Match Preview

Match preview – Peterborough Lions v Bees, Saturday 5th March

Bees head east with a spring in their step

The Bees head eastwards tomorrow (Saturday 5th March, KO 3.00pm) to face Peterborough Lions for the second time this season.

Willy & Spanner’s charges are likely to travel with spring both in the air and in their step, following last week’s convincing 35-6 win against Old Northamptonians. That victory was only secured after a stern half time team talk and dominant second half performance, which saw the home side post 30 unanswered points.

It was tale of two halves too when the Bees met the Lions back in November. Playing with a fierce gale (even by Portway standards) at their backs in the first half, the Bees failed to make the most of the conditions. They dominated territorially but found the Lions defence hard to penetrate, notching up just 10 points – a Spink try and 5 points from the Jolly boot.

The Lions, however, managed to cross for three tries. The first came from winger Henderson, the second from full-back Veenendaal and the third courtesy of fly-half Will Carrington, following a succession of surges by the Lions pack.

That made it 10-15 to the Lions at the interval and that quickly became 10-22 as Horne blasted his way through three tackles to score the bonus-point try, which was converted by Carrington. Then, just as it looked as though the visitors were going to cruise home, they lost Marcisauskas and Dunn to the sin bin.
The Bees sensed their opportunity and a converted Tibbatts try got them within 5 points. However despite a valiant effort, they were unable to snatch the victory and went down 17-22.

Four months on, the two sides find themselves mid table to National 3 Midlands – the Lions sit in fifth place on 54 points, with the Bees now in eighth spot with 47 points. Peterborough have won 12 and lost 9 - for the Bees it’s the other way round, winning 9 land losing 12.

The home side comes into tomorrow’s game on the back of a 28-60 win at relegation-doomed Sutton Coldfield last week – prop Ben Howerd crossing the line three times, which no doubt proved rather costly for him in the bar afterwards. That win ended a three match losing streak, with saw them defeated on the road at Sandbach and Old Hales, as well as at home against Scunthorpe.

The Bees make three changes to the squad that won against Old Ns last week – Brian Sibiya and Mikey Whettell return in the centres, with Matt Tibbatts also available at No.8.

Birmingham & Solihull team selected v Peterborough Lions Saturday 5th March 3.00 pm KO:- Alex O’Malley, Chris Fensome, Brian Sibiya, Mikey Whettell, Nyle Beckett, Mitchell McGahan, Martin Hooker ,Matt Tibbats, Ashley Scriven, Darren Forder, Matt Spink, Chris Goddard ©, Kurtis Payne, Zane Raimondi and Dan Toth. Replacements – Pete Koziot, Michael Stephens and Jack Jolly.