So many times this season they have been described in somewhat unflattering terms despite winning all eight of their competitive matches to date.

And against a fourth-placed Otley side packed with Premiership experience they again showed you do not need to covet the ball all afternoon as, led by Baxter, they gave another object lesson in finishing.

Otley were strong in the forwards but after five minutes Baxter went over to give Bees the lead and Craig Chalmers added the extras, although the kick was not a foretaste for a good afternoon for the ex Scotland international.

Otley's response was kicking to the corner and lock Ian Carroll powering over before the impeccable Simon Binns converted.

Binns then landed a penalty that gave the visitors the lead but Bees were soon back on top when Paul Knight slipped in for a second try for the hosts.

With half time approaching Bees' pack took over driving over for Terry Sigley to be credited with the try.

Despite losing Nathan Bland to the sin bin Otley reduced the areas with Binns again successful with a penalty attempt.

And when Bees had Dave Knight yellow carded for obstruction it looked precarious for the leaders.

However, on 62 minutes a stray pass from Otley found the hands of Baxter and the winger ran the length of the pitch to touch down.

 

 

Pertemps Bees return to full strength for another revenge mission at home to highflying Otley tomorrow.

National League Ones surprise teams go head to head at Sharmans Cross Road with the Bees looking to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.

Director of rugby Phil Maynard (pictured) is taking no chances against a side that struggled against relegation last year but are transformed this year.

To that end he has recalled Craig Chalmers and Paul Knight into a pivotal halfback battle with the highly rated Simon Binns and Dave Scully, as well as picking his best available pack.

Only prop Jim Thorp, not quite fit after his shoulder injury, is unavailable for the wary Bees.

Otley are going to be a tough prospect, and who would have thought back in September that this would be a top five clash? said Maynard, who refers to the two clubs as the pretenders to the National League One big boys.

They too have made a good start to the season and kept it up - their only defeat was to Worcester, and that was in injury time.

Their front row is very strong and contains three ex-Premiership players, while the half-backs are two top-level warriors that we know all about.

It goes without saying against a kicker of the quality of Simon Binns that we have to keep the penalty count down or well suffer.

With eight changes from last weeks half-hearted win at Wharfedale, the leaders are looking for a more disciplined performance tomorrow to help hold off second-placed Worcester for another week.

But they also want to put last seasons 21-7 home defeat to the Yorkshire side behind them.

That was a bad defeat, admitted Maynard, but we won at their place and were a very different side this season.

New Zealander Aaron Takarangi holds off Hong Kongs Luke Nabaro on the wing, while Shaun Woof, Nathan Carter and Jim Jenner all return to add a formidable level of experience to the home line-up.

 

Managing, as he does, the top team in the First Division and the 13th most successful club in the land, Phil Maynard has learned to talk in headlines.

The "Clash of the Pretenders" is how he describes Pertemps Bees' match against Otley at Sharmans Cross Road tomorrow.

Apart from an injury-time defeat at the hands of Worcester, the Yorkshire club have won all their games this season and among those they won last season was the one in Solihull. They are, as they say, contenders.

Maynard, it hardly needs stressing, has boundless respect for them. "This is a real top-of-the-table contest," he said. "We're excited by that and we're up for it."

Otley's strength is a pack reinforced this season by the inclusion of two Premiership prop forwards, Christian Fulman and Justin Wring, signed from Leeds. Maynard tried to sign the pair of them, but found that he couldn't afford either.

At half-back is Dave Scully, one of the canniest scrum-halves in the business and if you make reference to his venerability, Maynard comes back with: "he's still highly effective behind this pack."

Over the years his partner, Simon Binns, has been among the most influential fly-halves in the division and more than one director of rugby has come out with the observation that Otley are twice the side when he is running their operation. So this is the Bees' biggest test so far. Or as Maynard quaintly ventures: "We've bought the T-shirt. Now we'll see if we can wear it."

An injury to Jim Thorpe means that the Bees' front row has not yet been finalised, but with Matt Long and Terry Sigley in prime form, there are no worries.

The club will be going into this match at maximum calibre and with the comforting knowledge that they know how to score tries (35 so far this season) and they know how to win. "There will be no excuses, whatever the result," adds Maynard.

Just what that result is will be of particular interest to Worcester, who are currently sandwiched between the two sides and trailing the Bees by a solitary bonus point.

John Brain, Worcester's director of rugby, forecasts that home advantage will sway the game the Bees' way but by very little.

The top of the table seems to be settling down in that the best teams are starting to prove themselves. "The league table doesn't lie," says Brain.

"It is too early to start making predictions, though. The meat of the season is in December and January. That's when the best teams start playing each other."

There's the odd big one at this stage, though: two tomorrow, in Solihull and at Sixways where Worcester take on Wakefield, who would probably contradict the view that Otley are the best National League One side in Yorkshire.

They haven't been beaten since the first day of the season and are fifth at present. "They've got into the habit of winning matches," Brain notes.

"They've won at London Welsh, which isn't easy, and they proved their resilience and their character when they were 19 points down to Henley at half-time and came back to win.

 

PERTEMPS Bees expect to welcome back prop Jim Thorp for their National One game against Otley at Sharmans Cross Road tomorrow (KO 2.30pm)

The former Sale Shark missed the league win at Coventry and the Powergen Cup victory at Wharfedale last Saturday because of a shoulder injury.

He will add bulk to a front row that has been hugely impressive in Bees' undefeated start to the season and his presence will be crucial if Phil Maynard's men are to combat the visitors' traditional physical prowess.

Thorp is likely to be in opposition to his former Rotherham team-mate Simon Binns, the Otley fly-half has accounted for 74 points so far and could punish Bees if they give away too many penalties.

Another danger will be Fijian winger Waisale Sovatabua who hasn't scored that many tries this season but has the ability to punch holes in defences.

He could come up against compatriot and Bees' utility back Luke Nabarro who has missed five weeks with a hamstring problem.

Nabaro was due to play at Wharfedale last week but was withdrawn because he had not fully recovered from an injury sustained against Penzance & Newlyn. A definite absentee will be Australian centre Byron Vivian who has a shoulder injury.

Former Scotland and British Lions fly-half Craig Chalmers, centre Shaun Woof and flanker Nathan Carter will all return to the starting line-up having been rested for the trip North.

That should give the hosts a strong enough side to make it six league wins out of six although whether or not they can secure the bonus point is far from guaranteed.

 

Wharfedale 14, Bees 24 BEES didn't break any records but they did shatter the cup dreams of minnows Wharfedale in a lacklustre Powergen Cup tie last Saturday.

They scored four tries and never really looked in trouble, in easing through to the fifth round of the Cup. That's one step closer to a mouth-watering sixth round encounter with director of rugby Phil Maynard's old club Worcester.

And in cup rugby it's the result that counts not the performance - at least that's what Maynard will be telling himself as he prepares for a showdown with Wharfedale's division two counterparts Waterloo.

The Lancashire side have dumped city partners Moseley out of the competition in each of the past two years and are used to bloodying a few aristocratic noses so a repeat performance won't do.

They allowed their hosts to get close in the early stages but one suspects Bees always had another gear.

Former England fly-half David Pears landed a second minute penalty to open the scoring for Wharfedale and amazingly lock Tony Capstick barged over to make it 8-0 before the first quarter had elapsed.

Bees came back with probably the best move of the game creating a try for winger Scott Read before hooker Alan Hubbleday ran through to make it 10-8. Pears added a second penalty to restore the home side's lead at half time.

The second period was a stop start affair but when Bees managed to string a few phases together it was often good enough to crack the hosts' defence.

Replacement fly half Mark Woodrow raced over for a 58th minute breakaway try and ten minutes later former Moseley prop Matt Long was forced over. Woodrow converted both and by the time Jonathan Davies landed a penalty the result was not in question.

 

Wharfedale 14 Pertemps Bees 24 BEES made progress in the Powergen Cup albeit with a struggling performance against their Yorkshire rivals.

They must have thought they were on to a good thing against their National Two opposition given Bees impressive start and the fact Phil Maynard is unbeaten as a coach at Wharfedale.

But an upset was not impossible as the hosts surged into an early lead.

Tony Capstick scored a surprise first try after former England fly half David Pears had kicked a second minute penalty.

But after turning down a number of kicks at goal in favour of territorial advantage the visitors finally hit back in the 18th minute when a flowing move was completed by Scott Read in the left corner.

Though Wharefedale enjoyed territorial advantage for much of the half it was bees who were soon in front as hooker Alan Hubbleday drifted through to touch down.

Just before the break Pears slotted a second penalty to restore the home side's lead.

As fitness and class finally began to tell the hosts had Pedram Salashouri yellow carded but even so it was still a disjointed tie.

Plucky Wharfedale were again testing the Bees' defence when they fell for a classic sucker punch. Mark Woodrow caught them on the break and ran all the way to add a third try for his side which he then converted.

There was still time for a comeback but Bees were now growing in confidence and made sure of a fifth round tie against Waterloo when the forwards forced their way over with Matt Long credited with the try, Woodrow adding the extras.

Wharefedale full back Jonathan Davies, on for Pears, landed a consolation late penalty for the home side but it was to little too late and Bees were worthy if unconvincing winners.

Lincoln 5 Solihull 74

THE inaugural meeting between the two sides saw Solihull continue their unbeaten run this season by advancing in the Powergen Vase in impressive style scoring 12 tries. The visitors Solihull were concerned that Lincoln who were in a higher division last season could provide a real threat to their challenge for the Vase. But the hosts were stunned by exploding with open rugby from the kick off, and a try in the first minute. This set the scoreboard ticking over steadily for the whole game as Solihull proved too strong. Tries were scored by Rob Salisbury (2), Dan Gallagher, Neil Perry, Phil Watson (2), Rob Bastock, Gus Pettitt, Jason Goodwin, Andy Smallwood (2) and Neil Supperstone, with Richard Gamlin adding seven conversions. This week Solihull resume league rugby by hosting Berkswell & Balsall at Portway, kick off 3pm.

 

Duncan White continued the rout after the restart before Mick Curtis scored a consolation for the hosts.

 

Coventry 13 Pertemps Bees 39

THE Bees bandwagon continued to roll as they floored Coventry for a second successive Saturday.

In more convincing fashion than last Saturday's Powergen Cup tie, the visitors showed their new-found liking for Coundon Road by taking the points that keep them on top of National Division one.

So far have they come in just a few months having been thrashed by their hosts in the corresponding fixture last year by 50 points.

It wasn't all plain sailing as Coventry started determinedly and were ahead 6-3 with two Tim O'Shea penalties answered by one from Craig Chalmers on his league debut.

But from that point on it was the visitors, with Chalmers especially prominent, who took over.

Even with Hese Fakatou in the sin-bin following a series of infringements, they managed the opening try with prop Matt Long taking advantage after Nick Baxter had slipped the shackles with a 60-yard run.

Soon after Chalmers was allowed to drift in for an easy score and when Fakatou returned to add a third try in first-half injury time Bees were crusiing.

Try as they might Coventry could not turn possession into points and were left counting the cost when Baxter created a try for Duncan White, Chalmers taking his personal tally for the day to 17 with the conversion.

Mick Curtis grabbed a late consolation but there was still time for O'Shea to make Shaun Woof's day by presenting him with the easiest score he will get this season, Mark Woodrow duly adding the extras to cap a comprehensive win.

 

 

Coventry 21 Pertemps Bees 28

JEKYLL and Hyde Bees moved into the fourth round of the Powergen Cup with victory over 14-man Coventry.

Memories of last season's 50-0 trouncing were washed away in a one-sided first half, the visitors scoring four tries while the hosts had Ben Gulliver sent off for punching Jim Jenner in the 15th minute.

After former B&S man Luke Smith had kicked an early penalty the visitors took over with Aaron Takarangi scoring a solo effort and another try in the opening 20 minutes, both converted by Craig Chalmers.

The former Scotland international added two further conversions to scores from Duncan White and Dave Knight but then was forced off with a hip injury.

Smith kicked penalties either side of the break before joining his opposite number on the bench with.

But the second half belonged to Coventry despite their numerical disad-vantage.

Replacement hooker Trent McMurray scored the home side's first try and when Alex Davidson was sinbinned they put Bees under real pressure.

Tristan Prosser-Shaw ensured a nervy finale for the Bees with another score converted by Tim O'Shea and there was only one score in it at the end.

The two sides meet again tomorrow in the league and on this evidence it could go either way.

 

 

IT'S one down and one to go for Pertemps Bees as they prepare for part two of their double header against local rivals Coventry.

Bees won at Coundon Road for the first time in their history last Saturday to claim a spot in round four of the Powergen Senior Cup but it's back to the bread and butter of National One rugby tomorrow (KO 3pm) again in Coventry.

And director of rugby, Phil Maynard, can't wait to renew acquaintances to prove wrong those nay-sayers who criticised Bees' performance in their toughest away trip of the season.

The Sharmans Cross outfit took flak for dominating their hosts for 40 minutes but falling away in the second period allowing Keith Fairbrother's men to mount a spirited comeback.

But according to Maynard there were reasons for that: "We blew them away in the first half. We tried nine blokes that have not started a game this season and they ran out of steam, but we knew they would. "The result was never in doubt.

"The lads that came in did themselves no end of good and I can honestly say I was proud of them. By the end their eyes were sticking out on stalks," he said.

Some of those players won't be starting tomorrow but whoever pulls on the shirt won't be letting up according to Maynard: "There is a genuine feeling that the job is only half done. Their coach said that we were not very good and that he did not think much of us. Let's just say that will add a bit of spice to Saturday's game."

One man who may not be sampling the action will be prop Jim Thorp who damaged his shoulder in the 28-21 victory. That could allow former Moseley front-rower Matt Long to make his first league start of the season.

Thorp was replaced by Andy Gravil four minutes into the second half but by that stage all the hard work had been done. Maori winger Aaron Takarangi went over twice in the opening 20 minutes and he was joined there by flanker Duncan White.

Try machine Dave Knight continued his run of scoring in every game with a searing zig-zagging effort to give his side a 28-3 lead.

Former Bees stand off Luke Smith landed his second penalty of the game just before the break to make it 28-6. Trent McMurray and Tim Prosser-Shaw went over after the restart but they were mere consolation as Bees held on.

 

BEES have been given the mouthwatering prospect of a possible home draw against local rivals Worcester in the sixth round of the Powergen Cup next month.

But first they must beat Wharfedale in the fourth round on October 18 then defeat either Launceston or Waterloo in the fifth round on November 1 while Worcester face a fourth round home tie against Exeter with the winners going to either Wakefield or Esher.

"We can't really think beyond Wharfedale at the moment but the prospect of playing Worcester is an enticing one," said director of rugby Phil Maynard, who coached Worcester between 1993 and 2000.

"It would certainly be the biggest game the club has ever staged and it would be real advertisement for rugby in the area," he said.

 

Bees prop Jim Thorp is the only doubt ahead of this Saturday's National League One game against Coventry.

Thorp, captain for the day, damaged a shoulder during the 28-21 Cup win at Coventry on Saturday and despite intensive treatment is unlikely to be fit for the re-match.

In his place, Matt Long is likely to make his first league start for the club after debuting last weekend.

Skipper Ed Orgee, flanker Hese Fakatou and centre Shaun Woof are all expected to recover from minor injuries, though, in a near-full strength side.

Former Scotland fly-half Craig Chalmers, who has made two appearances as a replacement this season, is also likely to have his first league start after recovering from a knock in the Cup game.