James Haskell has recovered from a knee injury and will start from the bench as cover for the backrow.

Gatland has opted to rest Craig Dowd, Josh Lewsey, Mark Van Gisbergen, Fraser Waters and Dallaglio while Howley moves to the bench to make way for Harvey Biljon at scrumhalf. Biljon will take charge of kicking duties.

Gatland said, Wasps are going into this game battle-hardened and well-prepared. Weve had a big training session this week in preparation for this game and to make up for the time while the players are away on holiday.

Even though the Pertemps Bees are in a lower division, we are not taking them lightly. We often have pre-season games against sides in division one and somehow always struggle against them. It seems they raise their game that much more when facing Premiership opposition, which makes them dangerous.

Weve been playing and winning on adrenalin during the past few games and will do the same this Sunday. Were still battling with injuries but if the squad can get through this game unscathed, they will then have 10 days off in which to rest and come back healed and ready for the end-of-season onslaught.

The team weve picked has a good mixture of experience as well as youth and look and Im looking forward to seeing how they cope with a strong Bees side.

The team is

15 Tom Voyce
14 John Rudd
13 Ayoola Erinle
12 Stuart Abbott
11 Michael Roberts
10 Peter Richards
9 Harvey Biljon

1 Tim Payne
2 Trevor Leota
3 Will Green
4 Simon Shaw (Capt)
5 Richard Birkett
6 George Skivington
7 Tom Rees
8 Ian Clarke

Bench
16 Ben Gotting
17 Alistair McKenzie
18 Martin Purdy
19 James Haskell
20 Rob Howley
21 Mark Denney
22 Shane Roiser

Bees duo get dream calls
24 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees will recall their big names for Sunday's mouth-watering trip to Wasps - but two of the club's least experienced players have also earned themselves a squad call-up.

The Powergen Cup quarter-final at High Wycombe is the biggest game in the club's history, and one of the toughest.

So director of rugby Phil Maynard will need his most experienced men on show against such high class opposition.

But he insisted said that flanker Pete Knight and scrum-half Tom Richardson will be on the bench at least after their performances against Wakefield last weekend.

"Pete and Tom really impressed me on Saturday," said Maynard, who rested eight senior men for the scrappy 17-11 win over Wakefield.

"They've given me a few headaches, Pete especially in the back row, and they'll be unlucky if they don't get a bench call out of this at the least."

The rush of talent back to the first-team - after a week of total or partial rest - will make things difficult for a number of those who played last weekend.

In the back-row, Pete Knight's starting place is under threat from Hese Fakatou while Jim Jenner should also be back after a minor neck strain last week.

But Duncan White, who started at No8 against Wakefield, is in danger of dropping out of the 22 altogether.

At scrum-half, the experienced Paul Knight should usurp Richardson but the former Worcester Academy man did prove to Maynard that he can be more than just a mere squad player.

"I wanted the players that came in against Wakefield to make my life difficult when I was selecting the side for Wasps, and a couple of people did that," said Maynard.

Captain Ed Orgee, Nick Baxter, Mike Davies and Terry Sigley are also likely to return.

Even with a refreshed side the Bees are under no illusions as to the size of the task this Sunday, and they know that an unfocussed performance could see them lose heavily at Wasps' High Wycombe ground.

Bees ain to draw Wasps Sting
by Paul Bolton for http://www.RFU.com
 
Phil Maynard, the Pertemps' Bees director of rugby, insists that his players will not be intimidated by the reputation of Zurich Premiership champions London Wasps in the Powergen Cup quarter-final at The Causeway Stadium on Sunday February 29.
 
The quarter-final is the biggest match in the history of Solihull-based Bees but Maynard will encourage his players to enjoy the day, try to repeat the form that took them to the top of National League One for the first two months of the season and to maintain one of the best defensive records in the division.
 
"I notice that the bookmakers have given us odds of 250-1 to beat Wasps and some people might say that is on the generous side," Maynard said.
 
"Our best hope of winning is probably for the entire Wasps squad to be struck down by the plague this week but we aren't going down there just to make up the numbers.
 
"We have a number of players in our squad with Premiership experience, we have lost only four games all season and if we can play with the intensity and commitment that we did before Christmas then we will give them a game.
 
"Motivating the players will certainly not be a problem this week. What I will emphasise is the importance of reducing our error count because Wasps will punish any mistakes that we make.
 
"We can't afford to miss first-up tackles and we will have to capitalise on our own scoring opportunities.
 
"Instead of setting ourselves targets for each half we will break the game down into ten minute segments and set targets for each of those periods."
 
Maynard, who spent seven years as coach of Worcester during their rise from Midlands One to National One, is in his second season with the Bees, formerly Birmingham & Solihull.
 
They were unbeaten in all rugby until November 22 when they went down at London Welsh and have since lost to Orrell, Worcester and Otley.
 
They are the only National Leagues club in the quarter-finals and Maynard is keen that his players give a good account of themselves at Wasps to fly the flag for non-Premiership rugby.
 
"The fact that we are the only non-Premiership side left in the competition means that we will go to Wasps as ambassadors, not only for Birmingham, but for National League rugby," he said.
 
"A lot of media attention is focused on the Premiership but there is a lot of good rugby played outside that division, National One is a very competitive league we hope to do ourselves justice on Sunday."
 
Maynard will pick from a near full-strength squad that will be missing only Jim Thorp, the former Sale and Rotherham prop, who has been sidelined for three months by a shoulder injury.
 
The Bees' achievement in reaching the last eight has been recognised by the BBC who have decided to present next weekend's Rugby Special programme live from the club's bar in the Sharmans Cross Road clubhouse.
 
The London Wasps v Pertemps Bees game will be the last of the quarter-finals to be played and will bring down the curtain on a busy weekend of Powergen Cup action.
 
The weekend kicks off on Friday February 27 with Sale Sharks v Saracens at Edgley Park followed by the visit of Bath, the Zurich Premiership leaders, to Headingley to play Leeds Tykes on Saturday and Newcastle Falcons v London Irish at Kingston Park.
 
*
London Wasps v Pertemps Bees
(Winners will play away to Newcastle Falcons or London Irish)
London Wasps, cup winners in 1999 and 2000, will be hoping to preserve their record of never being knocked out of the cup by a side from a lower division. This game is only the 2nd Powergen Cup tie ever to be staged at the Causeway Stadium, with Wasps losing the previous one 17-20 when Bath were the visitors in last seasons 6th round.

Even though the Birmingham outfit played in the Senior Cup in its inaugural season, this is actually Bees first time ever in the quarter-finals. Pertemps Bees, Birmingham & Solihull as they were formerly known, have never beaten a side from Englands top division, but they have knocked out higher ranked teams on three previous occasions - but not since beating Waterloo 18-15 after extra time at Sharmans Cross Road in November 1999.

Bees give short shrift to takeover
23 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk
 
Pertemps Bees have rejected an approach to sell their National One place to a consortium seeking to introduce a team of imported South African professionals into the English leagues.

The consortium have already failed in an attempt to buy the place of Wimbledon in London Two South.

An informal approach was made to the Solihull-based Bees by former England coach Dick Best, who is acting as an advisor to the consortium, but it was rejected.

"We have been sounded out but the answer is no," said Bees chairman Steve Blundell. "We have ambitions to achieve Premiership status under our own steam."

On the pitch the Bees limbered up for the biggest game in their history, next Sunday's Powergen Cup quarter-final at Wasps, by beating Wakefield 17-11 at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday.

Super-sub Ed earns his strips
23 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Bees skipper Ed Orgee was glad to make a difference after his first ever substitute appearance for the club.

Orgee came off the bench with Terry Sigley and Hese Fakatou for the last quarter at Sharmans Cross Road and helped turn a 11-7 deficit into a 17-11 win.

And despite expecting to warm the bench all afternoon, the second-row enjoyed a cameo ahead of his expected full return next to the side next Sunday.

"That was actually the first time I'd ever been on the bench, for the Bees at least," said Orgee.

"So it was a bit of a strange experience, although coming on fresh for the last 20 minutes against tired opposition was pretty enjoyable. I would have preferred a full rest, but we needed to make changes and I think myself, Terry and Hese did make a difference.

"Phil made so many changes for this game because we needed a kick up the backside and hopefully we got it.

"But it was important that we didn't lose the game with such a changed side, and we came though well."

All three forwards, plus Jim Jenner who had a stiff neck on Saturday, are expected to come back to the starting side for the Wasps trip next week.

Meanwhile, the Bees have revealed that they turned down an audacious approach from a group of South African businessmen to buy the club and move it to London.

The group are trying to buy a franchise in the National Leagues, and use South African professionals in an attempt to esrn promotion to the Premiership.

But the Bees say they turned them down flat when they were approached.

Bees defeat the yellow peril
22 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees battled back from defeat at Otley last weekend to overcome Wakefield yesterday - although at times it wasn't clear who was battling whom.

The Bees and their visitors turned up at Sharmans Cross Road in predominantly yellow kits and, with neither side willing to change, they played in clashing colours.

The standard of the rugby - never a fantastic spectacle anyway at this stage of the season - suffered and at times it looked like a bewildering 30-man wrestling match.

Even the players confessed that they were confused by the clash, and referee Mark Wilson could probably use it to explain some of his poorer decisions.

For the Bees, though, the 17-11 victory was enough after a distinctly off-colour run of form.

Phil Maynard, the Bees coach, needed a boost of any sort before next weeks Powergen Cup match at Wasps. It came thanks to two pieces of lovely play by Luke Nabaro, who ran in a try in each half from the outside centre channel.

It was something of a surprise to see a Bees player hold on to the ball long enough to score as - shorn of many of their leaders, who were rested by Maynard - they dropped the ball with depressing regularity.

That, and an inability by Wilson to control Wakefield from killing the ball consistently, meant that the Bees were behind for more than 70 minutes.

Maynards side fell foul of the referee early on, being punished for offside twice to give Pete Murphy two penalties in the opening ten minutes.

But Wakefield were much worse offenders without being penalised and, as the Bees found to their cost, they were not able to remove the obstructing bodies themselves with their boots.

The visitors extended their lead after a quarter of an hour when full-back Jon Feeley sent Alex Gluth over for a try.

Those proved to be their final points of the match. Bees, clearly the more talented side, made incredibly heavy work of reducing the 11-0 arrears.

After 32 minutes Nabaro picked up the ball 25 yards out and broke the defence to score his sides first points.

Mark Woodrows conversion made it 11-7 at the break.

The third quarter of the game was an unproductive mudbath as neither side showed the quality to maintain possession.

But the final 20 minutes were kicked into life by Alex Davidsons boot.

Rucking an opponent lying in an offside position is an accepted (if ugly) part of the game, but Davidson was yellow-carded for doing precisely that.

Five minutes later, though, Wakefield were also reduced to 14 men when Gluth was yellow-carded for a similar example of killing the ball.

After strengthening their pack with three replacements, including skipper Ed Orgee, the Bees finally started to show themselves as the stronger side.

As they had for the first try, it was a combination of Woodrow and Nabaro that produced the crucial score on 72 minutes.

The former Bristol winger made a small gap look like a big one with an electric turn of pace and, crucially, he moved closer to the posts to make the conversion easier.

Woodrow slotted that home, and a 75th-minute penalty, to secure the four points.

SCORERS: Bees - tries: Luke Nabaro (2); conversions: Mark Woodrow (2); penalty: Woodrow.

Bees boss plans big shake-up
19th February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Director of rugby Phil Maynard has vowed it will be a very different Pertemps Bees side who take the field against Wakefield on Saturday - in personnel and attitude.

Maynard is considering making big changes to the first-team after last week's 26-12 defeat at Otley, and tore into his players as they returned to the club.

"Things are going to have to change for the Wakefield game," said Maynard, without naming names.

"I slaughtered them in training on Tuesday night. We weren't good enough at Otley, and I let them know it."

As well as a clear demonstration of the coach's dissatisfaction, any decision to rest key men at Sharmans Cross Road will be done with half an eye on next Sunday's Powergen Cup quarter-final at Wasps.

But Maynard is very aware that, a week before the highest profile game in the club's history, many of his big names would rather not take the risk of a 'rest'.

"There's a big day out for the club next Sunday and the boys are playing for their places in that game," he said.

"If somebody comes into the side and makes a name for themselves, it could be very tough to drop them for the Wasps game - even if that means a senior playing missing out."

Ed Orgee and Terry Sigley were both substituted early against Otley, so they could be liable for the axe - while younger players like Tom Richardson, Duncan White and Tom Jordan are all itching for promotion to the starting XV.

On Saturday the Bees face Wakefield for the third time of four this season, with a further Powergen Shield date still to be played.

And while they won they won both games, the previous Sharmans Cross Road clash in the Powergen Cup was just the kind of bruising encounter that Maynard's fatigued side do not need at the moment.

The Yorkshiremen are scrapping for their National League One lives and the Birmingham side fear the possibility of them raising their game.

Thin squad costing Bees
17 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Whether it is the unashamedly commercial monicker or the brash no-one-likes-us-we-don't-care playing style, Pertemps Bees have been ruffling a few feathers this season.

But it seems their own wings have been clipped.

Phil Maynards side whimpered to their fourth defeat of an otherwise impressive National One campaign last Saturday but it is not the loss of vital league points that bothers the director of rugby most.

Its not even the relatively poor account his players gave of themselves losing 26-12 at Otley - Maynard is much more concerned with the bigger picture.

As he sifts through the wreckage of Cross Green the thing that strikes the former Worcester coach most is that his entire squad is not just walking, but running, jumping and playing, wounded.

Saturdays result is just indicative of what a tiny squad we have, said Maynard, whose playing resources are being stretched to the limit.

There is not a bloke at this club who does not have a dent in some way, they are all playing with an injury. They are so tired because we have had only one weekend off since the season started and once again we are playing this weekend when everybody else is off.

Bees problem is the fixture congestion that comes with progress in the Powergen Cup. The league programme at level two simply does not allow for National One sides to reach the last eight of the senior cup competition and what should have been free weekends are filled with bread-and-butter matches such as Saturdays against Wakefield.

Maynard said: In some ways we are a victim of our own success. It is difficult for players like Terry Sigley and Ed Orgee, who have played every single game and have been to every training session, to remain focused for a whole season without a break.

The blokes have played flat out and it is taking its toll on us now and we are creaking a bit as a squad but even if we do not win another game this season what we have achieved has been a magnificent effort. We have lost only four league games this season and that is outstanding.

It is indeed and although Maynard doesnt expect to lose too many of the seven remaining league matches it is the Powergen Shield clash with Wakefield rather than this weekends National One encounter that concerns him more.

Victory in that match at the end of March would guarantee Bees a first trip to Twickenham and would be a wonderfully decorative bauble with which to embellish their season.

While Maynard recognises his problems stem from their extended involvement in the knock-out competition, he freely admits he would not change it.

He said: That Cup success is sending signals to everybody involved in the sport, especially sponsors, because if we are going to push for honours we need a bigger squad.

I am going to start banging the drum about our small squad because we need another five players in crucial positions so that we can rotate, rest and even put some pressure on certain positions in the team which would be great at this stage of the season.

We have proved we can do it without breaking the bank but with a lot of ability and strong back-up team now what we need is some rich sponsor to contact me.

If said sugar daddy could step forward before Bees visit Premiership champions Wasps in the Powergen Cup quarter-final on February 29 Maynard could be left with enough time to look through the transfer window.

Maynard still has not ruled out doing a bit more than window shopping before Fridays deadline although whether he can find the right player at the right price to significantly improve an over-achieving Bees squad is debatable.

 

Bees play pain game
13 Fabruary 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees boss Phil Maynard has put his players through the mill this week ahead of their trip to Otley tomorrow.

Despite a seven-game unbeaten run, the Bees' recent form has left the coaching staff at Sharmans Cross Road deeply dissatisfied.

So as soon as the final whistle blew on the Bees' unconvincing win over Coventry last Saturday, Maynard decided there would be a physical price to pay.

"Things got pretty serious this week," said Maynard. "It wasn't pretty on the training field.

"I knew that the training sessions needed to be tough to re-focus our minds, so there were quite a few duels going on among our forwards. But we came out of it well, and I'm a lot more confident about our chances against Otley than I was last Saturday."

Maynard feels the problems within the side are more to do with attitude than personnel.

So the only changes to the Bees line-up come on the wings, where finesse gives way to power as Nick Baxter and Geoff Gregory come in for Luke Nabaro and Aaron Takarangi.

In the home fixture against Otley, it was only a last-minute interception try by Baxter that secured a 32-23 win.

And despite the Yorkshiremen's poor recent form tomorrow's game could be another tight affair, particularly if their weathered front row perform.

But the Bees director of rugby believes the number nine and 10 shirts will be the key to the result at Cross Green.

Paul Knight and Mark Woodrow did not have the best of games against Coventry, particularly with the boot, but they will need to be on their game against Otley.

Dave Scully and Simon Binns form one of the most experienced half-back units in the division.

"The half-backs are where Otley can win the game," admitted Maynard. "But it's also where they can lose it."

BEES (probable): D Knight, Baxter, Woof, Davies, Gregory, Woodrow, P Knight; Sigley, Hubbleday, Tchakuk, Walton, Orgee, Fakatou, Carter, Jenner. Replacements: Long, Merritt, Davidson, White, Richardson, Takarangi, Nabaro.

Maynard happy to maintain struggle
13 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Having won all their matches since Worcester beat them nearly three months ago, Pertemps Bees can live with the suggestion that they are not playing especially well.

They remain well on course for the First Division runners-up position and despite the perceptible dip in form (Phil Maynard, the director of rugby, called them inept against Coventry last week) they are a better equipped side now then they were when they embarked on their momentous season.

Which is a claim that they will be at pains to substantiate when they face Otley in Yorkshire tomorrow.

That they are not at their peak is a relative observation; relative to the increasingly high standards that they set themselves.

"There is a great deal of determination to remain at a consistent level of achievement," said Maynard. "No matter that they sometimes struggle, the side never feel that they are not in control. That's our strength."

But that strength, he acknowledges, is going to be well tested at Otley.

"We had a lot of trouble with them when they came here but, then, every side have trouble with them, especially on their own patch," said Maynard. "They nearly beat Worcester at the start of the season."

Otley's primary thrust comes from their prop forwards, Kris Fulman and Justin Ring. And their game is developed by perhaps the two most experienced half-backs in the division, Simon Binns and Dave Scully.

"It's all pretty basic," said Maynard. "They have a tremendous platform and a pair of halfbacks who can run the game. That always make them a big threat in the set pieces."

The Bees effectiveness in the set pieces has been enhanced since the arrival of the Canadian prop forward, Kevin Tkatchuk. So is their forward effort, generally. Tkatchuk is new to the club, hasn't been through the mill like the rest of the squad and therefore exudes a sense of freshness that is much appreciated.

Not too many 19st-plus loose head forwards around who can cover 100 metres in around even time.

"He's always at full bore," says an admiring Maynard. A tryscoring prop, to boot. Tkatchuk is part of a full-strength squad travelling to Otley.

Worcester have rarely had to exert themselves unduly since their visit to Yorkshire last September and the remainder of their season, some imagine, is a lap of honour.

Not that they are disposed to look as far ahead as April. They are in what could be described as a coasting period now - Manchester last week and Wakefield, away, tomorrow - but try telling John Brain that the remaining programme is a sinecure.

He's in the business of scouring the rest of the journey for banana skins but it will be a massive surprise if he comes across one at College Grove. Wakefield, who have adorned this division for so long, are in desperate danger of leaving it.

Bees aim for a Whitewash
6 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees have the World Cup trophy on display at Sharmans Cross Road tomorrow --but it is the prospect of a local derby clash with Coventry that has really lit up the club.

Once the Webb Ellis Trophy has been paraded, Phil Maynard's side get down to the serious business of securing a seventh successive National One win.

On paper struggling Coventry should be no match for the Bees but local rivalry can be a great leveller.

"If you don't get excited by the prospect of a clash with Coventry, then you don't belong in the game," said director of rugby Maynard.

"This is one of the biggest games of our season, and the presence of the World Cup makes it an even bigger draw."

Although new Coventry boss John White did some scouting work for the Bees this season, it is Maynard who hopes to get the inside track on this weekend's opposition - thanks to their in-form Canadian prop Kevin Tkachuk.

"There are about four Canadian internationals in the Cov side, so I've had a long chat with Kevin before training about what to expect," said Maynard.

The Bees have made changes after last week's unconvincing 19-17 win at Henley, although the only addition to the squad is fit-again fly-half and World Cup player Craig Chalmers.

Luke Nabaro is promoted to a starting role on the wing opposite Aaron Takarangi, meaning that Nick Baxter has to settle - like Chalmers - for a replacement slot.

Otherwise, Paul Knight and skipper Ed Orgee have both declared themselves fit for the game to leave Maynard with his strongest side for weeks.

In the hour prior to the 2pm kick-off, the RFU's Sweet Chariot Tour will bring the Webb Ellis Trophy to Shar-mans Cross Road.

Tomorrow's clash will be a family affair for the White family dynasty.

Replacement Duncan White is likely to see some game time against his father John's side, while wife and mother Sue is still involved with the catering at Shar-mans Cross Road.

And Bees skipper Orgee wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if prolific super-sub Duncan had a big say in the outcome in the game.

"I don't know how he does it, but Duncan has an uncanny knack of coming off the bench and scoring late tries," said Orgee.

"He'll be dying to make an impression against Coventry.

"Having Duncan, John and Sue around is bound to result in a bit of family rivalry, although I'm sure it will be a friendly one."

BEES (probable): D Knight, Nabaro, Woof, Davies, Takarangi, Woodrow, P Knight; Sigley, Hubbleday, Tchakuk, Walton, Orgee, Fakatou, Carter, Jenner. Replacements: Long, Merritt, Davidson, White, Richardson, Chalmers, Baxter.

 

Bees' quality tells in the end
6th February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

JECKYLL and Hyde Bees made up for a woeful first half performance to over-whelm relegation threatened Henley in difficult conditions last Saturday.

In squally showers and having barely mounted an attack of note during the first half Bees looked short of spirit and desire against a fiercely committed Henley.

After a scrappy start the hosts took control, and inspired by impressive fly-half Barry Reeves alongside a pack defying their weight disadvantage they deserved their shock 10-0 half time lead.

Bees went behind after full back Dave Knight was put under pressure from a high kick.

Reeves kicked for the corner, and from the resulting line out, he broke through Bees' fragile defence to set up debutant second row forward Stephen Green for a simple try.

And when Reeves converted before kicking a 35th minute penalty after Terry Sigley was penalised for coming into a ruck from the side, things were looking bleak for the visitors.

But inspired by a true captain's performance by Ed Orgee, a change of shirts and some harsh words by coach Phil Maynard, Bees came out after half time transformed.

Within two minutes Knight made up for his earlier error by outpacing his opposite number to score in the corner, after a well timed pass by Jim Jenner had set up the opportunity.

And just eight minutes later they took the lead. Following more pressure on the Henley pack, the hosts gave away a series of penalties, allowing Mark Woodrow to set up an attacking lineout on the five metre line.

A well worked move allowed the ball to be spread quickly to centre Mike Davies, who picked the perfect line to slice through the visiting defence.

Kevin Tkachuk's touched down from close range on the hour mark allowing Mark Woodrow to score his second conversion and increase the lead to nine points.

But a mixture of gritty defence kept Henley in touch, and when newly selected England Sevens International Nnamdi Obi jinked past a tired looking Bees defence to score from 35 yards, it set up a nervy last ten minutes for the visitors.

Bees host World Cup
6 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

THE Rugby World Cup - the William Webb Ellis Cup - will be on display at Per-temps Bees' Shar-mans Cross Road headquarters tomorrow.

The trophy will be visiting as part of the nationwide Sweet Chariot tour.

North Midlands have the honour of being the first of the RFU's 35 Constituent Bodies to have the trophy and it will visit local clubs and schools during its three day visit to the county.

The trophy will spend Saturday morning in Victoria Square in Birmingham and then be taken by road to Sharmans Cross Road for Bees' National League One game against Coventry.

The trophy is due to arrive at the ground at 1pm, an hour before kick-off, and it will leave during the half time interval.

"We are delighted and honoured to have such a famous trophy at the club," said Tony Moir, the Pertemps Bees' general manager.

"We know that every club in the country would like to host the trophy and we are thrilled that we have been chosen as one of the hosts during its stay in the North Midlands."

Meanwhile, Bees will be without flanker Tom Jordan who has been ruled out of the game after damaging ankle ligaments in the win at penzance having also missed last week's 19-17 success at struggling Henley.

The injury needs at least another week's rest and Jordan will not be considered for selection before the trip to Otley on February 14. Nathan Carter retains his place at openside flanker in Jordan's absence.

Bees will give precautionary fitness tests to scrum-half Paul Knight (sore neck) and skipper Ed Orgee (ankle) before they finalise their side but both are expected to be passed fit.

The game will mark a swift return to Sharmans Cross Road for Coventry's new head coach John White. The former Moseley playing supremo spent the first half of the season scouting for the Bees but took charge at Coventry two weeks ago.

White's wife Sue runs the catering at Pertemps Bees and their son Duncan is likely to be named in the squad as a back-row replacement.

Coach wants shock route to top
3 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees boss Phil Maynard has urged his side to keep up their battle for second place in National One - just in case it opens up a shock route into England's top flight.

The Bees' pursuit of Orrell, still just one point ahead after they both dropped bonus points at the weekend, is more than academic for the club.

The RFU has made a habit of shifting the goalposts at a late stage, and the annual rumours it may create a 16 team Premier-ship Conference have again raised their heads.

That would involve two teams, not just Worcester, being promoted for the next two seasons and the Bees want to be the outsiders to gatecrash that party this summer.

"As ever we don't know what's going to happen at the end of the season," said director of rugby Maynard, who wants more than the honourary title of being the 14th best side in the country.

"There are always stories circling around, but all we can do is try as hard as we can to finish second.

"We can't realistically catch Worcester, but we can finish second - and then who knows?"

That chain of events would still leave the Bees hopelessly unqualified in terms of their ground, unless development plans for their Portway stadium proceed at a hefty pace in coming weeks.

But whatever the end result, Maynard would dearly love to upset big-spending Orrell - who include former Bees Leigh Hinton and Gavin Cattle - and finish as National One runners-up.

"For a side like Orrell to be just a single league point ahead of us at this stage of the season must be a worry for them," he said.

"The pressure is all on Orrell because they have a playing budget that dwarves ours and in their position must expect to comfortably finish in the top two.

"It would be an incredible achievement to finish ahead of them."

Jordan ruled out of derby clash
3 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Bees flanker Tom Jordan has been ruled out of Saturday's Sharmans Cross Road clash with Coventry, although captain Ed Orgee and Paul Knight are expected to declare themselves fit.

Jordan missed the 19-17 win at Henley last weekend damaging ankle ligaments in the previous win at Penzance & Newlyn, letting in Nathan Carter.

His injury needs at least another week's rest and Jordan will not be considered for selection before the trip to Otley on February 14.

The Bees' coaching staff will give precautionary fitness tests to scrum-half Knight and Orgee this week after they suffered a neck and ankle injury at Henley.

However, both are expected to start against Coventry in what could well be an unchanged side as Orgee's men look for their seventh successive win.

The local derby marks a swift return to Sharmans Cross Road for Coventry's new head coach John White. The former Moseley playing supremo spent the first half of the season scouting for the Bees but took charge at troubled Coundon Road two weeks ago.

The links run deep as five of the Bees forwards expected to play were coached by White at Moseley - including his son flanker Duncan, who is likely to continue in his 'supersub' role.

Maynard eyes second place
30 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees go into action tomorrow on the crest of a wave of good form.

They have second-placed Orrell clearly in their sights and are only one point adrift of that runners-up spot that director of rugby, Phil Maynard covets.

That the Bees are in prime form was demonstrated at Penzance last week when they scored nine tries.

Great tries, Maynard elaborated. There was no point in going all that way and not putting on a show. But we did not defend as well as we would have liked. Maynard is expecting a tough match at Henley.

The Thames Valley club have recruited Oxford University No 8, Tom Hamer and South African centre in recent weeks, Ricardo van Zyl in recent weeks.

Were looking for the runners-up spot and theyre scrapping for survival, he said. That makes it difficult for us and in the end its going to come down to who wants the victory more. Kevin Tkachuk, the Bees new Canadian prop forward, was injured scoring his second try at Penzance but has been able to train this week and has been pencilled into the squad.

Sloppy Bees given scare
2 February 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

If this game had been an examination in spirit and desire, Bees would have just about scraped a 'C' grade. That they passed at all, however, should be considered something of a success given their abject first-half performance.

Having barely mounted an attack of note and 10-0 down to a fiercely committed Henley, they looked in danger of being blown away by a simple combination of ferocious tackling and some astute tactical kicking.

But thanks to a 'robust' half-time talk by coach Phil Maynard, there was a marked improvement in the second period.

"You could sense beforehand that the lads weren't looking forward to it, so it was a matter of trying to get them motivated to come here and win and we did that," said Maynard, with just the hint of a relieved smile.

"I just said to them at half-time to keep the ball, string some phases together and play behind their ten-metre line and when we did that, the game was easy."

Indeed it was, but the worry is, of course, that there would have been no way back against superior opposition.

Because, while the hosts were undoubtedly spurred on by the threat of relegation, they should have posed few problems for the visitors - with the possible exception of newly-selected England Sevens winger Nnamdi Obi.

When Bees did come out fired up in the second half, Henley were barely able to get meaningful possession or get out of their own territory.

So much so that, within ten minutes of the restart, Stephen Green's converted 24th-minute try and Barry Reeves' 35th-minute penalty had been nullified.

Two minutes into the second period, following Bees' first multi-phase drive of the game, Dave Knight halved the deficit by outpacing his opposite number to score in the corner. Then Mike Davies picked the perfect line to slice through the home defence after a well-worked attacking line out. And when the outstanding Canadian prop Kevin Tkachuk crashed over on the

With Reeves converting, that made it just a two-point gap which, given the half-hour that preceded it, was perhaps harsh on Bees, but they never looked tackling to score.

hour mark, following incessant pressure on the Henley line, to allow Mark Woodrow to slot home his second conversion and make it 19 points as many minutes, a rout seemed possible.

But to their credit the Oxfordshire side kept their discipline and spirit and even made it a nervy last ten minutes for Bees when Obi justified his international selection, jinking past some sluggish

like conceding again and finished the game deep in Henley territory to allow Maynard to reflect on the positives from a tricky game.

He said: "It was really pleasing to see us keep the ball for long periods of the second half and start to string some phases together.

"It has been six wins in a row with only three games lost all season, which is astonishing for a part-time side with a small squad."

Next week brings Coventry to Sharman's Cross Road. "Looking forward to it," said Maynard, and if his team carry on in the manner they finished on Saturday, such confidence is understandable.

HENLEY: P Davies (Osman, 77), Obi, James, O'Driscoll, Ejikeme (Van Zyl, 74), Reeves, Chiltern (Smaje, 63), Johnstone, Hopcroft (Gibbons, 40), Grierson (Cooke, 80), Winterbottom, Green, Gates, Venner (Payne, 50), Hayman, (Hardy, 65).

PERTEMPS BEES: D Knight, Baxter (Gregory, 66), Woof, M Davies, Takarangi, Woodrow, P Knight (Richardson, 69), Tkachuk, Merritt (Hubbleday, h/t), Sigley (Long, 69), Walton (Davidson, 60), Orgee, Fakatou, Carter, Jenner (White, 66).

Bees see benefits of rising support
30 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

When Pertemps Bees first sent out signals that they were a club in revival, they counted their supporters at away games singly.

They travelled in cars, recalls director of rugby, Phil Maynard.

Then they started to come by mini-bus. Now they use a 55-seat coach and its full for this weeks game at Henley. And I cant tell you what that does for the team.

Bees are building a genuine support base and whats more, theyre building improved facilities at Sharmans Cross Road. Being the 15th best team in England carries certain responsibilities.

If form is maintained, Bees will improve their status. No-one is going to knock Worcester off the top of the First Division but the Bees have second-placed Orrell very clearly in their sights.

They are only one point adrift of the runners-up spot that Maynard so profoundly covets. Which is a tremendous achievement by our players and coaches, he said.

That the Bees are in prime form was resoundingly demonstrated at Penzance last week. They scored nine tries.

Great tries, Maynard elaborated. There was no point in going all that way and not putting on a show.

Then he qualified his praise in the light of the fact that Penzance had scored four tries themselves. We did not defend as well as we would have liked.

But he paid due credit to Penzance and made the forecast that Coventry might find them a handful at Coundon Road tomorrow. They are definitely not as bad a side as theyre perceived to be.

As it is approaching that time of the season when sides at the bottom end of leagues realise their plight and start fighting for survival, Maynard is expecting a tough match at Henley.

The Thames Valley club have recruited determinedly in recent weeks and have picked up the Oxford University No 8, Tom Hamer, and the South African centre, Ricardo van Zyl, and they are men whom Maynard respects.

Were looking for the runners-up spot and theyre scrapping for survival, he said. That makes it difficult for us and in the end its going to come down to who wants the victory more.

Kevin Tkachuk, the Bees new Canadian prop forward, was injured scoring his second try at Penzance but has been able to train this week and has been pencilled into the squad.

Everyone else is fit, including Craig Chalmers, and it remains to be seen where the old Scottish international fits into the match plans.

Maynard to consider new Bees offer
30 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 
PERTEMPS Bees have offered coach Phil Maynard the chance to take full time charge of the club.

And it is an offer Maynard, currently an automotive electrician, is considering as he prepares for the National division one clash at Henley Hawks tomorrow.

Discussions are ongoing with the former the former Worcester coach who turned down the chance of a full time position during his time at Sixways.

With Sharmans Cross Road buzzing at the moment due to Bees place in the last eight of the Powergen Cup, and also third spot in the league a point behind big spending Orrell, he is now having second thoughts.

"It is something we are discussing. We have to make sure the club is on a strong footing to go forward," he said.

Maynard's duties would not be limited to on-field action as he explains: "It's a big decision for me. I feel we have raced ahead quickly on the field this season but my job would encompass taking the club forward off the field.

"Part of the process is getting rugby into local schools and us being part of the community. It would also include player negotiations, recruitment and other things. It really is a big job.

"We are playing some of the best rugby ever in this area but off field we haven't got the facilities to go with it. And we are the only club in our division without a full time administration."

He also said the playing achievements of the club should not be underestimated.

"Top five was our goal at the start of the season and that is in our own hands. But we are a point behind an Orrell side who have spent £1 million on players, people take that for granted.

"And we have just completed a clean sweep of the south west which no-one would have thought a team from Birmingham would have done at the start of the season."

Meanwhile, Maynard expects to have a full strength squad available for the Henley game.

The main doubt concerned Canadian prop Kevin Tkachuk, a double try scorer at Penzance last weekend, who has a twisted knee.

But the Bees' director of rugby said: "Kevin has done a bit of light training and if he suffers no reaction he should be okay. Other than that we just have a few bumps and bruises which all teams have at this time of the season."

Its all smiles at the Bees
29 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees' centre Shaun Woof has revealed the secret of the club's success this season - fun.

The Bees are hot on the heels of second-placed Orrell in National One, despite their part-time status.

But Woof says the freshness of training just two nights a week and the 'gang mentality' at Sharmans Cross Road, may have helped rather than hindered them.

"It's a very relaxed atmosphere compared to other clubs," said Woof, who has scored 10 tries this season.

"There are no hard and fast routines - the coaches just say 'see you on Saturday' and then we meet up.

"It must be working though, because we're as high as we can possibly be with a semi-professional set-up. Our league position shows the quality of the players and maybe being part-time suits this particular group of players.

"It's such a tight knit gang that we never feel that we're going to lose games.

He added: "Any more than two nights training a week and it could affect our work commitments and take some of the fun out of it. It's all about enjoying your rugby.

Woof believes the Bees can finish as runners-up to Worcester.

"We're well ahead of bigger clubs like Bristol, Plymouth and Exeter," he said. "In fact, we're more concerned about catching Orrell than staying third."

Keast backs Bees
28th January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees' quest to complete a record season by finishing second in National One has received a boost from an unlikely source.

Worcester coach Andy Keast has given the Sharmans Cross minnows his vote as the team most likely finish runners-up to his runaway leaders.

John Brain's right-hand man at Sixways was speaking following the surprise loss by Orrell last weekend, which may have opened the door for Bees.

Despite having lost to Worcester ten days ago, most commentators thought the Lancastrians, one of the best-funded clubs in the division, would hold on to second place ahead of the in-form Solihull side.

But a further loss at Plymouth last weekend means third-placed Bees moved to within a point and with Orrell to visit Sharmans Cross Road on March 6, second place is still very much up for grabs.

"Birmingham, as we have always said, are a good side," said Keast. "Orrell losing will give them a big incentive now.

"If they can beat us and Orrell and win their others, they could end up second. For them, that is a massive target," said Keast.

The Devonian's generosity did not extend to first place, however. "I do genuinely believe that our only threat is ourselves and I say that because I believe in the squad and I believe in our ability and if we work really hard and we are really professional, then I think we can do the job."

The task in hand and the challenge a highly-motivated squad have set themselves is to finish the season having won all 26 of their league games.

That maps out a potential collision course between Keast's prediction for Bees and his own club's aspirations. The two sides are scheduled to meet at Sixways on the last day of the season and if Bees do pay Orrell back for beating them at Edge Hall Road last November, the season's denouement could be a classic.

Worcester would need to win to complete the perfect season and Phil Maynard's men may require victory to be sure of second and with Maynard a former director of rugby at Sixways, the match would be rich in sub-plots.

As pleased as Maynard is about Keast's kind words, Bees' top man refused to speculate about the final game of the season. "There is a lot of rugby to be played between now and then," he said, pragmatic as ever.

"Our primary objective is to win the next game and before that, we have also got a massive Powergen Shield semi-final against Wakefield and a huge Powergen Cup quarter-final with Wasps, which are big days in the club's history."

First and foremost in Maynard's thoughts will be Saturday's trip to struggling Henley Hawks and whether Canadian international prop Kevin Tkachuk will be fit enough to join the squad.

The Oxford University student twisted a knee scoring his second try in the 53-32 victory over Penzance & Newlyn last Saturday and will have a fitness test in training this week. In the meantime, former Moseley prop Matt Long is on stand-by.

Props injury doubt
27 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees prop Kevin Tkachuk is a big doubt for this weekend's National League One trip to the Henley Hawks.

The Canadian international twisted a knee in the process of scoring his second try in Saturday's 53-32 victory over Penzance & Newlyn.

He faces a fitness test in training this week.

Tkachuk, who joined the Bees last month, put in an all-action display at Penzance and his absence would be a blow.

But Matt Long, who replaced him and also scored a try, has been put on stand-by for the Dry Leas game.

Long has made 16 appearances for the Bees this season, and his form has more than compensated for the blow of losing the injured Jim Thorp.

Tkachuk is the Bees' only new injury doubt as they attempt to complete their fourth double of the season, following successes so far against Exeter, Bristol and Penzance & Newlyn.

The Hawks, like the Pirates, have struggled to adapt to National One after earning promotion last season.

Bees ready to pack a punch
23 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Until Christmas, Pertemps Bees took the greatest of pleasure from counting their victories that accumulated nicely, one by one.

Now they are counting their doubles. Exeter, away, then Bristol have been beaten for the second time which is spectacular confirmation of the calibre of the Bees' rugby. And a positive augury for tomorrow's trip to Penzance & Newlyn.

"We've got quite a good record against South West clubs," says Phil Maynard with all due modesty. A good record against nearly everybody else, too. And if it has improved after tomorrow, the Bees are preparing themselves for a new incentive.

The director of rugby expects a tough time of it down where the famous pirates come from but he also expects to win. "In which case," he said, "we can then set our sights on Orrell." Which means that Bees are looking for the First Division runners-up spot behind Worcester.

When they set out on what is proving to be a remarkable season, they spoke of a top-five finish. Now the talk is of top two.

"We don't fear anybody in this league," Maynard adds. "We certainly don't fear Orrell and finishing the season in second place is well within our remit. And I say that while accepting that we're still in the early stages of our building programme."

A runners-up challenge this season? What next? The answer to that may be expanded upon in due course. For now the Bees' attention is entirely on Penzance and Maynard describes them as a hard lot who have improved their prospects by the recent acquisition of some decent players.

One of them, Daniel Farini, Maynard knows well. And has good reason to remember.

Farini, a New Zealander, played under Maynard at Stour-bridge and what he remembers is that the Kiwi is of exceptional dimensions, has a velocity that is not common to his build (not too many giants of 6ft 4in can travel at even time) and can play anywhere in the forwards or the outside backs.

"But I think I have a few ideas on how to deal with him," said Maynard. One man who will not be trying to deal with him is the Bees' short-term centre, Suka Hufanga. The Tongan World Cup player is leaving the club.

Hufanga was invited to Birmingham for a trial period which is not being extended. He was informed to this effect last night.

"We've had a struggle to communicate with him," said Maynard. "He's a good player but he just couldn't fit into things."

With Shaun Woof and Mike Davies in exceptional form, the Bees do not feel under strength in the centre department.

The victory at Orrell last week, by popular reckoning, puts Worcester in a virtually unassailable position at the top of the First Division. The dream - the Premiership - beckons. So at what point will John Brain, the director of rugby, accept the accolades? "When our promotion is a mathematical certainty," he responds. "But I'm from Gloucester and I'm not very good at sums."

Brain is prepared to indulge in a modest amount of basking. "To have beaten Orrell twice, to be top of the league and to have reached the middle of January unbeaten is a nice feeling."

The likelihood is, though, that Brain will accept that his club are in the Premiership when they run out for their first match therein next September.

Worcester play Bedford at Sixways tomorrow and this is a match that explains Brain's caution. "To all the other sides, playing us is their cup final and Bedford will have absolutely nothing to lose. They'll have a right go at us. And so will everybody else.

"It would be easy for us to say 'right, we've got Orrell out of the way' and take the rest of the matches as formalities. But we're not going to do that.

"Every week is a potential banana skin; looking around at the rest, even Manchester, who are bottom of the league, are a decent side."

Doubles all round give Bees cheer
23 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Until Christmas, Pertemps Bees took the greatest of pleasure from counting their victories that accumulated nicely, one by one.

Now they are counting their doubles. Exeter, away, then Bristol have been beaten for the second time which is spectacular confirmation of the calibre of the Bees' rugby. And a positive augury for tomorrow's trip to Penzance & Newlyn.

"We've got quite a good record against South West clubs," says Phil Maynard with all due modesty. A good record against nearly everybody else, too. And if it has improved after tomorrow, the Bees are preparing themselves for a new incentive.

The director of rugby expects a tough time of it down where the famous pirates come from but he also expects to win. "In which case," he said, "we can then set our sights on Orrell." Which means that Bees are looking for the First Division runners-up spot behind Worcester.

When they set out on what is proving to be a remarkable season, they spoke of a top-five finish. Now the talk is of top two.

"We don't fear anybody in this league," Maynard adds. "We certainly don't fear Orrell and finishing the season in second place is well within our remit. And I say that while accepting that we're still in the early stages of our building programme."

A runners-up challenge this season? What next? The answer to that may be expanded upon in due course. For now the Bees' attention is entirely on Penzance and Maynard describes them as a hard lot who have improved their prospects by the recent acquisition of some decent players.

One of them, Daniel Farini, Maynard knows well. And has good reason to remember.

Farini, a New Zealander, played under Maynard at Stour-bridge and what he remembers is that the Kiwi is of exceptional dimensions, has a velocity that is not common to his build (not too many giants of 6ft 4in can travel at even time) and can play anywhere in the forwards or the outside backs.

"But I think I have a few ideas on how to deal with him," said Maynard. One man who will not be trying to deal with him is the Bees' short-term centre, Suka Hufanga. The Tongan World Cup player is leaving the club.

Hufanga was invited to Birmingham for a trial period which is not being extended. He was informed to this effect last night.

"We've had a struggle to communicate with him," said Maynard. "He's a good player but he just couldn't fit into things."

With Shaun Woof and Mike Davies in exceptional form, the Bees do not feel under strength in the centre department.

The victory at Orrell last week, by popular reckoning, puts Worcester in a virtually unassailable position at the top of the First Division. The dream - the Premiership - beckons. So at what point will John Brain, the director of rugby, accept the accolades? "When our promotion is a mathematical certainty," he responds. "But I'm from Gloucester and I'm not very good at sums."

Brain is prepared to indulge in a modest amount of basking. "To have beaten Orrell twice, to be top of the league and to have reached the middle of January unbeaten is a nice feeling."

The likelihood is, though, that Brain will accept that his club are in the Premiership when they run out for their first match therein next September.

Worcester play Bedford at Sixways tomorrow and this is a match that explains Brain's caution. "To all the other sides, playing us is their cup final and Bedford will have absolutely nothing to lose. They'll have a right go at us. And so will everybody else.

"It would be easy for us to say 'right, we've got Orrell out of the way' and take the rest of the matches as formalities. But we're not going to do that.

"Every week is a potential banana skin; looking around at the rest, even Manchester, who are bottom of the league, are a decent side."

Bees pursue grand finale to sad week
16 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com 

There is a numbness at Sharmans Cross Road following the death of 14-year-old James Radburn, who suffered an asthma attack while playing for one of Pertemps Bees' lower sides last Sunday.

Young James was a clubman in the tradition of his father, Dave; he never missed doing the chores at first-team training and he was proud to work the scoreboard on Saturday afternoon.

He was the future of the club and there will be a massive sadness when the Bees' stand for a minute's silence before the home match with Bristol tomorrow.

"This has put a damper on everything," said Phil Maynard, the director of rugby. "We're all feeling pretty miserable. James was such a popular lad."

But as the young man was never more proud than when the Bees' were winning matches, someone, surely, will have mentioned the timeliness of winning this one. If it happens, no one will have to look far for a dedication.

As form goes, it should happen. The Bees are on a terrific run and even Maynard is forced to concede that they are playing well. The West Country club, down from the Premiership, give the impression of a club in devastation. Under-achievers is a term that suits them well.

"But Bristol," Maynard warns, "are slippery customers."

They have pulled some cute victories. Having received their parachute payment from the Premiership, they have more money than most in this division but they are not exactly chucking it about and their playing policies are clearly not aimed at an instant return to the top.

And it is unlikely that they will feel comfortable at a ground as small and as "homely" as Sharmans Cross, not when they are used to playing in a proper stadium in front of thousands.

"They won't be relishing this trip," is Maynard's suspicion. "They've never been here before. They've got fantastic facilities at their own ground but they won't be finding any luxuries here."

What they will find is an opposition who are used to success, who are rarely stuck for a method of finding it. Maynard professes his unconcern for the make-up of the Bristol team, adding: "We'll just go for it, as usual. They'll be far more worried about us than we will be of them."

Once again, the Bees will be picking from a full-strength squad. Once again, the problems are based on who to leave out. But they will probably give a start to the Tongan, Suka Hufanga, who did not amuse them when he got himself sin-binned after 15 minutes at Exeter last week.

Hufanga is still on trial with the club and a decision is likely to be made soon on his future.

 

Chiefs are undone by late Woof try
16 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

Exeter Chiefs 6 Pertemps Bees 12

SHAUN WOOF scored a late try to strengthen Bees' third place in National division one.

In a tense encounter the visitors held a fragile 5-3 advantage going into the closing stages.

Then Woof found a way through the home defence to give his side some breathing space.

But that hardly tells the story of an exciting clash.

It was strong defence that was the focal point of victory for the visitors.

Bees conceded a number of penalties in the opening quarter which the hosts used to kick for possession rather than points and in the end that had a telling effect on the outcome.

Tongan centre Suka Hufanga was yellow carded on his full Bees' debut for persistent offside.

Chiefs almost capitalised but winger Dermot Kelly was held up over the line by Tom Jordan. It was a reprieve that Bees made full use of.

An attacking scum allowed the influential Jim Jenner and Jordan to create room for Mark Woodrow to kick an upand-under to the left wing where Luke Nabaro was on hand to collect and slide over.

There was no addition to the score before the break but Nick Baxter and Hufanga wasted the chance for another five-pointer with stray passes.

In the 44th minute Tony Yapp reduced the arrears for Exeter with a successful penalty attempt.

Woof scampered over for his late try which Woodrow added the conversion to.

But the action did not end there as Yapp landed his second penalty almost immediately and the visitors were forced to endure a nervy eight minutes of stoppage time before leaving Devon with a win, and their first league double of the campaign. n Pertemps Bees flanker Hese Fakatou has won his appeal against a five-week suspension imposed by an RFU disciplinary panel last month.

The former Tonga international was found guilty of striking an opponent during the National One game at London Welsh on November 22 after he was cited by the opposition.

But the verdict and sentence were both quashed by Richard Smith QC, sitting as an independent arbitrator, when he appeared at the appeal hearing at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Filton, on Monday.

Bees are in action tomorrow when they entertain Bristol Shoguns at Sharmans Cross Road.

Before the game there will be a minute's silence in memory of James Radburn, a Bees' under 15 player who died after suffering a suspected chronic asthma attack last Sunday while playing against Kidderminster at Portway.

Baxter clinches coveted award
14 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Nick Baxter, the Pertemps Bees winger, has gate-crashed another of England's World Cup celebration parties.

England manager Clive Woodward and captain Martin Johnson took the major honours at the Rugby Union Writers Club annual dinner at the Cafe Royal in London, but Baxters try-scoring exploits over the last 12 years were also recognised with a prestigious award.

Baxter, who was the first player to score 100 National League tries, was presented with an inscribed tankard for his Services to Rugby Award.

The winger began his career at Kings Norton and first sprang to prominence with Worcester after being spotted by current coach Phil Maynard during his time at Sixways.

His award, judged by the RUWC committee, was the only non-World Cup related honour at the dinner which was attended by 500 guests. Keith Wood, who captained Ireland in the World Cup, also picked up a Services to Rugby Tankard, Woodward became the recipient of the first Special Award in four years, and Johnson collected the Player of the Year prize.

This is a great honour and it means such a lot to me, Baxter said. But this is really an award for all the people who have helped me throughout my career.

Baxter is the third Midland recipient of a Services to Rugby Award from the RUWC in four years. His coach Phil Maynards efforts were recognised in 2000 and former Moseley coach John White picked up an award 12 months ago.

Bees hopeful of Davidson return
14 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees hope that lock Alex Davidson will finally be fit to make his first team comeback against Bristol.

Davidson has been sidelined for a month with a rib cartilage injury which he sustained in the defeat by Worcester.

He was expected to make his comeback against Exeter last Saturday but failed a fitness test in midweek.

Alex was very close to fitness last week but we didnt want to rush him back, then have him suffer another setback and be out for a further six weeks, said director of rugby Phil Maynard.

Hopefully he will be fit to play against Bristol. If, as expected, he is fit Davidson will take Rob Waltons place in a Bees side looking for their fourth win since losing to Worcester last month.

One player who will definitely be thrown into the fray at Sharmans Cross Road is flanker Hese Fakatou, whose decision to appeal against a five-week RFU ban was vindicated yesterday when he was cleared of all charges.

Maynard believed that the citing - made by London Welsh in November after the two clubs met - should never have been made in the first place for what the Bees viewed as a trivial incident.

Meanwhile, the Bees have confirmed they will hold a minutes silence in memory of James Radburn before Saturdays Bristol game.

James, a member of the under-15 team whose father Dave is the clubs commercial manager, died of a suspected chronic asthma attack after a game on Sunday.

Maynard said: Although James was only 14, he was a valued and popular member of the first team squad because of the voluntary work that he did.

He was respected and well-liked by the players and the news of his death has saddened everyone associated with the club.

Minites Silence for Pertemps Bees
13 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.beesrugby.com
 
Pertemps Bees & Solihull RUFCs will hold a minute's silence in memory of James Radburn before their National League One game against Bristol Shoguns at Sharmans Cross Road and Powergen Junior Vase, Round 5 against Grimsby (A) on Saturday January 17th.

James, 14, was a member of Birmingham & Solihull RFC's Under-15 team and he died of a suspected chronic asthma attack after he complained of feeling unwell during a game against Kidderminster at Portway on Sunday January 11. He died in an ambulance on the way to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

James's father Dave is the club's commercial manager and his mother Gill is also actively involved at the club.

James operated the scoreboard during first team home games and also acted as a water carrier for the players during training sessions.

Phil Maynard, the Pertemps Bees director of rugby, said: Although James was only 14 he was a valued and popular member of first team squad because of the voluntary work that he did.

"He was respected and well-liked by the players and the news of his death has saddened everyone associated with the club."

On the pitch, Pertemps Bees hope that former Wales Under-21 lock Alex Davidson will be fit to make his first team comeback against Bristol.

Davidson has been sidelined for a month with a rib cartilage injury which he sustained in the defeat by Worcester. He was expected to make his comeback against Exeter last Saturday but failed a fitness test in midweek.

"Alex was very close to fitness last week but we didn't want to rush him back then have him suffer anotehr setback and be out for a further six weeks," Maynard said. "Hopefully he will be fit to play against Bristol."

Fakatou Cleared
13 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.beesrugby.com
 
Pertemps Bees' former Tongan international flanker Hese Fakatou has been cleared of striking a London Welsh player in the groin.

Fakatou received a five weeks suspension when he was found guilty by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel on December 17 but he was cleared when he appeared before an independent arbitrator at another disciplinary hearing in Bristol last night.

Fakatou, who was cited by London Welsh after the National One game at Old Deer Park on November 22, appealed against both the verdict and sentence imposed at the first hearing.

The decision means that Fakatou will be available for selection for the National League One game against Bristol at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday January 17. He served one match of his suspension, against Bedford on December 20, before Pertemps Bees had lodged their appeal.

 

Wily Woof seals Bees first double
11 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

A late try by substitute Shaun Woof sealed a nerve-shredding win to enable Pertemps Bees to complete their first double of the season.

With the match finely poised 5-3 in the visitors' favour, the former Leeds centre slipped through the Chiefs defence to score close to the posts, giving Mark Woodrow an easy conversion.

But the tension did not end there. Almost immediately the Devon side responded with a second penalty of the match, hauling themselves to within a converted try of victory.

With the referee adding eight minutes of injury time and the Birmingham side pinned back, they were forced to repel wave after wave of Exeter pressure until, in near darkness, the final whistle was blown.

It was a dramatic end to a close game that Bees did just enough to win thanks more to their defensive solidity than their attacking verce.

Often they were the architects of their own problems, conceding a string of penalties in the opening quarter which the home side mercifully chose to kick into touch rather than at their guests' posts.

Things seemed to be going the Chiefs way when Tongan centre Suka Hufanga was yellow-carded in his first start for Bees after persistently straying off-side.

That gave home winger Dermot Kelly the space to step in off the sidelines after 28 minutes and slip through two tackles only to be held up over the line by Tom Jordan.

That escape gave Bees the confidence to go forward for the first time in the game as a break by Hese Fakatou set up an attacking scrum.

From the set-piece Jim Jenner and Jordan made room for Woodrow to send an up-and-under out to the left wing where Luke Nabaro gathered and slithered over.

Those were the only points of the first half and Bees should have opened the second with five more. But, after creating two overlaps, Hufanga, then Nick Baxter, wasted the opportunity to increase the lead with loose passes.

The visitors were punished for this in the 44th minute when Tony Yapp accepted an easy penalty. There was no further score until a simple catch and drive created space for Woof to scamper free from 20 yards.

Woodrow's conversion made it 12-3 but Exeter were not done and the deficit, with a minute remaining, was reduced once again through Yapps' boot.

But the men of Sharmans Cross Road held firm.

SCORERS: Exeter - penalties: Tony Yapp (2) Bees - tries: Luke Nabaro, Shaun Woof; conversion: Mark Woodrow

Bees law lord
10 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

If you were to ask Phil Maynard which of his many signings has made the biggest impact at Sharmans Cross Road, there is a fair chance he would point to 51-year- old full-back cum centre Brian Thomas-Peter.

Not that the Canadian exile is often in the frame for either the No 12 or No 13 shirt, or the No 15 for that matter; his contribution goes well beyond the usual rugby skills of tackle, pass and run.

As a clinical psychologist with the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust, the Bees' director of rugby recruited Professor Thomas-Peter to look into the minds of his players in an effort to improve their chronic ill-discipline.

Seemingly ever since their creation in 1989, the baddies from Sharmans Cross Road had been gifting their opponents penalties by the bootful, both technical and, well, let's just call the other sort physical.

So who better to delve into the darkest recesses of a prop forward's head than the man who goes places few others want to, every day of the week? If anyone could understand what drives a loose-head to punch first, think (much) later, then it is the man who was professionally involved in the case of mass-murderer Rosemary West.

Not that he likes to talk about what must have been a truly disturbing experience because, having made his home in this country for the last 35 years, he is very much a rugby man first and criminal headshrinker second.

Even though a near-broken neck sustained while turning out for Ledbury Veterans several years ago persuaded him to step off the pitch, his influence can still be felt on it. In only 18 months, Bees have been transformed from the most penalised side in National One into one of the best-drilled and organised.

This season, they boast the second-best defensive record in the division, ahead of full-timers Orrell and have proved for long periods during games that their boots, hands and minds are no longer so errant.

Thomas-Peter said: "I estimated last season that we lost four games through ill-discipline. In fact, the majority of the games we lost were through our own lack of discipline.

"When we walked through the door, the offences were so obvious we did not have to analyse them. We were giving away a lot of penalties at the breakdown and were ill-disciplined as a squad, we had quite a lot of talent and were a physically-menacing side but had poor discipline."

That's where the psycho-babble comes in: "My work is with forensic patients which means working with mentally-abnormal offenders. The area I have specialised in is working with people with a personality disorder, which is the difficult end of the market psychologically.

"All of the principles that would apply to someone who is a drug-abuser or alcoholic and getting them on the right track are the same principles that you would use here to get players to stay on the right training regime, be disciplined about food and keep going to the gym.

"Rugby players are 'well' people, there is nothing wrong with them, so I have to make the well do better. To make them do that, in any sphere, you have to ensure things that are important to the organisation, important to them." Any questions so far? Then we'll continue.

"I have been trying to help players get outside of their individual ambitions on the field. Some of the people we have had at this club would think about rugby and their role in the game as something akin to mortal combat. It was about fighting the person in front of them and winning the battle with their opponent, especially in a contact situation.

"But what is really important in the tackle is stopping the forward progress and then you have to think about getting the ball from the carrier. Personal responsibility is crucial in that process, because you must not give away a penalty, so there comes a moment where the referee shouts and you have to let go - the personal battle of who wins the ball becomes unimportant. You then have a different job to do, to put yourself in position for the next phase."

If the theory is a bit of a cerebral Everest, the practice is a mere foothill. This season, for the first time, the club have given their players personal diaries in which to record their training programmes, food intake and injury management.

Every month or so, Brian collects the journals to check they are toeing the line. Even though he cannot be sure they're telling the truth, he is pretty confident peer pressure within the club is strong enough to ensure compliance.

He said: "The atmosphere that Phil has engendered among the boys here helps me tremendously, because I do not have to say to someone that they played badly when it is so much better coming from one of the other players.

"Nobody wants their mates to disapprove of them and we have got such a strong spirit in the club, which means I do not have to watch over them 24 hours a day and I can leave them to it."

But that strategy might come unstuck if one of the law-breakers was popular with other players. A bad apple could easily infect the rest of the barrel, which means the coaching staff have to jump on any unhelpful behaviour immediately.

Such a situation arose last season. One of the team leaders, prop Lee Fortey (who, by the end of the campaign, had earned himself a contract with Worcester) was known to have a worryingly short fuse.

"Those people who are socially quite central are very important if they do not comply. They are the ones we have to target. Last year, one of the players we targeted was Lee Fortey

"Lee is a man that would fight at the drop of a hat, because he saw himself as an abrasive man. Clearly, you want someone like that in your team, but you want him not to throw punches.

"We worked on him, we did very well. He was not red-carded all season and got just two yellows, both for technical offences.

"We even have his improvement on video because, in one game, he had a player on the deck and had his fist cocked ready to drive this fellow through the ground and then he just stopped, got up and jogged off.

"To be able to show him that was fantastic. He got great congratulations and, even though he was ribbed about being a girl, he would not have been at Worcester now had be been giving away yellow cards. Once he got control of himself, he became a very good player; when he didn't, he was a liability." Fortey is not the only squad member who has taken on board what he has been told, Thomas- Peter also praised second row Alex Davidson, in and out of the side last year but, when his ribs let him, a massive influence in the pack of 2003-04.

Thomas-Peter said: "For a young guy, Alex has made very significant progress. Every time he got on the field last year he was yellow-carded and now, with a different framework, he is a much more settled player. He may not do the spectacular things so much now, but he is a better player especially in the line-out.

"Ed Orgee has really stepped up in the way he has concentrated on the game this season in his new position of second row. It has changed his role and now he is one of the fastest second rows in the league. Terry Sigley is another one. He has made useful progress. At the beginning of the season, he turned up reasonably fit but he has changed his body shape and taken himself seriously and now we do not have too many problems with him, either."

Last year, Bees lacked leader-ship on the pitch at times, especially when sides put them under pressure, so Maynard looked to bring in a bit of rugby nous.

"We have got some older heads in the side this year and that has been very helpful. Someone like Craig Chalmers did not get to be the player he is because he is a loose cannon or made excuses.

"Jim Thorp is another example because he is such a physical specimen and looked after himself, coming from Sale and playing nine games with them last year. It is important to have him not only because he is big, fast, well-cut and hugely impressive, but also because some of the boys may have looked at him and thought about what they need to do to get to that level."

It is a level of performance that has earned Maynard's merry band a huge amount of admirers. When Bedford arrived just before Christmas, Bees raced into a lead in only ten minutes and spent the rest of the match pinned back into their own 22 with nothing but tackling practice to look forward to. They gave away only a handful of penalties and denied the visitors, finishing 22-5 winners over demoralised opponents.

"Psychology might only account for about three per cent of a side's performance and might only improve a player by one per cent but if you can develop him by, say, ten, that is a massive contribution, " explained Thomas-Peter.

"Come game-time, he will be in a position to make that tackle, score that try and win the game for us."

Which is where a 51-year-old full-back comes into his own.

Tough call-up for World Cup pair
9th January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees have thrown their international World Cup duo into the fray tomorrow as they head down for a tough clash at Exeter.

Canadian prop Kevin Tkachuk and Tongan centre Suka Hufanga - who both featured in the World Cup in Australia - have spent time on the bench since joining the Bees late last year.

But having settled in well at Sharmans Cross Road the pair have been promoted to the starting side for the first game of 2004.

"We had to be professional and let both Suka and Kevin learn our patterns and calls, particularly Kevin in the scrum," said Maynard.

"But while it's a double change, it's hardly like putting in two inexperienced youngsters. These guys have 20 or 30 caps each, have obvious quality and they've both earned their shot at the title in training."

Training was as tough as expected this week after a 10-day break, which is just as well with wet weather making a dour battle likely at the County Ground.

Fly-half Mark Woodrow gets the nod over the more experienced Craig Chalmers because of his form this season, while Maynard had no qualms about picking Tom Jordan over Nathan Carter at flanker.

"Tom's the man in the chair at the moment," said the director of rugby.

"Nathan's fit again but he needs to win his place back.

"And we have a strong bench, with players like Nathan, Shaun Woof and Matt Long who have played all season."

With Alex Davidson unavailable, the Bees need their warhorses like Jim Jenner, Hese Fakatou and Ed Orgee in what will be a muddy and forward-led 80 minutes - while chances for Nick Baxter and Dave Knight could be scarce.

"Exeter are a better side than when we beat them back in Exeter," said Maynard, referring to the opening day win that shocked National One and opened people's eyes to the Bees' potential this season.

"But they'll need to be - we're better as well."

BEES (probable): D Knight, Nabaro, Hufanga, Davies, Baxter, Woodrow, P Knight; Sigley, Hubbleday, Tkachuk, Walton, Orgee, Fakatou, Jordan, Jenner. Replacements: Merritt, Long, Fletcher, Carter, Woof, Gregory, Richardson.

Fakatou ready to fight ban
9 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

PERTEMPS Bees back-row forward Hese Fakatou will have his appeal against a recent disciplinary decision heard by an independent arbitrator at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Bristol on Monday.

Fakatou, a former Tongan international, was suspended for five weeks after he was found guilty of striking an opponent during the National One game at London Welsh on November 22. He was charged after he was cited by London Welsh.

Fakatou is appealing against both conviction and sentence. Both appeals will be heard by Richard Smith QC.

Meanwhile, Bees have rescheduled their National League One game against Orrell, which was due to be played at Sharmans Cross Road on March 27, for March 6.

The change has been necessary because Bees will now play Wakefield at home in the semi-final of the Powergen Challenge Shield on March 27.

The final of the Powergen Shield will be played at Twickenham on April 17 and, as it will feature either Pertemps Bees or Wakefield, the league game between the clubs, scheduled to be played at Sharmans Cross Road that afternoon will have to be rearranged. No new date has yet been agreed.

Bees return to action tomorrow when they travel to face Exeter.

Tough trip for rested Bees
9 January 2004 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

PERTEMP Bees travel to Exeter this Saturday following a well deserved ten day break from National Division One action.

Third placed Bees, fresh from their first blank weekend since August, will be hoping to continue the amazing 2003 form which has seen them rise to be ranked as the best semi-professional side in the country.

However the Exeter Chiefs will be looking to upset the high flying Sharmans Cross outfit, after coming off the back of two straight victories.

A 26-12 win over Penzance/Newlyn and a 24-5 victory over Wakefield has seen the Devon based side rise to seventh in the table.

Tonga's World Cup centre Suka Hufanga looks set to face the Chiefs at the County Ground, after Director of Rugby Phil Maynard decided to extend his trial with Birmingham and Solihull for another month.

Hufanga has just made two brief appearances for B and S, and Maynard believes he needs more match time before deciding whether to offer him a contract.

Bees have professor to thank for focus
7th January 04 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees, the most improved side in National Division One, have revealed the secret behind their success - a discipline coach.

Since director of rugby Phil Maynard asked clinical psychologist Brian Thomas-Peter to help him out the club have risen to the become the best semi-professional club in the country.

One of the major factors behind their inexorable rise has been their transformation from a physical team packed with fighters to a cohesive unit that punches above its weight against more expensively assembled squads.

And crucial to that is the Canadian professor who spends his days analysing and treating mentally disturbed offenders and his nights, Tuesday and Thursday at least, with the Bees players.

"I brought him in for the simple reason that we were good one week and not the next," said Maynard.

"That cannot be physical and has to be between the ears and it seems so because our discipline is so much better now than when I first came here."

Maynard knew the 51-year-old from his time at Worcester after they joined the Sixways outfit in the same year and oversaw a string of promotions as the Warriors romped through the divisions to sit at the summit of National One.

In fact Maynard had such belief in his methods that Prof Thomas-Peter followed him to what was then Birmingham & Solihull.

"Phil asked me to contribute in a number of ways one of them was to introduce sports psychology when it is relevant relating to discipline and self-discipline," he said.

"I also do individual performance analysis, watch opposition and report on games so it is a floating role which is helpful because it puts me in a good position between the money men like Phil and the players."

Knight shines bright
2 January 04 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

Plymouth Albion 16 Pertemps Bees 22

PERTEMP Bees head into the new year with a two week break, after finishing off an incredible 2003 in style at Plymouth.

Phil Maynard's men continue to sit in the top three of National Division One, as they strive to finish as the best semi-professional side in the country.

However the Sharmans Cross side had to battle back from a first half deficit, to defeat the south coasters. Stewart Pearl grabbed an eighth minute try to open the scoring for the home side, and nine minutes later Tom Barlow converted a penalty to leave the Bees 8-0 down.

However Birmingham and Solihull soon found their form and before long Alan Hubbleday charged through to secure the travellers' first try, followed by Mark Woodrow's conversion.

A Barlow penalty just before the break gave Albion the lead once again, after several previously missed chances.

The Midland side soon made sure the game was theirs as they dominated the second half.

Some good work allowed Dave Knight to score three minutes after the interval. 20 minutes of domination followed before scrum half Paul Knight converted the away side's third try, and Woodrow settled any nerves with the conversion.

The Devon side were clearly not prepared to hand the Bees an easy victory, and launched a string of attacks. Eventually Number 8 Dan Ward-Smith forced his way through, to rescue a bonus point for sixth placed Plymouth.

Pertemps delight at auction success.
1st January 04 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

AN AUCTION held at Pertemps Bees game with Worcester on December 13 raised almost £2,000 for the Spinal Injuries Association.

The game at Sharmans Cross Road was sponsored by Pertemps Employment Alliance with the aim of the day to raise funds towards a new facility for the SIA.

Prizes under the hammer at the auction included Rugby shirts and books signed by England World Cup heroes Jason Leonard, Ben Cohen and Lawrence Dallaglio.

Donations from local businesses in Solihull and a collection held on the day all adding to the fantastic amount that was raised.

The only down note was Bees losing for the first time at home this season.

New Year Break for Pertemps Bees
29 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.beesrugby.com
 
Pertemps Bees' director of rugby Phil Maynard has given his players a well-deserved ten-days break from training over the New Year.

Pertemps Bees have no game on Saturday January 3, their first blank Saturday since mid-August, and it is likely to be their only free weekend this season because their progress to the quarter-finals of the Powergen Cup and semi-finals of the Powergen Shield will mean the rearrangement of league matches.

"I've told the players that I don't want to see them again until January 6," Maynard said. "We need a rest from rugby and from each other.

"We've had no break at all since we started our pre-season friendlies in August, there's no chance of having a break in the second half of the season and this is the only opportunity they will have to switch off from rugby for a few days.

"It's a break that the players deserve though. Their commitment and enthusiasm so far this season has been exemplary, we are enjoying our most successful season ever and to reach the mid-way point of the season as the highest-placed semi-professional club in the country is a fantastic achievement."

Meanwhile Maynard has decided to extend the trial period of Suka Hufanga, the Tonga World Cup centre, who arrived at Sharmans Cross Road last month.

Hufanga has made just two brief appearances as a replacement against Manchester and Wakefield and Maynard wants to give him more match time before deciding whether to offer him a contract.

Bees Knights in shining armour
28th December 2003 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Bees ended 2003 on a winning note - after a superb second-half showing in Devon.

It was the Midlanders display after the break that ultimately won them this entertaining encounter, Bees running in three tries to Plymouths solitary score, despite withstanding a late barrage.

The win means Phil Maynards side will start 2004 in the top three in National League One, hot on the heels of league leaders Worcester and second-placed Orrell.

However, it was Albion - who came into this game on the back of a four-match unbeaten run - who started the game the brighter in front of a record 3,882 crowd at the Brickfields.

Within three minutes the home side were in front, second row Will James claiming a line-out close to the Bees line, where his fellow forwards applied the shove and former Worcester hooker Stewart Pearl emerged from the mass of bodies proudly clutching the ball.

Fly-half Barlow missed with the conversion attempt, but made amends on 17 minutes when he extended Plymouths lead to 8-0, firing over a penalty after Bees had infringed in front of their own posts.

Bees were stunned, but slowly they began to find their rhythm and reduced the deficit with their first real attack.

Winger Nick Baxter powered his way into the Albion 22, creating a penalty chance. They opted to kick to the corner and from the resulting line-out hooker Alan Hubbleday squeezed his way through. Former Plymouth trialist Mark Woodrow converted to reduce the home sides advantage to a point.

Plymouth twice had chances to extend their lead through Barlow, but the normally reliable number 10 failed on both occasions before getting third time lucky just before the break to make it 11-7 at the turn.

Bees emerged early for the second half and within three minutes of the restart had taken the lead. Jim Jenner created the opening for Woodrow and Mike Davies to work in, the latter releasing Dave Knight to touch down.

It was the ideal start for the visitors, who for a 20-minute spell dictated play and were able to pull clear of the Devonians.

Scrum-half Paul Knight went over for their third try just before the hour. Woodrow converted and the latter bagged a penalty on 67 minutes to put Bees 11 points up.

Albion threw on their replacements, including former Bath and England hooker Graham Dawe, and turned the screw on Bees in the closing stages. They were rewarded with a try from number eight Dan Ward-Smith in injury-time, but that was as good as it got.

Ed looks for lucky break
26 December 2003 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com  

Pertemps Bees skipper Ed Orgee wants to make it lucky 13 when his side travel to play Plymouth Albion tomorrow.

The Brickfields Stadium fixture is one of the toughest that the Bees will face all season but victory in this third-v-fourth clash would be a huge boost to their National One ambitions.

Plymouth are one of the sides we have to worry about this season but if we could beat them that could put us 13 points ahead of them in the table, said Orgee.

At the half-way stage that would provide us with a great cushion of three wins between us. Its going to be a tough game, especially in the conditions, but the way we have battled against Worcester and Bedford has given us hope.

The team travel down to Plymouth tonight, cutting short the players festivities.

But Orgee, whose side have not yet had a free weekend thanks to their Cup run, insisted five points would make a great Christmas present.

Director of rugby Phil Maynard has a stronger squad at his disposal than in previous games.

He should have two fit fly-halves, compared to none last week, while Nick Baxter is back in contention after being put on the bench against Bedford.

In the pack , Canadian international Kevin Tkachuk has now had another week to become familiar with the Bees systems and may start while Nathan Carter and Duncan White should be fit again in the back row.

Bees face up to cold shoulder
24 December 2003 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
'Tis the season to be jolly. Try telling that to Pertemps Bees. The day after Boxing Day, they are asked to fight a decent fight 200 miles away from home.

At Plymouth. Those thoughtful souls who compose the fixture lists have condemned the Bees to a lengthy spell on the motorway while almost all other clubs in the First Division are playing local derbies.

Phil Maynard, their director of rugby, tried to switch the date. Plymouth turned them down flat. "Everybody else seems to be playing within ten miles of each other," is his lament, "and we get this."

And the Bees lose a training session. "I did think I'd bring them in on Christmas Day," Maynard said, "but I thought better of it."

A journey of this distance, at this time of the year, is hardly conducive to prime performance. Plymouth are tough nuts at the best of times.

"They're tough on their own ground," Maynard said. "They have a big pack, they're pragmatic and they play well around it. And they're sitting just behind us in the league."

None of which, however, lessens the Bees' resolve. "We're going into the second half of the season in third place in the league and that's a great effort," he says. "But we are not sitting back.

"This is something we are determined to build on. We have a great deal to look forward to in the New Year."

Craig Chalmers and Mark Woodrow are back in contention for the fly-half spot and flank forward Nathan Carter will be back in the frame if he passes a fitness test.

Woodrow to return for Bees
24 December 2003 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

PERTEMPS fly-half Mark Woodrow is set to return to action in the National League One game against Plymouth Albion at the new Brickfields Stadium on Saturday (2pm).

The former Dings Crusaders player has not played since he broke a bone in his hand in the win against Manchester on November 29 but was expected to be given the all clear to return to action when he has a final fitness test on Tuesday.

Woodrow is likely to be accompanied in his return to action by former Scotland and British Lions fly-half Craig Chalmers, flanker Nathan Carter and, possibly, lock Alex Davidson.

Meanwhile Bees have confirmed they have appealed against the five weeks suspension handed out to former Tonga international flanker Hese Fakatou by an RFU disciplinary panel last week.

Fakatou was cited by London Welsh after the league game at Old Deer Park last month and was charged with striking an opponent. He was found guilty by the RFU panel at a hearing in Newbury last Wednesday.

A date has yet to be fixed for the appeal which will be on the length of sentence only. Pertemps Bees are also waiting to hear whether Fakatou will be able to resume playing until the hearing.

Knight shines bright as Pertemps hold firm
24 December 2003 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

Pertemps Bees 24 Bedford 5

BEES bounced back from defeat against Worcester to finish their home campaign for the year on a high note.

Visitors Bedford enjoyed almost all the possession, but unlike a week earlier had not the ability to turn it into points.

For their part the hosts scored two tries in each half grabbing a late bonus when Ed Orgee crossed in injury time.

Paul Knight, starting at fly half in place of injured duo Mark Woodrow and Craig Chalmers, did well and was first on the scoresheet after six minutes exploiting a massive gap in the Bedford defence.

Stand in scrum half Tom Richardson was next to make it across the Bedford line in the 16th minute.

The home side threw a lifeline to their guests when prop Terry Sigley was sin binned for obstruction but four opportunities to kick penalties were refused in favour of running at the home line, but all to no avail.

Despite spending most of the second period in their own 22 Bees still managed to grab the third try of the day. It came on 74 minutes when a penalty kicked to the corner resulted in Rob Walton winning ball at the line-out and Tom Jordan getting his first score of the season which Knight duly converted.

As the game moved into injury time Bedford finally gained reward for all their efforts when Lee Anker touched down in the corner.

But Orgee's late score was enough to gain the extra point and the missed conversion made little difference.

Mark battles to oust scout
23 December 2003 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Director of rugby Phil Maynard was forced to play Paul Knight out of position at fly-half in Saturday's 22-5 win over Bedford, and field several reserves in the pack.

They all rose to the occasion at Sharmans Cross Road, particularly flanker Tom Jordan, as third-placed Bees went into Christmas as the best semi-professional side in the country.

But Maynard - whose squad last week consisted of practically every fit player at the club - will still be pleased to have room for manoeuvre at Albion's new Brickfields Stadium.

Mark Woodrow should be declared fit to play at fly-half after a month out, while his rival No.10, Craig Chalmers, is also likely to be available.

Nathan Carter is nearing full fitness too, although openside rival Jordan would consider himself unlucky to be dropped in a game where his tackling and industry would be invaluable.

Woodrow has not played since he broke a bone in his hand in the win against Manchester on November 29, but is expected to be given the all-clear after a final fitness test tonight.

Former Scotland international Chalmers sat out the Bedford game because of a shoulder problem, while Carter has not played since last month's defeat at London Welsh because of cracked ribs.

The return of second row Alex Davidson is less certain, however.

Davidson popped a rib cartilage for the second time this season against Worcester 10 days ago and may take a little longer to recover from the injury. Rob Walton again stands by.

Meanwhile, the Bees have confirmed their appeal against the five week ban handed out to flanker Hese Fakatou by an RFU disciplinary panel last week.

Fakatou was cited by London Welsh after their league game last month and was charged and found guilty of striking an opponent.

A date has yet to be fixed for the appeal - which will be on the length of sentence only --and Maynard is also waiting to hear whether Fakatou will be able to resume playing until the hearing.

If Fakatou is unavailable Duncan White or Peter Knight are most likely to take his place.

Bees determined to appeal
23 December 2003 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

Pertemps Bees have announced they are appealing against the five-week ban that was last week slapped on their former Tonga international Hese Fakatou.

Log onto icBirmingham over the festive period for match coverage, reports, interviews and analysis.

The live-wire flanker was suspended by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing on Wednesday after being cited by officials from London Welsh after Bees' dismal defeat at Old Deer Park in November.

The 31-year-old was reported for striking an opponent and missed his side's win over Bedford Blues at Sharmans Cross Road.

As things stand Saturday's game was just one of four matches Fakatou is scheduled to miss including difficult away trips to Plymouth Albion and Exeter in coming weeks.

Bees' director of rugby Phil Maynard said: "We are appealing about the length of the sentence and on the grounds of its severity."

A date has yet to be fixed for the hearing but in the meantime the Solihull club are waiting to hear if their top ball-carrying forward can resume playing pending the outcome.

Fakatou's absence from the morale-boosting triumph over Bedford allowed the former Worcester and Gloucester Academy flanker Pete Knight to make his league debut for Maynard's side and while he impressed in just his second start for the club he could not claim to have the same talismanic effect as the big Tongan.

Maynard was more forthcoming about a recent survey which showed that after England's victory in the World Cup rugby has become the second most popular sport in the country.

The research, conducted by Mori and supported by the sponsor of the country's top flight Premiership, Zurich, highlighted a massive increase in the game's popularity since January 2003.

According to Mori at the start of the year rugby languished in eighth position with just 18 per cent of adults saying they had an interest in the sport but that figure leapt to 27 per cent by December meaning 15.66 million now follow the oval ball code. The previous figure was 10.44 million, amounting to a 50 per cent rise.

Those new-found fans were not in evidence at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday with the old ground looking a bit bare in comparison to the previous week when a record crowd were attracted to the Worcester match. Estimates suggest less than a third of the 2,000 who watched the Warriors beat Bees returned on Saturday - a fact not lost on Maynard.

"It is going to be a long haul to get people interested in coming to watch us. All we can do is keep banging our drum and do our best.

"We have the 15th best side in the country and although we do not have great facilities you can get a drink, a bite to eat and watch a decent game of rugby for a fraction of what it would cost to watch a Premiership football match."

Passion Powers Maynards express
22 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
As Phil Maynard's Pertemps Bees approach the halfway mark in their season, the director of rugby must swell with pride when he thinks about what has been achieved in the time it has taken September's sun to be replaced with the drizzle of December.

Lying in third position in National One, eight points clear of their nearest rivals, within a game of Twickenham in the Powergen Shield and with a Powergen Cup quarter-final against the Premiership champions Wasps to come, the 46-year-old has turned his side into a semi-professional powerhouse.

The 2002/03 season started out just as promisingly with the thrashings of London Welsh, Moseley and an away shock at Orrell but when Worcester and Rotherham came calling they inflicted such damage that the Maynard Express, which had threatened to be a runaway, was derailed instead.

Luke Smith packed up his kitbag in a huff, injuries bit deep and what looked like a top-six finish in midwinter became eighth by the end of spring.

There was a tangible feeling of anti-climax. But not this year.

Worcester dropped in again last weekend and left with a win but without a bonus point and failed to dent the optimism that pervades Sharmans Cross Road. Proof of that came on Saturday when the manner of Bees' victory over a sporadically impressive Bedford confirmed the huge strides taken in the last 12 months.

The Blues forced them to defend for at least 60 of the 80 minutes and while the hosts' heads may have failed at times, their hearts never did.

There was always a spare body willing to make a sacrifice for his team-mates as the visitors battered away from minute 15 until minute 75 once Maynard's men established an early lead.

It was hugely impressive that they managed to cling on to their 12-point advantage, even more so that they embellished it late in the game to claim a bonus point.

But that is the way things are these days; to dampen this swarm you have to virtually kill them, which is the big difference from last season when they would often beat themselves.

"I was a bit concerned whether we could perform, having played so well last week, but we showed what kind of side we are today," said Maynard. "This result was important to us to cross the Rubicon and make sure that we bounced back after the Worcester result and maintain our drive for a top-five place.

"The lads stuck at the task well, they defended in an outstanding manner for the whole game, basically shutting Bedford down and we took our own chances when we got them.

"It was the first time those half-backs, Tom Richardson and Paul Knight, have played together and they did a great job but that is just indicative of this side and they way they pull for each other and just get on with the job.

"We are in a much stronger position this year than we were this time last year. We have got ourselves sorted out quite a lot off the park; on the park, you can see we have a small tight collective who pull together for each other.

"We have a tiny squad but I say it is like sawing logs, make them shorter and they get stronger. I like this bunch, I like the never-say-die attitude of the players; we have a lot going for us."

With a mini-tour of the South West to come over the next month, those qualities will be severely tested and the club's playing resources stretched as never before. Which is probably why Maynard chose to rest his top winger.

Already missing the suspended Hese Fakatou, his chief ball-carrying forward, and injured fly-half Craig Chalmers, Nick Baxter was given the opportunity to recharge his batteries with a place on the bench.

In the end, the former Worcester man's 70-minute absence was of little consequence because for most of the match Bees didn't have enough possession to utilise his skills.

After stand-in stand-off Knight and Richardson had both scurried across the Bedford line for tries in the opening quarter of an hour, it was another 60 minutes before B&S made it back into Blues' territory but when they finally did, they were ruthless in their execution.

Six minutes from the end, Rob Walton took a lineout and was part of the rolling maul that drove flanker Tom Jordan over for a well-deserved score.

The 24-year-old had been outstanding, producing a performance England World Cup winner Neil Back would have been proud of. Jordan tackled everything that moved until it didn't and stole so many balls the Old Bill must surely be looking for him.

Then, even though Lee Anker strolled round the home defence with indecent ease in the 78th minute, either Halley's Comet must have appeared early or else an ever rarer sighting came our way, as Ed Orgee snared a loose lineout throw-in and fell over the line for his first try of the season.

PERTEMPS BEES: Knight D; Takarangi (Baxter, 72), Woof (Hufanga, 72), Davies, Gregory (Nabaro, 45); Paul Knight, Richardson; Sigley (Tkachuk, 69), Hubbleday (Merritt, 69), Long, Walton, Orgee, Peter Knight, Jordan, Jenner.

Replacements: Fletcher, Gravil.

BEDFORD: Whetstone; Mansfield (Hinkins, 73), Kirk, Barnes, Anker (Lincoln, 75); Hepher A, Malone; Volland, Saffy (Ross 63), Brooks (Stewart 50), Quigley (Ball, 63), Brenton, Whit-ford, White, Hepher S. Replacements: Rainbow, Orugboh.

Referee: T Beddow (RFU).

Phil is tough to boost Bees
19 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Phil Maynard is calling on his weakened Pertemps Bees side to get back into the winning routine at home to Bedford tomorrow.

Director of rugby Phil Maynard (pictured) said this week's training was deliberately tough as he tries to get the Bees focussed again after last week's 18-0 defeat to Worcester.

A rescheduled Sharmans Cross Road league clash against inconsistent Bedford offers just such an opportunity, despite Craig Chalmers, Hese Fakatou and Alex Davidson missing the game.

"It wasn't pretty," admitted Maynard. "Playing Worcester in a top of the table clash is all very well and good, but it's time to get back to reality in this division.

"Bedford is going to be a tough game because they can be very strong on their day." As usual Maynard has been forced to contend with a series of injuries in key areas.

Chalmers has been ruled out with a shoulder problem so Paul Knight has to move to fly half - Tom Richardson therefore makes his first league start at scrum-half.

There are problems in the pack too with Alex Davidson popping a rib last Saturday.

The recurring injury was sustained against Wakefield last month and it is likely to keep him out of action for two weeks. Rob Walton replaces Davidson.

The replacement bench offers Maynard slightly more hope, though, as he gets down to the bare bones of his squad.

Canadian international prop Kevin Tkachuk, signed this week, will feature "sooner rather than later" after impressing in training.

Another international, Tongan Suka Hufanga, also warms the bench, as does Bees stalwart Nick Baxter.

"Nick isn't used to being on the bench, but it shows what strength we've got on the wings," said Maynard. "He couldn't train on Thursday evening because of work commitments so Luke Nabaro's got a chance to impress."

PERTEMPS BEES: D Knight, Takarangi, Woof, Davies, Nabaro, Paul Knight, Richardson; Sigley, Hubbleday, Long, Walton, Orgee, Pete Knight, Jordan, Jenner. Replacements: Merritt, Fletcher, Tkachuk, Gravil, Baxter, Gregory, Hufanga.

Knight to make league debut
18 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.beesrugby.com
 
Former Worcester and Gloucester Academy flanker Pete Knight will make his league debut for Pertemps Bees in the National League One game against Bedford at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday December 20 (2pm).

Knight, whose only previous start for the club was in the Powergen Cup win at Waterloo last month, has been drafted into the back-row following the suspension of former Tonga international Hese Fakatou for five weeks for striking an opponent in the defeat at London Welsh. Duncan White also misses out because of illness.

To add to Pertemps Bees' selection problems, former Scotland and British Lions fly-half Craig Chalmers has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. Mark Woodrow, the club's other specialist fly-half, is still recovering from a broken hand so Paul Knight has been moved from scrum-half to outside half. Tom Richardson will also make his first league start at scrum-half.

Lock Alex Davidson misses out because of a rib injury so Rob Walton, who impressed when he came off the bench against Worcester last Saturday, will start with Neil Fletcher back in the squad for the first time in three weeks as a replacement.

Canadian international prop Kevin Tkachuk, who was signed from Oxford University this week, comes straight into the squad as a replacement and winger Nick Baxter has also been named on the bench. Work commitments prevented Baxter from training on Thursday evening so Luke Nabaro has claimed his place in the starting line-up.

Pertemps Bees: 15 Dave Knight; 14 Aaron Takarangi, 13 Shaun Woof, 12 Mike Davies, 11 Luke Nabaro; 10 Paul Knight, 9 Tom Richardson; 1 Terry Sigley, 2 Alan Hubbleday, 3 Matt Long, 4 Rob Walton, 5 Ed Orgee (captain), 6 Pete Knight, 7 Tom Jordan, 8 Jim Jenner. Replacements: Rob Merritt, Neil Fletcher, Kevin Tkachuk, Andy Gravil, Nick Baxter, Geoff Gregory, Suka Hufanga.

Bees forward cops five-week ban
18 December 03 ~ taken from teletext
 
Pertemps Bees' former Tonga back-rower Hese Fakatou has been suspended for five weeks by the RFU.

The Solihull pack ace was found guilty of striking an opponent during a National One game at London Welsh on November 22, and was charged after being cited by the Old Deer Park club.

The hearing, staged in Newbury, told Fakatou he would not be free to resume playing until January 22. 

Davidson out for Bedford game
18 December 03 ~ taken from Teletext.

Pertemps Bees lock Alex Davidson will miss the rearranged National League One game against Bedford Blues at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday.

The former Wales U21 international popped a rib in last Saturday's defeat by Worcester and it is likely to keep him out for two months. Davidson's place in the second row is likely to be taken by Rob Walton, who replaced him against Worcester.

Tkachuk puts pressure on
18 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees' new signing Kevin Tkachuk wants to be thrown straight into the action against Bedford on Saturday.

The Canadian international prop was signed this week by an impressed Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard, who hopes that the player could be involved immediately at Shar-mans Cross Road.

Tkachuk is hopeful, too, but he isn't taking anything for granted despite his international experience and forward strength.

"I have no idea whether I will be involved against Bedford," said Tkachuk, who has won 24 caps for Canada.

"That's up to the coaching team and I won't know until tonight's training - but I came here to play and that's what I want to do."

Tkachuk is preparing hard for a potential debut on Saturday - he and his Oxford University team-mates are providing opposition for the New Zealand Barbarians ahead of their game against England.

The 27-year-old featured in this month's Varsity game at Twickenham in Oxford colours, where he is studying for a masters in English local history.

But after coming back from the World Cup where he made four appearances, he now wants to make it at domestic level.

"I've wanted to play league rugby and a club with the quality of the Bees is a perfect position for me," said Tkachuk. "I'm an 'import', which is sometimes a problem, but the Bees can find room for me and hopefully I can do a job for them.

"They're a club that are on the up, which is better than being brought in to help turn around a struggling side. It's always nice to play winning rugby."

Matt Long

The 19-stone loose head prop will pressure Matt Long (pictured), Andy Gravil and (if fit) Terry Sigley for a place in the front row.

Tkachuk is now one of four members of the Bees squad - after Craig Chalmers, Hese Fakatou and Suka Hufanga - to have World Cup experience.

Meanwhile, Maynard will wait until after Christmas to formalise the contract extension offered to him by the Bees this week.

There is little chance of Maynard turning down the new deal which would run until summer 2006, but he said: "I'm flattered that they've offered me it but there's plenty of time to sort that out."

*Bees' former Tonga international back-row forward Hese Fakatou was suspended for five weeks when he appeared before an RFU disciplinary panel last night.

Fakatou was found guilty of striking an opponent during the National League One game at London Welsh on November 22. He was charged after being cited by the opponents.

Tkachuk looks to emulate Charron
18 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees' newest recruit, tighthead prop Kevin Tkachuk, has said he will be happy if his stay in Birmingham is a fraction as successful as that of the last Canadian to play in the city.

The 27-year-old follows Maple Leaf rugby legend Al Charron into Birmingham after linking up with Phil Maynards men until the end of the season and he is aware of the countrymen who have gone before him.

Charron wore Moseleys red for just over a season six years ago in a career that included more than 70 caps, four World Cup competitions and international acclaim as a model professional.

In that time he became a firm favourite with The Reddings faithful and Tkachuk, who is currently studying a Masters degree in History at Oxford University, knows even though Charron has called it a day, he can still take a leaf out of the great mans book.

If I am one-eighth as successful as Al as a person and on the pitch then I will be delighted. He is a Canadian and rugby icon, he said.

I have not signed on the dotted line yet but it is pretty much a done deal. I trained with the squad on Tuesday and I was happy with the way it went in terms of the level and intensity of the session. It is not hard to tell why these guys are third in the league the way they train.

The skill level was quite good and the backline especially has a lot of ball-players who are strong runners and I am really looking forward to playing with them.

Whether the Saskatchewan man gets that opportunity on Saturday remains to be seen following the recovery of Terry Sigley who has shaken off a knee injury sustained in the defeat against Worcester.

That leaves Tkachuk, who 24 caps and played in all four of Canadas games at the recent Rugby World Cup, competing for the No 3 shirt with Matt Long and Andy Gravil.

Bees swoop for Canadian Star
17 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees are set to sign Canadian international prop Kevin Tkachuk to ease their front row problems.

Tkachuk, who won the last four of his 24 international caps in the World Cup, trained with the Bees last night and, provided the necessary paperwork can be completed in time, he could come straight into their squad for Saturdays rearranged National One game against Bedford at Sharmans Cross Road.

The Bees attempted to sign the 27-year-old a month ago but Tkachuks commitments at Oxford University prevented him playing club rugby. Having won his third blue in last weeks drawn Varsity Match at Twickenham, Tkachuk is now available for the rest of the season.

Tkachuk impressed Phil Maynard, the Bees director of rugby, in last months annual fixture between Oxford and Major Stanleys XV at Iffley Road. Maynard was coach of the Stanleys side and Tkachuk starred as Oxford inflicted a record defeat on the invitation side.

He looked a good ball carrier that evening and I tried to sign him when we lost three props after the Wakefield cup game, Maynard said.

Hes now free to play club rugby for the rest of the season and we think that he will bring some experience to our embattled front row.

Hes been exposed to the game at the very highest level, hes a a big strong boy and were keen to get him on board.

Tkachuk, 19 stones and 6ft tall, has played most of his club rugby in Canada and lists gridiron football and wrestling among his other sporting accomplishments.

Tkachuks likely arrival at the Bees is timely because Terry Sigley twisted a knee in last Saturdays defeat by Worcester and he is expected to join his brother Rob (back) and a third prop, Jim Thorp (shoulder), on the list of absentees for Bedfords visit.

Maynard offered extension
16 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.beesrugby.com
 
Pertemps Bees have offered their director of rugby an extension to his existing contract which is designed to keep him at Sharmans Cross Road until the end of the 2004/05 season.

The former Worcester and Stourbridge coach is in his second season in charge at Pertemps Bees and, having guided them into the quarter-finals of the Powergen Cup for the first time, the club's directors are keen to retain his services.

"Phil has done a marvelous job in his two seasons at the club and we are keen to build on the wonderful success we have enjoyed under him," said Steve Blundell, the Pertemps Bees chairman. We have reached the last eight of the Powergen Cup, we are also in the semi-finals of the Powergen Challenge Shield, we currently occupy our highest ever league position and we are enjoying a high profile nationally.

"We have already opened negotiations with Phil about his extending his initial contract until 2005 and we hope to conclude those negotiations before Christmas."

Maynard, who played as a flanker for Birmingham, began his coaching career with Kings Norton before he joined Worcester in 1993.

Worcester won three league titles during his seven years as their coach before he joined Stourbridge as director of rugby and guided them to the National Three North title in his first season in charge.

Duo's return delights Bees
12 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees can count on the services of wise old heads Craig Chalmers and Jim Jenner against former club Worcester tomorrow.

Fly-half Chalmers has shaken off a hamstring strain, while experienced number eight Jenner --another player acrimoniously discarded by Worcester in the summer - has regained his place from Duncan White.

The Bees camp are inwardly confident of springing a surprise on the unbeaten Warriors, and believe they can put them under a level of pressure they have so far avoided this year.

In doing so, director of rugby Phil Maynard is aiming to provoke John Brain's side into one of the undisciplined collapses that have cost them promotion in recent seasons.

Chalmers and Jenner - like Nick Baxter, Shaun Woof and Maynard himself --know all about Cecil Duck-worth's expectations for the Sixways pretenders, and just how satisfying it would be to disrupt them.

A record crowd is anticipated at Sharmans Cross Road, with 2,000 or more fans crowding in for the 2pm kick-off.

Maynard's selection decisions were largely made for him yesterday evening by negative news about prop Andy Gravil and Nathan Carter.

The pair have provisionally been left out of a game where their experience would have been priceless to an Ed Orgee-led side.

Prop Gravil may yet play some part, though, in a largely predictable XV - the only real dilemma was on the wing where Geoff Gregory beat off the competition of Luke Nabaro and Aaron Takarangi to partner the evergreen Baxter.

Despite the trauma of travelling to the small and unwelcoming Sharmans Cross Road, Worcester will still be favourites tomorrow.

The leaders miss Duncan Roke and Werner Swanepoel, although at this level Ben Hinshelwood and Matt Powell prove better than adequate replacements to a fearsome back line.

Despite two of the division's best attacks, however, the key confrontation will take place up front where Worcester have excelled in recent weeks.

There Jenner will have his work cut out in the back row, particularly if Gavin Pfister recovers to partner the inform Drew Hickey and Craig Gillies continues to dominate every line-out.

BEES (probable): D Knight, Gregory, Woof, Davies, Baxter, Chalmers, P Knight; Sigley, Hubbleday, Long, Davidson, Orgee, Fakatou, Jordan, Jenner. Replacements: Culley (or Gravil), Merritt, Walton, White, Richardson, Nabaro, Takarangi.

WORCESTER (from): Hinshelwood, O'Leary, Hylton, Officer, Trueman, Hayes, Garrard, Davies, Brown, Powell, McAtee; Lyman, Lyman, Hall, Windo, Fortey, Olver, Gillies, Gabey, Zaltzman, Bates, Mason, Pfister, Hickey

 

Seven try romp for hot Bees
12 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 
Wakefield 19 Pertemps Bees 44

BEES produced arguably their best 40 minutes of the season to overwhelm Wakefield at College Grove.

Leading by only a penalty at half time they stepped up a gear after the break to add five tries to their tally of two from the opening period.

The visitors made the early incursion as the pack did the spadework for centre Mike Davies to score.

Wakefield's response was a try from Andy Brown and kicker Warren Spragg converted having previously missed two opportunities to embarrass Bees further.

But a try from Craig Chalmers which he converted himself put Pertemps back in front before a Wakefield counter attack gave Nick Wainwright the chance to grab a second score for the hosts.

With Chalmers receiving treatment, Paul Knight kicked a vital penalty to grab the half time advantage and from that point on they never looked back.

Three quick tries around the hour mark effectively killed off the Yorkshiremen.

Geoff Gregory squeezed in for the first on 56 minutes, Shaun Woof added a second four minutes later after a charge down and replacement Luke Nabaro's first task was to touch down for a third moments later.

Though Jon Feeley skipped past Nabaro ten minutes from time for a consolation, scrum half Tom Richardson was on hand to score two late tries and underline Bees' second-half superiority.

 
 
 

You cant be serious
12 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees boss Phil Maynard has hit back at his Worcester opposite number John Brain as a war of words threatened to break out ahead of this week-end's derby clash.

Brain this week suggested the Bees would happily finish 12th in National League as long as they beat local rivals Worcester.

And former Worcester coach Maynard - one of 10 ex-Sixways men in the Bees' coaching and playing staff --is more than happy to stoke up the fire further in the run-up to Saturday's game.

"I think Worcester take themselves too seriously," said Maynard.

"They're not the most popular team in the country, and it's probably because of comments like that.

"But when you compare our two playing budgets I suppose we should be flattered they're paying us so much attention.

"On paper it should be a walkover." The director of rugby continued: "John Brain also said he's relishing coming over to play us --anybody who relishes coming to a place like Sharmans Cross Road needs their head examined!"

Like Jim Jenner, Craig Chalmers and the others who have joined the Bees from the Warriors, Maynard can't wait for the challenge of taking on the champions-elect.

"We're looking forward to it," he said. "Not just because of the Worcester links --although with their transfer policy every club has got an ex-Worcester player or two --but also because they're the best side in the league.

"Worcester have had a much more pragmatic approach this season, and (club owner) Cecil Duckworth has finally listened to reason and realised it helps if you don't sack your coach every season."

Dont get stung again Bees
5th December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.co.uk , Evening Mail

Pertemps Bees want to come out of tomorrow's trip to Wakefield with the points - but also be left in better shape than after their last game against the Yorkshire club.

The Bees and Wakefield met in the Powergen Cup sixth round last month, and while the Birmingham side ran out 17-10 winners they lost three forwards in the process in a bruising battle at Sharmans Cross Road.

Of those casualties, Ed Orgee and Alex Davidson are back off the treatment table for the College Grove re-match, although Andy Gravil is still out as part of a lengthy injury list for director of rugby Phil Maynard.

Maynard is hoping to be able to start with former Scottish international Craig Chalmers, though, after spending much of this week contemplating the prospect of having both his specialist fly-halves out injured.

Chalmers' back strain does not look as serious as Mark Woodrow's broken hand, however, and he should be fit.

If Davidson also passes a fitness test, Maynard can be a little more confident about his chances of following up last weekend's stuttering win over Manchester.

The other reminders of the club's injury jinx come in the back-row, where Tom Jordan is still in for rib doubt Nathan Carter, and the front row where young Richard Culley is the only cover for Matt Long and Terry Sigley.

"We came out of the first game against Wakefield pretty badly, but it affected them just as badly as it did us," said Maynard.

"I don't think they've won a game since then but it's still going to be tough. Wakefield are a very physical side and, while I'd back my boys to do a job, I wouldn't be over confident."

The Bees have lost their previous two away games, at Orrell and, less excusably, against London Welsh.

But the mood within the team is that for all their physical strength, Wakefield are a side the Bees should be able to dispatch if they play close to their best.

Maynard has also given Duncan White and Alan Hubbleday rare starts after their impressive displays coming off the bench, at the expense of Jim Jenner and Rob Merritt respectively.

"Duncan seems to score a try every time he comes on as a replacement, while Alan has really been champing at the bit in training this week," said Maynard.

"They've both been involved in nearly every game this season so it's not a risk, but they've earned their starting places."

BEES: D Knight, Gregory, Woof, Davies, Baxter, Chalmers, P Knight; Sigley, Hubbleday, Long, Davidson, Orgee, Fakatou, Jordan, White. Replacements: Merritt, Culley, Jenner, Walton, Richardson, Nabaro, Hafanga.

Bees may move - boss
5th December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.co.uk
 

PERTEMPS Bees boss Phil Maynard believes his club may have to move away from Solihull because of the apathy shown towards his team.

Maynard used their high profile Powergen Cup draw against Wasps to launch a scathing attack on the Solihull public and highlight the lack of support his high-flying side are getting.

Despite going into last Saturday's game against Manchester lying in third place in Division One and with the draw for the last eight the following day, just a few hundred fans turned up to support the Sharmans Cross Road team.

Maynard said: "I don't know what we have got to do to get people here. We are flying the flag for midlands rugby but we are still not getting people along to give us a shout.

"Maybe we need to move out and find some support from elsewhere. We have been trying to go out to schools and clubs, but it just doesn't seem to be working."

"We are among the top 15 clubs in the country, in the last eight of the top cup competition and just a game away from playing at Twickenham in the Powergen Shield, but it seems I am more excited about it than the population of Solihull."

Compared to less successful teams in national division one such as Coventry, London Welsh and Bristol, who all regularly attract attendances of more than 1,000, Bees are lucky to get half that number.

And in a personal appeal to all local sports fans Maynard added: "You have got top level sport on your doorstep. Come down and see what we are doing, and compare the levels of commitment here to those in more high profile sports."

Tomorrow (Saturday) Bees travel to Wakefield (kick off 2.30pm) who will be keen to avenge the 5th round Powergen Cup defeat they suffered four weeks ago.

Wasps pose major test
5th December 03 ~ take from http://www.icsolihull.co.uk

VICTORY for Pertemps Bees in their sixth round Powergen Cup match at Premiership high-flyers Wasps, would be an amazing achievement admits team boss Phil Maynard.

Professional outfit Wasps are currently second only to Bath in the national standings, and boast four members of England's World Cup-winning squad, Laurence Dallaglio, Stuart Abbott, Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley.

Speaking earlier this week the Bees' coach said: "We have worked hard to get to this position but you would have to put Wasps down as extremely firm favourites.

"It would be a tremendous upset if we won, but stranger things have happened in sport.

"We will be looking forward to it, it is a great opportunity to show what we can do.

And Bees have got the added bonus of knowing that, should they lose, they will still have an opportunity to play at Twickenham, having been drawn at home to Wakefield in the semi-final of the Powergen Shield.

The competition, now in its third season, was introduced to give non-Premiership clubs who reach the last 16 of the Powergen Cup another route to a Twickenham final.

Full Powergen Cup quarter final draw: Leeds Tykes v Bath Newcastle Falcons v London Irish London Wasps v Birmingham Solihull Sale Sharks v Saracens Ties to be played on the weekend of 28/29th February.

Semi Final Draw: Newcastle Falcons/London Irish v London Wasps/Birmingham Solihull

Sale Sharks/Saracens v Leeds Tykes/Bath

Bees in the comfort zone
5th December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.co.uk

Pertemps Bees 39 Manchester 12

BEES enjoyed a comfortable win without ever having to be at their best against basement boys Manchester at Sharman's Cross Road on Saturday.

But although the performance was patchy the result was all-important, particularly after injuries forced coach Phil Maynard to shuffle his pack. Ed Orgee and Rob Walton both played only after passing late fitness tests, while Richard Culley made his debut at prop and Tom Jordan replaced injured flanker Nathan Carter.

It was not surprising, then, that Bees spent much of the game ensuring they didn't become involved in a battle of the forwards, sensibly spreading the play at every available opportunity.

And as Manchester simply could not handle the pace, power and guile of the home backs, once Bees stuck to this plan, the result was never in doubt.

However, for much of the first half the game hung in the balance - a converted try from short range by Manchester's number eight, Tim Cowley after 19 minutes equalising Shaun Woof's intercepted effort 12 minutes earlier.

Cowley's effort seemed to be the wake up call Bees needed, and they went on the attack from the drop out, Mark Woodrow's clever reverse pass putting in winger Nick Baxter for his first of two tries.

Woodrow then stepped up to score the simple conversion, added two penalties before half time and although he failed to improve Geoff Gregory's touch down on 61 minutes, by then the game was effectively over.

Despite a brief rally from Manchester - hooker Michael Armstrong crashed over with eight minutes left - Bees confirmed their superiority with two tries in the dying minutes, the first from man-of-the-match Baxter, the second from replacement flanker Duncan White, both converted by Woodrow.

Bees pray  for a ray of hope
5th December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.co.uk

THERE'S a crisis at number ten this week but it's got nothing to do with Tony Blair, rebellious MPs or controversial policies.

More importantly, certainly in Phil Maynard's mind anyway, the problem is at fly-half and specifically who will fill that shirt against Wakefield tomorrow.

Mark Woodrow, who put the Bees back on the right track against Manchester last week, is in plaster after

breaking a hand against the boys from the basement and will have three weeks to get his Christmas shopping done.

The other option, former British Lion Craig Chalmers, is currently trying to convince his aged back that it's strong enough to face the York-shiremen but if the Scot can't step in for his latest appearance in a stop-start season that spells trouble.

Maynard's only option would be to move scrum-half Paul Knight out one but that isn't something he'd want to do. Not because Knight isn't a very good player, he filled in for half of last season when Luke Smith sulked off, but because he's so valuable at nine. But if he has to winger Tom Richardson will come into scrum-half.

Tomorrow's match will be the second of four meetings between the two sides, two league encounters and two cup clashes, and will be extremely testing for the patched up Solihull side.

Wakefield have traditionally been strong up front, a fact which must send shudders through Maynard given his current selectoral plight.

It would be easy to make a case for both a defeat and a victory for Bees with the conditions playing a huge part. If it rains quite simply you'd favour Wakefield. If not Bees. Putting your hopes in the British weather, now that's what I call a crisis.

Hard Graft in the basement
5 December 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.co.uk
 
Pertemps Bees 39, Manchester 12

PHIL Maynard praised his side for bouncing back to winning ways against National One basement boys Manchester last Saturday.

Although it took the hosts almost an hour to finally dismiss a side that has won just once all season the director of rugby was taking into account the context of a difficult match.

"By the end it was a good grafting performance. We were struggling for form and and that combined with our injury situation made it hard for us," he said.

Bees had been without a league win for month after defeats at Orrell and London Welsh and took to the field with just one of their pool of four props available.

"If that is the side that is bottom of the league then this division is tougher than it ever has been," he said.

Centre Shaun Woof snared a loose pass for an early interception try and speedy Nick Baxter took a clever reverse pass from fly-half Mark Woodrow over the visitors' line. That aside they had to rely on their stand-off's boot to turn pressure into points and ensure Tim Cowley's 14th minute try did not inconvenience them too greatly.

By the time winger Geoff Gregory and Manchester hooker Michael Armstrong had traded tries the gap was 13 - comfortable but not convincing, only for Baxter and Duncan White to twist the knife. When you're down at the bottom things go that way.

 

Bees Stung by Wasps Showdown
30 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.sportinglife.com
 
Pertemps Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard welcomed his side's Powergen Cup quarter-final draw at Zurich Premiership champions Wasps as the chance to put the club on the map.

The Bees, formerly Birmingham and Solihull, are the only non-Premiership club left in the competition and were handed a daunting trip to Wasps in draw.

"We are disappointed we didn't get a home draw because we would have fancied our chances against any Premiership side at our place," Maynard said.

"But it's a great chance for us to give the club a national profile and to put rugby in Birmingham and in National One on the map.

"It's a huge challenge for a team of part-timers to take on the Premiership champions and a side with stars like Lawrence Dallaglio and Josh Lewsey in it.

"But we have our own aspirations to play in the Premiership one day and these are the sorts of challenges we have to meet if we are going to get there."

Powergen Cup Quarter-final draw
Leeds v Bath
Newcastle v London Irish
Wasps v Pertemps Bees
Sale v Saracens

Ties to be played over the weekend of the 28th and 29th of February.

Semi Final Draw
Newcastle/London Irish v Wasps/Pertemps Bees
Sale/Saracens v Leeds/Bath

Ties to be played over the weekend of 13th and 14th of March.

Buzzing fixture

30 November 03 by Sazzle

 

The Bees were the only team from National Division One to make it through to the Quarter Final of the Powergen Cup.  The draw was finally made today with England World Cup Winners Will Greenwood and Matt Dawson drawing out the numbered rugby shaped balls live on Rugby Special.

As Matt Dawson drew out ball number 8, Wasps, they asked Josh Lewsey who he wants to play against.  John Inverdale joked Pertemps Bees and what number ball should Will Greenwood draw out, number 2, Birmingham and Solihull!

This will be the first time that the two teams will meet, after an almost encounter when Bees were playing in Jewson Division One and went out of the cup against Manchester who then went on to play against the London Club.

So there should be a hive of action when the Wasps play host to the Bees.  And dare we look on to the Semi-final draw, a trip to Newcastle or London Irish is on for either Wasps or Bees.

The other draws for the quarter final Powergen cup are:

 

Leeds V Bath

Newcastle V London Irish

Wasps V Bees

Sale V Saracens

 

Semi final:

Newcastle/London Irish V Wasps/Bees

Sale/Saracens V Leeds/Bath

Bees beginning to feel stain
28 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees boss Phil Maynard is anxious that his injury-hit squad are being stretched to breaking point ahead of their game against Manchester tomorrow.

Director of rugby Maynard was forced to call off full-contact training on Tuesday night for fear of losing any more players.

And the uncertainty surrounding so many Bees players delayed his team selection for the visit of the National One strugglers until this morning.

The back line is still relatively strong and Tongan World Cup centre Suka Hufanga goes straight into the squad as a replacement after joining on a month's trial.

But the pack is a completely different story with several players struggling for the Sharmans Cross Road clash.

Normally tomorrow's game would be one of the Bees' easiest of the season, but the current mood makes the result less certain.

"I don't want to sound like I'm moaning but we've only got one 100 per cent fit lock, and we've had several other players on the treatment table this week," said Maynard.

"We had to call off Tuesday night training for the sake of the squad and just have a 'chalk and talk' session.

"There are players who could cover for the injured men but it's not an ideal situation at all. As a completely part-time side, it's really tough for us and I sometimes think we have to work twice as hard to stay in touch and it's asking a lot of the players."

The Bees pack picked itself on the grounds of fitness.

Skipper Ed Orgee passed a late fitness test to start alongside another recuperating man Rob Walton, while Tom Jordan replaces the injured Nathan Carter at flanker.

In the front row former Moseley duo Terry Sigley and Matt Long again start in the absence of three recognised props.

And Geoff Gregory returns on the wing in place of Luke Nabaro.

BEES: D Knight, Gregory, Woof, Davies, Baxter, Woodrow, P Knight; Sigley, Merritt, Long, Orgee, Walton, Fakatou, Jordan, Jenner. Replacements: Culley, Hubbleday, White, Davidson, Hufanga, Richardson, Nabaro.

 

Tongan deal clinched at the bar
28 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com

There are lots of ways of recruiting rugby players these days and deals are more often than not transacted through an agent.

Which makes Pertemps Bees' signing of Suka Hufanga this week a small miracle of off-the-cuff opportunism. It all started in the bar at Sharmans Cross Road during a discussion on the World Cup. "Remember that bloke who played in the centre for Tonga?" asked someone. "Suka something or other."

Phil Maynard remembered. "Bit of a dazzler," he said. "I know him," ventured Hesse Fakatou, the Bees' flanker. "Really?" "Yes, he lives just down the road from my mother." "What!" Collective excitement then one of the members pulls a big one. "If you can get him over," he said to Fakatou, "I'll pay his air fare."

And Fakatou did, the member forked out, Hufanga is now in Solihull and he will start on the bench for the game against Manchester at Sharmans Cross tomorrow.

Who is the member who has made this spectacular gesture?

Maynard is sworn to secrecy. "His wife would kill him if she ever found out," said the Bees' director of rugby. Hufanga is 21, has all the zest of those rugbyplaying natives of his part of the world and, if he is as good as he looked on the television, the Bees have found themselves a player.

He's here for a month on trial. Apart from the promise he offers, the Tongan is a welcome addition to a squad that is beginning to creak.

Having played every Saturday for four months, the Bees' may just be the most overworked side in the land and that much was obvious when they went down to a fresh London Welsh at Old Deer Park last week. "We're tired," Maynard confessed. "But it's something we've got to address. We can't solve this problem by moaning."

In view of the fatigue factor and the length of the injury list, Tuesday training was cancelled. "We all sat down and talked, instead," said Maynard. "At the start of the season we shook hands on a deal: that we would finish in the top five in this league. We reminded ourselves of that. "Nobody said that it was going to be easy but performances like last week's are just not acceptable."

On the face of it, tomorrow's game will not be too stressful. Manchester, who just managed to avoid relegation last season, look as though they won't escape this time but Maynard takes nothing for granted.

"They put 30 points up Penzance last week," he notes. "So we will treat them with every respect. "And if we do that, hopefully they will catch a backlash from last week. Our supporters have come to expect certain standards and we have to deliver."

Team selection will depend on how many of the club's wounded will be up for it.

Nathan Carter is definitely out and there are question marks over Ed Orgee, Alex Davidson and Dave Knight.

 

Crunch Time for ailing Bees
28 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 
BEES will try to regain the consistency that took them to the top of National Division One earlier this season when they play host to bottom-ofthe-table Manchester at Sharman's Cross Road this Saturday (2pm).

After six straight wins they had been sitting pretty at the top of the table but two league defeats have made November a miserable month for Phil Maynard's men.

Apart from the momentous Powergen Cup victory against Wakefield, Bees have been hit by injuries and lost their 100 per cent record at Orrell before failing to register a score in a 16-0 defeat at London Welsh last Saturday.

Speaking after last Saturday's game, prop Terry Sigley said: "We played badly today. It was a come-down after the Powergen Cup victory against Wakefield. Losing is always a come down, but today's performance made it especially hard to take."

"But now we are looking forward to playing Manchester. It is a big game."

They would be well advised not to underestimate the men from Grove Park who won their first game of the season last Saturday - a 34-14 win against Penzance/Newlyn.

Although the Sharman's Cross Road side now stand third in the table, injury problems have hit them hard, with their pack's resources particularly stretched.

Flanker Nathan Carter and lock Alex Davidson are both likely to miss the game with rib injuries sustained in the Welsh game.

Three prop forwards - Rob Sigley, Jim Thorp and Andy Gravil - have already been ruled out because of injury and influential captain and second row Ed Orgee is still struggling with a bruised hip while full-back and leading try scorer Dave Knight has a groin strain but is expected to recover in time to play

Bees have also recalled flanker Tom Jordan from a loan spell with Midlands rivals Stourbridge.

It follows the decision last week to recall Neil Fletcher from a loan spell at Manchester due to Orgee's injury.

Jordan joined Stourbridge on a match-by-match arrangement last month but he has been brought back because of mounting injury problems.

Maynard is a real 'suka' for Tongan Wourld Cup star
28 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 

Tonga'S World Cup Centre Sukanaivalu Hufanga Has Joined Pertemps Bees On A Month'S Trial.

 

Tonga's world cup centre sukanaivalu hufanga has joined pertemps bees on a month's trial.

The 22-year-old, who won three of his four caps during the World Cup, is a friend of Hese Fakatou, the Pertemps Bees' flanker, and is staying with him during his month in the West Midlands.

Phil Maynard, the Pertemps Bees' director of rugby, hopes to get 22-year-old Hufanga, known as 'Suka', registered in time for him to take his place in the squad for the National League One game against Manchester at Sharmans Cross Road tomorrow.

"We're just having a look at Suka but he impressed me in a couple of World Cup games I watched on TV," said Maynard.

"I asked Hese Fakatou if he knew him and when he said that he was a neighbour of his back home, he set the wheels in motion to bring him over here. We will decide at the end of the trial period whether to keep Suka on."

Jordan lined up for recall from Stour
25th November 2003 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees' injury problems have worsened ahead of their game against Manchester on Saturday - and neighbours Stourbridge could also be hit as a consequence.

Flanker Nathan Carter is expected to miss the game after he suffered a rib injury in last Saturday's London Welsh defeat.

And if the influential forward is found to have broken a bone, fellow openside flanker Tom Jordan may be recalled from a loan spell with Stourbridge.

Jordan missed last week's game against Moseley but the Stourton club were hoping to have him for this week's trip to Wharfedale and his absence would be a blow.

With Lee Crofts making an excellent debut on Saturday and Julian Horrobin and Jordan nearing full fitness, the trio would have formed a back row unit with recent National League One experience.

The news gets worse for the Bees.

Lock Alex Davidson is also a doubtful starter because he has not yet fully recovered from the rib injury he sustained 10 days ago against Wakefield - he played at London Welsh but was substituted after 50 minutes.

To add to Phil Maynard's selection problems, leading try scorer Dave Knight also has a groin strain so utility back Nathan Bressington is likely to be added to the squad as cover.

Three prop forwards - Rob Sigley, Jim Thorp and Andy Gravil - have already been ruled out because of injury and captain Ed Orgee is still struggling with a bruised hip.

Injuries mount up for Pertemps Bees
24th November 2003 ~ taken from http://www.beesrugby.com
 
Pertemps Bees face further injury problems ahead of their National League One game against Manchester at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday November 29 (2pm).

Openside flanker Nathan Carter, the club's most consistent forward this season, is expected to miss the game after he suffered a rib injury in the defeat at London Welsh last Saturday.

The extent of the injury is not yet known but there are concerns that the former Gloucester and Worcester forward may have broken a rib and he is due to have x-rays today.

Lock Alex Davidson is also a doubtful starter against Manchester because he has not yet fully recovered from the rib injury he sustained in the Powergen Cup win over Wakefield. Davidson played at London Welsh but was substituted after 50 minutes.

To add to the Pertemps Bees' selection problems full-back Dave Knight, their leading try scorer this season, has a groin strain which hindered him at London Welsh.

Three prop forwards - Rob Sigley, Jim Thorp and Andy Gravil - have already been ruled out of the Manchester game because of injury and lock Ed Orgee, the Pertemps Bees captain, is still struggling with a bruised hip.

Former Caerphilly utility back Nathan Bressington, the brother of Gloucestershire cricketer Alastair, is likely to be added to the squad as cover for Knight and flanker Tom Jordan may have to be recalled from a loan spell with Stourbridge if Carter's injury is as bad as Pertemps Bees fear.

Last week they had to recall former Sale and Leicester lock Neil Fletcher from a loan period with Manchester to cover for Orgee. One of the conditions of the loan arrangement was that Fletcher would not be allowed to play for Manchester against Pertemps Bees, but he is now expected to start his first game of the season for Pertemps Bees against Manchester.

Bees are caugh short by Exiles
24 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
This game always had an anti-climactic look to it, set against the background of last week's historic victory against Wakefield, and epic scenes from the other side of the world.

And in this sense, an injury-hit Bees playing at a sodden Old Deer Park, certainly lived up to expectations.

However, by all other standards this was a thoroughly disappointing performance against mediocre opponents, as Bees not only failed to score, but seem-ingly forgot their pre-match game plan as they adapted poorly to testing conditions.

Throughout a match played in heavy rain, Bees attempted to run the ball from deep in their half - a policy which, combined with the Exiles' maximum use of the high ball, only succeeded in putting them under under serious pressure.

While this adventure would have been applauded had it worked, it simply left perplexed coach Phil Maynard ruing the lack of resources at Sharman's Cross Road.

He said: "The plan was to play behind their ten metre line, and the players and myself had all agreed that before the game. "But on the day we seemed to start playing catch-up rugby after ten minutes, while they just kept kicking it deep into our territory."

"It was a very disappointing result. We had a few injuries that weakened the whole structure of the side. "Alex Davidson shouldn't have started the game and we were missing Ed Orgee, so we were under constant pressure and fear of injuries, which didn't help.

"The problem is we have got such a small squad. Until Friday we didn't have a front row replacement.

"Look at Coventry. They might have changed their season around this week by signing two internationals and beating Bedford, but unfortunately we can't do that. "Having said that, we struggled to put phases together and we have got to get back to the way we were playing at the start of the season."

In fairness to Maynard's men, the game, which was played at a furious pace, was only put completely out of their reach with six minutes of normal time left.

At that point, referee Sean Davey awarded a penalty try after judging that Rob Walton's somewhat clumsy efforts to stop a break by scrum-half Harvey Biljon constituted a deliberate attempt to prevent a certain try.

With Seb Fitzgerald's conversion that made the score 16-0, but until then there had been little to separate the teams.

Although Bees had gone in at half-time 6-0 down, it could have been so different. Fy-half Mark Woodrow had missed two kickable penalties, while Fitzgerald had taken the few chances presented to him, slotting home a drop goal and a penalty.

And despite shading the territorial advantage in the second half Bees were unable to break through a committed Welsh defence, inspired by man-of the-match lock Tim Collier, whose yellow card in the last minute of the game for deliberately slowing down an attack, led to six minutes of injury time pressure from the visitors.

Yet despite all their huffing and puffing, Bees were unable to get a deserved score.

Next week they play host to bottom-of-the-table Manchester next week, fresh from their first league win of the season - a 34 -point romp against Penzance/Newlyn. If Bees don't improve on this, a defeat and the end of all their early season optimism await.

LONDON WELSH: D Pugh, R Greenslade-Jones, A Bidwell, S Ravenscroft, J Swords (rep: J Strong, 71), S Fitzgerald, H Biljon, S Millard, G Botterman (C Ritchie, 67), L Ward, T Collier, D Ramsey, M Anayi, P Mansfield (F Rossigneux, 67), M Fitzgerald (A Johnson, 80). Replacements: A Fahey, D Connolly, M Vines.

PERTEMPS BEES: D Knight, L Nabaro (G Gregory, 71), S Woof, M Davies, A Takarangi, M Woodrow, P Knight, T Sigley, R Merritt (A Hubbleday, 54), M Long, R Walton, A Davidson (D White, 50), H Fakatou, N Carter, J Jenner. Replacements: R Culley, N Fletcher, N Bressington, T Richardson.

Referee: S Davey (RFU).

Injuries hit Bees hopes
21 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Pertemps Bees are hoping their injury problems do not bring them down in a tough trip to London Welsh tomorrow.

Captain Ed Orgee, Jim Thorp and Andy Gravil are all out of the Old Deer Park clash, leaving director of rugby Phil Maynard with selection headaches and Bees with their work cut out to maintain their fine league record.

London Welsh are a very good all-round side and in Adrian Davies theyve got an excellent coach, said Maynard. Anybody that doesnt take them seriously is a fool.

Winger Nick Baxter returns after being rested last week against Wakefield, while Luke Nabaro has earned a right wing berth ahead of Aaron Takarangi and Geoff Gregory, and fly-half Mark Woodrow has been preferred to Craig Chalmers.

Newly-signed prop Richard Culley should be available to take the bench after release papers were obtained from the New Zealand club he was playing for -but Maynard bemoaned the trouble he had bringing in a forward on loan.

It just seems to be a bad time of the season with the World Cup and players out injured, said Maynard. Then again, maybe clubs are seeing how well were doing and dont want to help us too much!

Unusually, the Bees will travel to the capital tonight and stay overnight in a hotel so that they can watch the World Cup final tomorrow morning.

Maynard joins Bees injury list
21 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 
Another name has been added to the Pertemps Bees' injury list. Phil Maynard, their director of rugby. And he's hospital-bound.

Two years ago, while he was at Stourbridge, Maynard broke an ankle and although the break was set it did not do so properly. And this week at training, the joint packed in again. Driving a car is an agony; running around the training paddock an impossibility.

I think I need an operation, Maynard said. ASAP.

The squad that he manages is pretty beaten up, too, and the club captain, Ed Orgee, will be missing for the first time in two years when the Bees play London Welsh at Old Deer Park tomorrow.

But there is some good news. Maynard, bewailing the loss of his two best front-row forwards, has had a telephone call from the father of a young player, Richard Culley, who has been at Northamptons academy and is looking for a club.

And Culleys position? Front row. With a pedigree. Culley has been capped for England Under-18, Under-19 and, in order to further his chances of a cap at the next level, the 20-year-old has sought experience at English First Division level. He has already served part of his apprenticeship with Waikato in New Zealand.

Pennies from Heaven, said a gleeful Maynard as he rushed off a registration form in the hope of getting Culley on to the bench at Old Deer Park.

Perhaps the Bees most valuable benchman is lock Rob Walton but he starts this week as replacement for Orgee. Neil Fletcher, recalled from Manchester, is on the touchline in reserve.

And considering their exhaustive season to date, Bees will not go to London Welsh as a ragged army. They are travelling down tonight so that the squad can watch the World Cup final at their hotel in the morning and they remain in confident mood.

Maynard said: The Welsh are having a mixed season but theyve had some good results. They will isolate this match as one they can win.

But we know how they play and if were diligent enough, well cope with them.

Mark Woodrow keeps his place at fly-half and the back row will play together for the eighth game in a row.

Bees in race to register Culley
21 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 
PERTEMPS Bees hope to complete the signing of former England U19 prop Richard Culley in time to take his place in the National League One game against London Welsh Park tomorrow.

Culley, who was released by Northampton Saints last season, has just returned from a stint playing club rugby in New Zealand. He arrived at Sharmans Cross Road for training last week and could now be thrust into the squad for London

Welsh because of the Pertemps Bees' injury problems.

Pertemps Bees have been reduced to just two fit props because of injuries to Jim Thorp (shoulder), Andy Gravil (broken wrist) and Rob Sigley (back) and their attempts to make a loan signing from a Premiership club have so far come to nothing.

The complicating factor with Culley is that Bees need to obtain release papers from New Zealand before they can register him. Attempts are being made to get clearance authorities to allow Culley to be registered with the RFU in the next 24 hours.

Historic cup win has Bees buzzing
21 November 03 ~ http://www.icsolihull.com

Pertemps Bees 17 Wakefield 10

AN historic day at Sharmans Cross Road saw Bees through to the quarter finals of the Powergen Cup.

It is the first time they have reached the last eight stage of the competition since the club was formed in 1989 by the merger of Birmingham and Solihull.

With an almost certain tie against a Premiership outfit at stake Bees were not about to slip up and were keen to make up for their first defeat of the season at Orrell a week earlier.

Eager to stamp their authority on Wakefield, Bees piled on the pressure in the opening ten minutes and despite losing skipper Ed Orgee to a hip injury were always in command.

Mark Woodrow, who was inspirational at fly half, had a score ruled out for crossing but they did not have long to wait for the opening score.

On 27 minutes Woodrow found Geoff Gregory on the charge and the left wing beat two tackles to touch down.

Wakefield rallied briefly with a Peter Murphy penalty but almost straight away they allowed Shaun Woof to break through half hearted tackles only to run straight back into trouble.

Then on 34 minutes Woodrow freed Dave Knight and he tore down the left wing to score, Woodrow this time successful with the extras.

Luke Nabaro, on for the dazed Gregory, scored on the overlap to put the tie beyond the visitors' reach.

And though Yorkshireman scored a consolation try in injury time through Rob Hunt, Murphy converting, it could not take the shine of a memorable days for the hosts.

The draw for the quarter finals is live on BBC's Grandstand programme a week on Sunday.

bees stung by tight five crisis
21 November 03 ~taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 
BEES face one of their toughest matches of the season so far when they take on London Welsh at Old Deer Park tomorrow (Saturday November 22 KO 2pm).

Lying third in National One Phil Maynard's side would normally go into the match as favourites but a crippling injury list, particularly in the front five, has thrown doubt over that status.

Injuries to props Jim Thorp (shoulder) Andy Gravil (wrist) and Rob Sigley (back) are compounded by the absence of captain Ed Orgee and fellow second row Alex Davidson.

"We have only got two fit props so we have been trying to get round a few Premiership clubs to see if they will lend us a player but a lot of their players are out at the World Cup. That could mean playing someone out of position," said the director of rugby.

The former Worcester coach is not giving up hopes of avenging last season's 30-25 defeat against the Exiles in what was one of the most disappointing trips his side made that year.

"We like to think we can win anywhere in this division and this match will be a good indication of how good the squad is.

"We are going to have to play without our skipper for the first time in two years which will be a test for us," he added.

That will mean scrum half Paul Knight will lead and if there is a case to be made for why Bees should win it comes with the players outside the inspirational number nine.

Maynard has built up one of the most incisive back cordons in National One and any two of the four wingers he has are good enough to finish off the Welsh.

Plum tie awaits as record falls
21 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 

Pertemps Bees 17, Wakefield 10

PHIL Maynard's men marched into the quarter-finals of the Powergen Cup for the first time in their history last Saturday with a comprehensive victory over Wakefield.

And now they're in the last eight the director of rugby will be hoping to emulate Little Jack Horner - who stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum --when the draw is made later this month.

He can't fail really as every other side left in the country's premier domestic knockout competition occupies a place in the Zurich Premiership. Any one of the remaining seven would do as long as the tie is played at Sharmans Cross Road.

"I don't mind who we get providing it's at home," said Maynard.

"Five years ago when I was with Worcester and we were in division three we beat Bristol. Who's to say it couldn't happen again?"

If lightning is to strike twice his current charges will need to be more ruthless than they were against Wakefield.

The ease with which they dispatched the Yorkshiremen was not reflected in the scoreline although the visitors padded their total with a late try.

PERTEMPS BEES RECALL FLETCHER

Taken from http://www.beesrugby.com

Pertemps Bees have recalled former Leicester and Sale lock Neil Fletcher from his loan period with Manchester.

Fletcher joined Manchester last month on a match-by-match arrangement but he is likely to be included in the squad for the National League One game against London Welsh at Old Deer Park on Saturday November 22 (2pm) because skipper Ed Orgee suffered a bruised hip in last weekend's Powergen Cup sixth round victory over Wakefield.

Alex Davidson, another lock, also sustained bruised ribs against Wakefield but he is expected to be fit to face London Welsh.

Pertemps Bees will also be without tighthead prop Andy Gravil for at least two weeks after he suffered a fractured wrist against Wakefield.

Gravil's wrist was damaged in a collision with Davidson but the extent of the injury was not known until he woke in pain on Sunday morning.

Pertemps Bees may have to recall Rob Sigley from his loan spell with Moseley to cover for Gravil although Sigley suffered a back injury in Moseley's defeat by Sedgley Park last Saturday.

Duo ready to keep Bees Buzzing
18th November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.co.uk

Pertemps Bees are looking to Terry Sigley and Alex Davidson to fill the hole created by the exertions of this season's Cup success.

The club have lost captain Ed Orgee and Jim Thorp, two of their natural pack leaders, through injury in their progress to the Powergen Cup quarter-finals.

But their absences mean that lock Davidson and prop Sigley will need to continue their impressive starts to the season.

While the back-row trio of Jim Jenner, Hese Fakatou and Neil Carter have been predictably impressive the younger pair have contributed heavily to the sides forward dominance this season.

And the Bees smaller than average National One squad will be tested in forthcoming games against sides who have enjoyed more free weekends.

Sigley, the England Counties prop, and former former Leicester lock Davidson have both been prone to indiscipline in a Bees shirt - but director of rugby Phil Maynard has pinpointed both men as key performers this season.

Davidson sustained bruised ribs in Saturdays 17-10 win against Wakefield but he is expected to be fit to face London Welsh.

But Neil Fletcher will rejoin the squad after Maynard ended his match-by-match loan spell with Manchester.

The second-row is likely to go straight on to the bench against London Welsh at Old Deer Park on Saturday.

The club were already suffering from a long-term shoulder injury to Thorp and two-week absence for tighthead prop Andy Gravil with a fractured wrist - but they have now learnt that Rob Sigley will be out for one to two months, meaning a loan signing is a priority.

Bees Effective a class apart
17 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 

Pertemps Bees despatched Wakefield in effective fashion to book a quarter-final spot in the Powergen Cup for the first time.

Two years after a spirited sixth-round defeat to top-flight Northampton, the Bees went one better after 80 minutes of near-total dominance.

The club will know by the end of this month which Premiership outfit they will rub shoulders with in the last eight.

On Saturday they proved again that they can look a class apart from most of the sides in National League One.

Phil Maynard's team did the double over Wakefield last season and never seemed unduly troubled here - to the extent that the seven-point winning margin bore little resemblance to the balance of the game.

It was the Bees, captained by Dave Knight after they lost Ed Orgee minutes into the game, who pressed for tries in the closing minutes.

But Wakefield grabbed a consolation try with the last action of the game, although it took little of the shine off the home side's display.

In front of the usual handful of spectators at Sharmans Cross Road - the unlikeliest of potential venues for a Powergen Cup quarter-final - the Bees dominated both up front and, particularly, when they spread the ball wide.

Those creative forays were rare in the opening stages, largely because fly-half Mark Woodrow was making such an impact with his long raking kicks behind the defence.

He kept Wakefield penned in their own 22 and the inventive stand-off, preferred to Craig Chalmers, also had some success with the ball in hand.

Woodrow was unlucky to have a 12th-minute try ruled out for crossing but 15 minutes later he had more success as a provider.

Geoff Gregory, in for Nick Baxter, took his pass before skirting the right touchline to score the opening try.

Wakefield's Pete Murphy kicked a penalty to keep the visitors in touch but further Bees' pressure left a hole in the defensive line for Knight to touch down and make it 12-3 after 34 minutes.

The score remained unchanged for 25 minutes either side of the break although Wakefield were far happier for the lack of scoring opportunities.

The Bees back row were as impressive as ever, with Nathan Carter and Hese Fakatou providing mobile and energetic support for Jim Jenner.

The Bees' third try came after several phases of play had pushed Wakefield right back on their own line.

Speedy replacement winger Luke Nabaro took the try although any one of several players - including Aaron Takarangi who was unlucky not to register on the scoresheet - could have had the final touch.

If Knight's side can come in for any criticism, it is that they did not kill off the visiting Yorkshiremen's challenge more emphatically.

Shaun Woof cracked open the defence after 65 minutes but fell a few yards short while Nabaro had opportunities to add a second try and - as in the case of Woodrow and replacement lock Rob Walton - press his claims for a permanent place.

However, with 80 minutes gone, Wakefield winger Rob Hunt fed off a counter-attack by Ryan Duckett to score under the posts.

The importance of Murphy's successful conversion was drowned out by the final whistle and the start of the Bees' victory celebrations.

GREGORY AND WOODROW BACK FOR CUP TIE
November 03 ~ taken from http://www.beesrugby.com


Pertemps Bees have recalled former Moseley winger Geoff Gregory and fly-half Mark Woodrow for the Powergen Cup sixth round tie with Wakefield at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday November 15 (2pm).

Gregory has had few opportunities in the last six weeks because of an ankle injury but he has been preferred to Nick Baxter on the left wing and Woodrow, a summer recruit from League Three North newcomers Dings Crusaders, has been picked ahead of former Scotland and British Lions fly-half Craig Chalmers.

Woodrow played in the first three league games of the season when Chalmers was injured but this is his first start since the fourth round cup tie at Wharfedale last month.

"Mark impressed when he came on as a replacement at Orrell last week and he needs a game," said Phil Maynard, the Pertemps Bees director of rugby.

Centre Mike Davies also returns to the side after he was forced to miss last week's defeat at Orrell, the Pertemps Bees first reverse of the season, because he had to return to South Wales to attend the birth of his daughter. Davies takes the place of Luke Nabaro who is likely to be named as a replacement.

There is only one change in the pack where former Rotherham prop Andy Gravil will start at tighthead instead of Matt Long who switches to the bench.

Chalmers, prop Terry Sigley and number eight Jim Jenner return to club duty having played for Major Stanley's XV in their defeat by Oxford University on Wednesday in the traditional pre-Varsity Match fixture at Iffley Road. Maynard also coached the Stanley's side along with former England fly-half Les Cusworth.

Pertemps Bees: 15 Dave Knight; 14 Aaron Takarangi, 13 Shaun Woof, 12 Mike Davies, 11 Geoff Gregory; 10 Mark Woodrow, 9 Paul Knight; 1 Terry Sigley, 2 Rob Merritt, 3 Andy Gravil, 4 Ed Orgee (captain), 5 Alex Davidson, 6 Hese Fakatou, 7 Nathan Carter, 8 Jim Jenner. Replacements: Matt Long, Duncan White, Rob Walton, Alan Hubbleday, Craig Chalmers, Tom Richardson, AN Other.

Bees prepare for historic clash
14 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 

Pertemps Bees face the biggest single 80 minutes in their history tomorrow when they take on Wakefield in the sixth round of the Powergen Cup.

A win will see Phil Maynard's side through to the last eight of the competition for their first time since Birmingham & Solihull were formed in 1989.

And after three previous failures at this stage in the last four years, a positive result would set up a clash against a Premiership giant - a game as important for the clubs rising reputation as their finances.

Reaching the quarter-finals would be a huge boost, not just for this club but for rugby in Birmingham, said director of rugby Maynard.

The place would give ourselves the chance to test ourselves against Premiership opposition - just as importantly it would give us national prominence and the chance to raise the profile of rugby in Birmingham.

Second row Ed Orgee led the Bees twice to victory over Wakefield last season but his side will be tested to the full.

Wakefield, however, will display far more effort than that on show in the last round against an under-strength and under-motivated Worcester side.

A game between ourselves and Worcester would have been great for rugby in the area and guaranteed a full house, added Maynard.

Their exit has cost us money because we know that we wont get anywhere near as big a crowd for Wakefield but its probably made our task more difficult.

Wakefield also have the incentive of a place in the quarter-finals, they are going well this season and this will be a very tough game for us.

Maynard was expected to give Mark Woodrow a start in the key position of fly-half, meaning that Craig Chalmers must return to the bench.

The other major change was in the second row where the lofty Rob Walton gets the chance to cement a first team slot ahead of Alex Davidson.

BEES (possible): D Knight, Takarangi, Woof, Davies, Baxter, Woodrow, P Knight; Sigley, Merritt, Long, Walton, Orgee, Fakatou, Carter, Jenner. Replacements: Hubbleday, Gravil, White, Paul Knight, Richardson, Chalmers, Nabaro.

 
 
 

Big tie beckons from cup battle
14 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 

BEES go into tomorrow's Powergen Cup clash with Wakefield knowing a win will almost certainly earn them a lucrative tie against Zurich Premiership opposition.

But even more importantly it will attract national attention to the Sharmans Cross miracle Phil Maynard has been working and put local rugby back on the map.

Bees have reached the last 16 for the second time in three seasons but no West Midlands club has reached the quarterfinals since the Bees' city rivals Moseley ten years ago.

"Reaching the quarter-finals would be a huge boost, not just for this club, but for rugby in Birmingham," Maynard said.

"It is a battle to promote rugby in Birmingham because there are so many football clubs in the city. But people are starting to take notice of the strides we have made.

"We are close to submitting plans to develop our second ground at Portway into a stadium capable of staging Premiership rugby and a place in the quarter-finals would give us the chance to test against Premiership opposition."

Before Maynard can think about playing a Premiership side he has Wakefield to contend with and that, he accepts, will not be an easy task.

Wakefield lost narrowly, 23-20, on their last visit to Sharmans Cross Road in a league game last season but they booked their place in the sixth round by inflicting a first defeat on Worcester this season.

"I was disappointed that Worcester fielded a weakened side at Wakefield," said Maynard, "and to read the comments of John Brain, their director of rugby, that they didn't really want to play us before we meet in the league next month," Maynard said.

"Wakefield also have the incentive of a place in the quarter-finals, they are going well this season and this will be a very tough game for us."

The Bees surrendered their unbeaten record at Orrell last Saturday and will be without former Rotherham and Sale prop Jim Thorp who is still sidelined with a shoulder problem but hope to welcome back centre Mike Davies.

Bees look to make history
14 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 

THE mouth-watering prospect of a Premierhsip club coming to Sharmans Cross Road is up for grabs tomorrow for Pertemps Bees.

Victory over their national one rivals Wakefield - and they start as very warm favourites --will mean a place in the last eight of the Powergen Cup for the first time in the Solihullbased club's history.

No West Midlands club has reached the quarter-finals since the Bees' city rivals Moseley ten years ago and director of rugy Phil Maynard says: "Reaching the quarter-finals would be a huge boost, not just for this club, but for rugby in Birmingham.

"It is a battle to promote rugby because there are so many football clubs in the city. But people are starting to take notice of the strides that we have made and our cup run has helped to keep the interest going."

Maynard said Bees are close to submitting plans to develop their second ground at Portway into a stadium capable of staging Premiership rugby and a place in the quarter-finals would give the club the chance to test themselves against Premiership opposition.

"Just as importantly it would give us national prominence and give us the chance to raise the profile of rugby in Birmingham."

Before Maynard can think about a Premiership side he has Wakefield to contend with.

Wakefield lost narrowly, 23-20, at Sharmans Cross Road last season but booked their place in the sixth round for the first time in seven years by inflicting a first defeat on Worcester.

Maynard is disappointed that Worcester fielded a weakened side at Wakefield because their exit has deprived the competition of a West Midlands derby and he believes that Wakefield will provide tougher opposition.

"I was disappointed that Worcester fielded a weakened side at Wakefield and to read the comments of John Brain, their director of rugby, that they didn't really want to play us before we meet in the league next month," Maynard said.

Orrell take the sting out of Bees

14 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

Orrell 20 Pertemps Bees 13

BEES saw their unbeaten nine-game run come to an end but there were more pluses than minuses at Edgehall Road.

Two tries from Adam Jackson and Alfie Too'ala proved decisive early in the second half.

But that after the visitors had pulverised the hosts with forward power in the opening half but were rewarded with a solitary Craig Chalmers' penalty.

Odd that defeat should come from a game where Bees have enjoyed more possession than they have in recent weeks rattling up points from scraps.

Part of the reason though must go an Orrell side who were defiant in defence.

Chalmers landed a penalty on 21 minutes but the hosts would have been happy to have gone in just 3-0 down at the interval.

Second row Jackson found a gap in the Bees' line and Samoan Too'ala did likewise with David Slemen and former B&S man Leigh Hinton adding the other.

Chalmers reduced the deficit with another penalty before being replaced by Mark Woodrow.

Two Hinton penalties stretched Orrell's advantage but the Sharmans Cross Road side grabbed a deserved bonus point with a last gasp try Dave Knight try coolly converted by Woodrow.

Davies eyes for cup return
14 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 

CENTRE Mike Davies is in line to return for Pertemps Bees Powergen Cup sixth round clash with Wakefield at Sharmans Cross Road tomorrow (2pm).

Davies was forced to withdraw from last weekend's National League One defeat at Orrell in the early hours of Saturday morning to attend the birth of his daughter in Wales.

His absence forced Bees to reshuffle their side, bringing Luke Nabaro into the centre and Byron Vivian onto the bench but Davies is expected to resume his centre partnership with Shaun Woof as the Bees attempt to reach the quarter-finals of the cup for the first time.

Mark Woodrow is also in line to start at fly-half ahead of former Scotland and British Lions international Craig Chalmers and Rob Walton may be given a run at lock in place of Alex Davidson who suffered bruised ribs at Orrell.

Meanwhile Bees have rearranged their league game against Bedford Blues, which should have been played at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday, for Saturday December 20 with a 2pm kick-off.

Angry boss vows revenge
14 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 

Orrell 20, Pertemps Bees 13

PHIL Maynard has promised Saturday's conquerers Orrell the result will be different when they come to Sharmans Cross Road next year.

In a scathing attack the Bees director of rugby also predicted the Wigan side wouldn't finish top of the division after failing to impress against his own charges.

"They have spent a million pounds more than us and we took a bonus point off them and were the best side for large parts of the game," he said in reference to the consolation his side took for losing by seven points or less.

"We are looking forward to playing them at home because I think we will do them."

He also denied that Bees had become a victim of their own success: "Anyone who would have expected us to have gone to Orrell and get a win does not know the game. They have got the mighty JJB sports company backing them." he snapped.

An already uneven playing field was tilted further in the Lancastrians favour when Bees centre, Mike Davies, returned home in the middle of Friday night to attend the birth of his daughter.

A single Craig Chalmers penalty had them leading 3-0 at the interval.

The former British Lion added a second but unfortunately Orrell were dealing in the currency of tries by this stage. Lock Adam Jackson and No 8 Alfie Too'ala both crossed for converted scores. Leigh Hinton stretched the lead with two penalties before Dave Knight raced over with Mark Woodrow's conversion earning an extra point.

Cup gives Woodrow another chance
11 November 03 ~ take from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 

Mark Woodrow is set to be given another chance to displace fly-half Craig Chalmers this weekend when the Pertemps Bees take on Wakefield in the Powergen Cup sixth round.

Chalmers is suffering from knocks picked up in Saturday's 20-13 defeat at Orrell, although he also came in for some criticism for his second half kicking.

So Woodrow, who impressed in the last 20 minutes at Edgehall Road, is likely to start at Shar-mans Cross Road on Saturday.

In the second row, Rob Walton, who has impressed as a replacement in recent weeks, may also be given a run in place of Alex Davidson, who is suffering from bruised ribs.

The Bees hope to welcome back centre Mike Davies for the Cup clash after he was forced to withdraw from the Orrell game in the early hours of Saturday to attend the birth of his daughter in Wales.

His absence forced Phil Maynard to reshuffle their side at the last minute, bringing Luke Nabaro into the centre and the now-departed Byron Vivian onto the bench.

But Davies is expected to resume his established centre partnership with Shaun Woof as the Bees attempt to reach the quarter-finals of the Powergen Cup for the first time.

Birmingham & Solihull have reached the last 16 of the competition for four of the last five years but they have yet to make it past that point.

A win over Wakefield will set up a potentially money-spinning clash against a Premiership side in the last eight.

Bees part-time limitations
10 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 

The first defeat in the history - albeit a brief one - of the Pertemps Bees showed the shortcomings of a semi-professional set-up.

The Bees showed bucketloads of commitment and stamina.

But, crucially, their hosts Orrell (in the manner of an England team playing badly and winning) had the organisation to withstand pressure and the killer instinct to make the most of their own rare scoring opportunities.

Despite their increased playing budget since signing up with Pertemps, the Midland part-timers are unable to match Orrell off the field - and, on the evidence of Saturday afternoon, there will usually be something lacking on it.

Phil Maynard's side had an overwhelming amount of possession in the first half but were limited to a single penalty.

A 15-minute period of Orrell attack, however, resulted in two converted tries and allowed the Maurice Lindsay-backed side to run out winners.

So it was Gavin Cattle and Leigh Hinton - who, along with coach Jim McKay, left Sharmans Cross Road for Orrell during the close season - who were able to enjoy the result more than their former team-mates.

In the Bees' nine-game winning start, they have often show a resilience in the final stages, though, and that was partially evident again on Saturday.

Full-back Dave Knight is in the kind of form to suggest that he may follow Hinton and Cattle into the view of bigger clubs.

And his injury-time try - his eighth in the league - allowed replacement

fly-half Mark Woodrow to convert and bring his side within seven points to earn a single bonus point.

Woodrow came on for Craig Chalmers, who was heckled with cries of 'Retire' as he left the field.

But the former Scottish international obviously worried Orrell enough to be subjected to some borderline tackles in the opening exchanges.

The hosts had reason to be worried as, apart from a disallowed Hinton try, they were far less proactive than the Bees.

Instead, they kept themselves warm on a bitterly cold Wigan day by tackling and chasing back in such a disciplined fashion that all they permitted was one three-pointer by Chalmers.

In the second half the Bees paid for a failure - through a missed penalty kick, several unforced errors and perhaps a lack of imagination - to fashion a decent lead.

Lock Adam Jackson, who came into the Orrell side only ten minutes before kick-off after an injury, made his name known by crashing through under the posts after 42 minutes.

Chalmers replied with a penalty but his inaccurate touch-kicking allowed Orrell to run the ball back at the Bees too often.

Inevitably, it resulted in a try for Samoan Alfie Too'ala before Hinton - seen by many as Orrell's best signing of the summer - added a conversion and two penalties to seal the win.

Knight and Woodrow retrieved something from the game late on but the result saw the Bees hand pole position in National League One to Worcester, those other full-timers.

ORRELL: Barrow; Welding, Penney, Kelly (Haughton, 54), Hinton; Slemen, Cattle; Emms, McCarthy, Barretto, Jackson, Easter, Wilks, Lewitt, Too'ala. Not used: Howe, Livesey, Parr, Crabtree, Jones.

BEES: D Knight; Takarangi, Nabaro, Woof, Baxter (Richardson, 80); Chalmers (Woodrow, 68), P Knight; Sigley, Merritt (Hubbleday, 71), Long, Davidson (Walton, 59), Orgee, Fakatou (White, 71), Carter, Jenner. Not used: Gravil, Vivian.

Bees salvage pride in defeat
9 November 03 ~ take from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 

The first defeat in the history - albeit a brief one - of the Pertemps Bees showed the shortcomings of a semi-professional set-up.

The Bees showed bucketloads of commitment and stamina.

But, crucially, their hosts Orrell (in the manner of an England team playing badly and winning) had the organisation to withstand pressure and the killer instinct to make the most of their own rare scoring opportunities.

Despite their increased playing budget since signing up with Pertemps, the Midland part-timers are unable to match Orrell off the field - and, on the evidence of Saturday afternoon, there will usually be something lacking on it.

Phil Maynard's side had an overwhelming amount of possession in the first half but were limited to a single penalty.

A 15-minute period of Orrell attack, however, resulted in two converted tries and allowed the Maurice Lindsay-backed side to run out winners.

So it was Gavin Cattle and Leigh Hinton - who, along with coach Jim McKay, left Sharmans Cross Road for Orrell during the close season - who were able to enjoy the result more than their former team-mates.

In the Bees' nine-game winning start, they have often show a resilience in the final stages, though, and that was partially evident again on Saturday.

Full-back Dave Knight is in the kind of form to suggest that he may follow Hinton and Cattle into the view of bigger clubs.

And his injury-time try - his eighth in the league - allowed replacement

fly-half Mark Woodrow to convert and bring his side within seven points to earn a single bonus point.

Woodrow came on for Craig Chalmers, who was heckled with cries of 'Retire' as he left the field.

But the former Scottish international obviously worried Orrell enough to be subjected to some borderline tackles in the opening exchanges.

The hosts had reason to be worried as, apart from a disallowed Hinton try, they were far less proactive than the Bees.

Instead, they kept themselves warm on a bitterly cold Wigan day by tackling and chasing back in such a disciplined fashion that all they permitted was one three-pointer by Chalmers.

In the second half the Bees paid for a failure - through a missed penalty kick, several unforced errors and perhaps a lack of imagination - to fashion a decent lead.

Lock Adam Jackson, who came into the Orrell side only ten minutes before kick-off after an injury, made his name known by crashing through under the posts after 42 minutes.

Chalmers replied with a penalty but his inaccurate touch-kicking allowed Orrell to run the ball back at the Bees too often.

Inevitably, it resulted in a try for Samoan Alfie Too'ala before Hinton - seen by many as Orrell's best signing of the summer - added a conversion and two penalties to seal the win.

Knight and Woodrow retrieved something from the game late on but the result saw the Bees hand pole position in National League One to Worcester, those other full-timers.

ORRELL: Barrow; Welding, Penney, Kelly (Haughton, 54), Hinton; Slemen, Cattle; Emms, McCarthy, Barretto, Jackson, Easter, Wilks, Lewitt, Too'ala. Not used: Howe, Livesey, Parr, Crabtree, Jones.

BEES: D Knight; Takarangi, Nabaro, Woof, Baxter (Richardson, 80); Chalmers (Woodrow, 68), P Knight; Sigley, Merritt (Hubbleday, 71), Long, Davidson (Walton, 59), Orgee, Fakatou (White, 71), Carter, Jenner. Not used: Gravil, Vivian.

Winning title may not Bee enough
8 November 03 ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 

Pertemps Bees have been warned that they could be docked points if they finish top of National League One at the end of the season because their Sharmans Cross Road headquarters does not come up to Premiership standards.

The threat was made by First Division Rugby, the body responsible for National One, at a meeting in London this week.

FDR want to avoid a repeat of two years ago when Rotherham romped to the National One title but were denied promotion because their Clifton Lane ground did not meet Premier-ship specifications.

Rotherham had to move to Millmoor, the home of Rotherham United football club, to ensure promotion to the Premiership when they won National One again last season and FDR want to introduce radical proposals to ensure that there will be automatic promotion in the future.

FDR want clubs whose grounds do not meet Premiership standards to be penalised with points deduction to ensure that a club with adequate facilities is promoted. Under the terms of the FDR proposals a club must finish in the top three of National One to be considered for promotion.

Premiership entry criteria require clubs to have either a minimum licensed capacity of 8,200 with at least 4,000 permanent seats or a minimum licensed a capacity of 11,000.

At the moment only two National One clubs, Orrell, who have access to the JJB Stadium, and Bristol, who were relegated from the Premiership last season, meet the criteria. Worcester, whose Sixways ground has a capacity of 5,135 with 4,625, have planning permission to build another stand to allow them to meet the Premiership demands.

Pertemps Bees, who lead the National One table at the moment, have plans to move from Sharmans Cross Road to Portway, adjacent to junction three of the M42 motorway. They intends to build a ground that will meet all Premiership specifications there but their plans have not yet been submitted to Stratford Council and the new ground is not expected to be ready until the start of the 2005/06 season.

Sharmans Cross Road, with a capacity of 2,500 and covered accommodation for only 150 falls way short of the minimum Premiership standards and, with a move in the offing, it does not make financial sense for them to spend money on upgrading the facilities.

As members of FDR we have to support their regulations but the suggestion that we would be docked points if we finished top of the league because our facilities are not good enough still came as a shock, said Tony Moir, the Bees general manager.

We are still putting the finishing touches to our plans for Portway and the deadline for inspection of facilities, as I understand it, has been brought forward to early January.

There is no way that Shar-mans Cross Road would meet the Premiership criteria nor would we be able to provide temporary facilities at Portway for a season that would comply with the regulations.

The alternative of sharing facilities with a football club or another sporting neighbour has not yet been discussed, partly because the Bees have surprised themselves with their success this season, but that might have to be given serious consideration.

We have had no discussions about ground-sharing with other sports clubs because we are still at an early stage of the season, Moir said.

But if we beat Orrell on Saturday, which will be a benchmark of how far we have progressed this season, and continue our success, then we will have to start thinking seriously about it.

The FDR proposals are still subject to ratification by the RFU.

Bees face pregnant pause
7 November ~ taken from http://www.icbirmingham.com
 

Gynaecological exigencies not excepted, Pertemps Bees will be at full strength for their crunch match against Orrell in Lancashire tomorrow.

Translated, this means that if Mike Daviess wife, who is ten days overdue, produces their first child in a Bridgend hospital tomorrow, the newborns father will not be present.

He will be at Orrell playing centre for Bees in a match that will have a large influence on the First Division championship.

A dereliction of the main duty, or what? No, says Bees director of rugby, Phil Maynard. Mike has done a deal. If his wife goes into labour on Saturday, her sister will accompany her to hospital.

If it arrives very early, Mike will go with her and then get himself up to Orrell in a hurry.

And that is what I call commitment to the club.

Commitment to the club is one of the main reasons for the Bees heading the First Division with six victories out of six. Its what Maynard is banking on as he contemplates a fixture that, for once, his side are not favourites to win.

Orrell, one of the leagues fully professional outfits, are in third place in the table and with home advantage must obviously fancy their chances. Which is not to say that the Bees dont fancy their own.

Their principal observer, John White, watched Orrell lose at Bristol last Sunday, Maynard has seen them lose at Worcester and the conclusion is that while Orrell have fire power in abundance all over the park, they can be rendered vulnerable to sustained forward pressure. Which the Bees will be at extreme pains to apply.

This is obviously a big game for both of us, said Maynard. But the greater stress is on Orrell. They know that if they lose to us, thats their championship season effectively over. That could make them very edgy.

That said, though, were not thinking about Orrell. Our main aim is to play them on our terms.

We are going to camp at Haydock on Friday night and we will arrive at Orrell better prepared than for any other game this season. Are Orrell beatable? Definitely.

Two members of the Orrell squad, Leigh Hinton and Gavin Cattle, were Bees players last year and Maynard uses the word poached to describe their departure.

They are playing very well for them and thats to be expected, he said.

But we are playing better since they left and thats down to the fact that we are better organised this year and, under Mark Wilson and Bob Harknett, better coached.

We are much more professional and with John Whites help, we are much better at analysing the opposition, he added.

He describes Jim Thorpes absence through injury as a blow but otherwise the best side are all fit and in strident mood. And if Mrs Davies does her bit, they could have an extra supporter by tomorrow evening.

Bees have loaned back-row forward Tom Jordan to National Two side Stourbridge.

Jordans first team opportunities have been restricted this season and he has now joined Stourbridge on a loan period that will be reviewed each week. Bees have the right to recall Jordan at three days notice.

Jordan is the sixth Bees player to go out on loan this season joining lock Neil Fletcher (Manchester), scrum-half Dan Parr (Aston OE), lock Dave Merlin (Walsall) and prop Rob Sigley and No 8 Charlie Daniell (Moseley).

 

Bees face major test
7 November ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 

PROP Jim Thorp is facing another lengthy lay-off after he suffered a recurrence of a shoulder injury in Pertemps Bees Powergen Cup success at Waterloo.

Thorp sustained the injury after he came on as a replacement for his first senior appearance in a month.

He was due to visit a specialist on Monday but is likely to be out of action until the New Year.

"We won't have a clear picture until Jim has seen the specialist but it didn't look good on Saturday and he could be out of action for a long time," said director of rugby Phil Maynard.

A summer recruit from Premiership side Sale, Thorp will miss the crucial trip to Orrell tomorrow so Andy Gravil, the former Rotherham prop, is likely to be recalled to the bench.

Full-back Dave Knight and centre Mike Davies, who were rested for the Waterloo game will return to the starting line-up along with scrum-half Paul Knight and flanker Nathan Carter who were replacements for the cup tie.

The Orrell game will pit Bees against their former backs coach Jim McKay, full-back Leigh Hinton and scrum-half Gavin Cattle, but Maynard insists that will be a side issue.

"All the pressure is going to be on Orrell," he said. "This is a game that they know they have to win, we can go up there and enjoy ourselves.

"Potentially it's a great game for us and one that we are relishing.

"I don't think that anyone really expects us to win this league but we have gone into November unbeaten in all rugby, the only club in this division who can boast that record, and I intend to stick a copy of the league table on the dressing room noticeboard this week just to remind everyone of what we have achieved."

Meanwhile Bees' win at Waterloo has secured them a home tie against Wakefield in the sixth round on November 15.

It is the second time in three seasons they have reached the last 16.

And the Sharmans Cross Road side are already assured of a place in the semi-finals of the Powergen Shield, the competition for the four non-Premiership clubs who reach the last 16 of the Powergen Cup.

Hesse cleared as a true Brit
7 November ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com
 

BEES have been given a boost with the re-classification of number eight Hese Fakatou, above, as British.

The former Tonga international was due to become British qualified early in the new year after he had completed four years' residence in Britain but he has now been re-classified under new regulations.

Following a successful challenge by Maros Kolpak, a Slovakian handball player against quota limits in Germany, players from a number of countries who have association or co-operation agreements with EU countries, are entitled to EU work-ers rights.

Tonga is one of the countries with such an agreement.

The decision will simplify selection for Pertemps Bees as it leaves only Australian centre Byron Vivian and New Zealand winger Aaron Takarangi as overseas players. National One clubs can select only two non-EU-qualified players in their squad.

One step closer to the top draw

7 November ~ taken from http://www.icsolihull.com

Waterloo 21, Pertemps Bees 40

WORCESTER'S defeat in the Powergen Cup last Saturday was as big a result for Pertemps Bees as their own win over plucky Waterloo.

Phil Maynard's men had penciled in a round six showdown with the Sixways side following their victory over the National Three outfit only to find Worcester hadn't kept their side of the bargain.

Their narrow 18-17 loss means Wakefield will come to Sharmans Cross Road instead to play for a place in the quarter finals of the country's premier knockout competition.

Also gone is a lucrative pay day, Worcester would have attracted a decent gate and bolstered it with a few of their own supporters, the same cannot be said for the Yorkshiremen.

On the plus side, although you'd never hear Maynard admitting it, Wakefield are much more beatable than his former employers and represent a better chance of making it to the last eight and the likelihood of a glamour tie against one of the Premiership's big guns like Bath or Leicester.

But first they'll have to avoid their own Wake and to do that they will need to play a lot better than they did during the middle third of the match against Waterloo.

They started strongly, racing into a 21-0 lead before three converted tries and two penalties made it 27-21 to the hosts.

Maynard sent on the cavalry and one of those subs, hooker Alan Hubbleday went over twice, and winger Luke Nabaro once as Bees settled down to hear the shocking news from College Grove.

Jordan Goes To Stourbridge

taken from http://www.beesrugby.com - the official Bees website

Pertemps Bees have loaned back-row forward Tom Jordan to Natioanl Two side Stourbridge.

Jordan's first team opportunities with Pertemps Bees have been restricted this season and he has now joined Stourbridge on loan period that will be reviewed each week. Pertemps Bees have the right to recall Jordan at three days' notice.

Jordan is the sixth Pertemps Bees players to go out on loan this season joining lock Neil Fletcher (Manchester), scrum-half Dan Parr (Aston OE), lock Dave Merlin (Walsall) and prop Rob Sigley and number eight Charlie Daniell (Moseley).

Fakatou Is Bristish

taken from http://www.beesrugby.com - the official Bees website

Pertemps Bees have been given a boost with the re-classification of number eight Hese Fakatou as British.

The former Tonga international was due to become British qualified early in the New Year after he had completed fours years' residence in Britain but he has now been re-classified under new regulations.

Following a successful challenge by Maros Kolpak, a Slovakian handball player against quota limits in Germany, players from a number of countries who have association or co-operation agreements with EU countries, are entitled to EU workers rights.

Tonga is one of the countries with such an agreement and Pertemps Bees have made a successful application to the Rugby Football Union to have Fakatou re-classified.

The decision will simplify selection for Pertemps Bees as it leaves only Australian centre Byron Vivian and New Zealand winger Aaron Takarangi as the overseas players in their squad.

National One clubs can select only two non-EU-qualified players in their squad.