By Mr Bow Jangles
September 18 2003

The youth and exuberance that so excited the Bristol faithful last week against Penzance & Newlyn became unstuck on Sunday, as an experienced and well-drilled Pertemp Bees took full advantage of a committed but naive Bristol side The Shoguns were forced into 4 changes (one just before kick-off) as injuries to Joe El Abd, Richard Martin-Redman and Mike Griffiths allowed Ben Gerry, Matt Styles and Marko Stanjevic to make their full first team debuts. A real blow to the side however, was the loss of the outstanding Chris Malone back to B*th. This left the back line vulnerable and without an experienced head to orchestrate proceedings.

The crowd were in high spirits just before the match in expectation of another dazzling display by Hills young heroes, but with some youngsters making their first start in important positions, a good first 10 minutes would be key.

Unfortunately, it appeared that the nerves got the better of a lot of the team as young Mike Hook put the kick-off straight into touch. From the resulting scrum ex-Bristol player Jim Jenner picked up from No.8, broke through Matt Styles tackle before putting Dave Knight, the Bees fullback, under the posts for a score inside 2 minutes. Ex-Dings flyhalf Mark ‘Woody’ Woodrow converted. BRISTOL 0 – BEES 7. It was a hammer blow for Bris as confidence now seemed shot.

From the kick-off, Woody showed that nerves were not exclusive to the Bristol side as he cleared his lines, but straight out when outside his 22. From the resulting lineout Bris looked desperate to get back into the match but lacked composure and the moved broke down when the ball was passed into touch.

Once again Bris managed to regain possession and began another attack. This time great handling by the backs saw them make the most out of a static move as Marko, Beanie and Bails all combined to make ground. Luke Nabaro then reintroduced himself to the Bristol faithful with a big hit on Dodge, but the ball was knocked on by the Bees…Bristol scrum. Matt Styles (desperate to make amends) made a fine run over the gain line from the back of the scrum, and in the ensuing ruck Bristol won a penalty and their first chance to put points on the board. Hook unfortunately was struggling to regain his composure after his unfortunate start and missed wide right.

The young Shoguns were trying to fire themselves up and get back into the game, however Ollie Hodge paid for his over-exuberance after a late challenge on Woody gave the Bees a chance of a 10-0 lead. To Ollie’s relief Woody missed wide left and the score remained 0-7.

Birmingham regained possession from the resulting 22-drop and this time it was Mike hook that missed a tackle as the impressive Sean Woof sprinted over the line for his side’s second score. Again a simple conversion for Woody and Bris were in real trouble after 10 minutes, BRISTOL 0 – 14 BEES.

Both sides conceded penalties in a scrappy period of play before Hook regained some lost confidence with a great kick to touch. Bristol won the lineout and had 3 or 4 phases of play trying to punch a hole in the away sides line but, in contrast to last week, they ran out of ideas and seemed disorganised as players took the ball standing, far to flat and couldn’t generate any pace with which to attack. The whole attack petered out when Hooks drop goal attempt was well wide.

Again Bris managed to secure possession and again they attempted to break through the stubborn Bees defence. This time the Midlanders resorted to foul play to stop the Shoguns and Hook landed a penalty to give the home side their first points of the afternoon. BRISTOL 3 – 14 BEES.

Birmingham were unlucky not to score direct from the kick-off as a forward pass held up Nabaro when he looked sure to score. Again the nerves seemed to creep in as first Matt Styles then the normally unflappable Sean Marsden both knocked on in the space of 5 minutes. The West Country side then lost their first lineout and again an error by the Bees (a knock-on) rescued the desperate Bristol defence when they looked certain to concede.

Sean Woof was looking extremely dangerous as again he punched a large whole through the Bristol centres. The Bees back-row were also alive to every situation and Bristol were forced into another error as they conceded a penalty for not rolling away. Once again Woody missed and Bristol were still within touching distance before half time.

Ollie Hodge was having a good game so far in difficult circumstances and another Bris attack was set up when he athletically stole a Bees lineout. Once again the forwards recycled the ball well to give the backs multiple phases to work some moves, however everything seemed far too frantic and disorganised and eventually they run out of ideas. Fortunately the Shoguns were awarded a penalty, which Hook converted. BRISTOL 6 – 14 BEES.

The impressive Hodge took the kick-off well under pressure and again Hook showed a glimpse of his talent with a good clearance to touch. Bristol by now looked to be growing in confidence throughout the team. A good half break from Beanie saw another multi-phase attack including good driving runs from Styles and Gerry before the latter knocked-on in the tackle and the move broke down.

The referee was not happy with the scrums and Bristol gave away a series of freekicks as they struggled to compete with the Midlanders front row. Once again they regained possession and set up another promising attack. Once again they looked frantic and in need of an experienced head as the ball was thrown away. Bristol were given a reprieve when a Bees player held on in the tackle, but Hook missed and the Shoguns were still 8 points adrift.

The frustrations of both teams at the mistakes they were making boiled over in the 10 minutes leading up to half time, as two bad tackles (one high on Evans by Mike Davies and one shoulder tackle on Bailey by Nabaro) and one ‘holding on’ offence led to 3 penalties and 2 sin-bins. This plus the resulting scuffles, got the crowd into the game and it seemed that Bristol were about to turn the tide and take a grip. Crucially Hook missed the first two penalties, and so on the third decided to kick to touch. Hunty won the lineout and the ball was whipped out to the backs early who revelled in the space afforded them. Beanie came into the line at pace to finish a slick move. BRISTOL 11 – 14 BEES. Once again Hook missed the conversion and the players left the pitch deflated at a poor first half performance, but they were now in touching distance.

HALF TIME:

BRISTOL SHOGUNS 11 – 14 PERTEMP BEES

The unfortunate Hook was taken off at half time, as England student’s fly half was given a chance to get Bristol back into the game. The Bees also made a change at hooker.

The opening score of the second half was always going to be crucial and unfortunately it fell to the Bees straight from the kick-off. Gray missed touch with his first kick of the game. The Bees big, burley fullback Dave Knight barged his way straight through the middle. Bris won the ball back at the breakdown and this time made touch. From the ensuing lineout Birmingham drove on and over the line. Woody missed the conversion. BRISTOL 11 – 19 BEES.

Again the confidence seemed to go from the team as even the experienced head of Hawker knocked on after a good break from Dodge. Bris regained possession once more and again put some phases together before Gray kicked the ball out straight into touch. The side were desperate to get back in the game, but they needed inspiration from somewhere.

The Bees were awarded a penalty soon after which they kicked to touch. Their forwards once again drove on before substitute hooker Alan Hubbleday drove over. Woody this time converted and Bristol did not look like getting back into the game. BRISTOL 11 – 26 BEES. The forwards were losing the battle and the crowd feared the worse.

Birmingham were not looking spectacular, they were playing things simple and sticking to a game plan that the young Shoguns simply could not cope with. They were making ground constantly round the fringes of the scrums, rucks and mauls. Their centres and big fullback were punching holes almost at will in the Bris defence and their forwards knew to keep it in tight and drive from lineouts and early phases.

A break from Dave Knight halfway through the second half saw him break three weak tackles from Marko, Beanie and Hawker, and once again a missed tackle cost Bris dear in the next phase as Fakatou, the Bees monstrous blindside sprinted through to score. Woody missed the conversion. BRISTOL 11 – 31 BEES.

Heads were starting to go down and the backs were again struggling with ideas. Once more taking the ball standing and static, moves were breaking down and players were getting in each others way.

Bailey, the hero of last week, was struggling to get into the game. He drifted into the middle and took an inside ball, burst through a tackle and shipped out to Richard Hunt who was just held up in the corner. The small but stocky Bailey had knocked his tackler out! Bristol lost their attacking lineout and Birmingham were on the attack again as their left wing, Nick Baxter made a good break down the left. The Bees again attacked around the fringes and again made good yards before the substitute Matt Long burst over to rub yet more salt in the Bristol wounds. Woody converts. BRISTOL 11 – 38 BEES.

The kick-off didn’t go 10 from Gray and the crowd now for once seemed to be getting very frustrated. Both sides used all substitutes as Bristol desperately looked for some sort of cohesion, but the last word was comprehensively spoken by Bees and Luke Nabaro in particular. He raced down the right for a great individual try to polish off a fantastically professional performance from the newly named Pertemps Bees. Woody converted and the last nail was hammered into the Bristol coffin.

FINAL SCORE:

BRISTOL SHOGUNS 11 – PERTEMP BEES 45

Bristol Man of the Match: Ollie Hodge

Comment:

The lack of a real defensive test during pre-season seemed to come back to haunt the side on Sunday as missed tackles cost them dear. Chris Malone looked sorely missed at flyhalf, not just for his accurate goal kicking but for his organisation of the back line. This young squad needs to learn very quickly to put disappointments behind them during games and concentrate on the next tackle, kick or run. This of course comes with experience, the one ingredient the squad lacks in most areas. However as someone in the bar said after the game, better we had this defeat now so we can learn from it than later in the season when the damage may be irreparable.

This side will bounce back, and they need the support of the fans to enable them to do so. Mike hook had a bad day as did others, but he obviously has talent so lets hope to see more of the real Mike Hook, the real Matt Styles etc etc etc next Saturday at Coventry.

The hard work starts here for players, coaches and SUPPORTERS alike.

Bristol Shoguns:

Marsden, Stanjevic, Evans (Hayward), Hawker, Bailey, Hook (Gray), Hodgson (Bemand), Styles, Gerry (Harris), Morgan, Hodge (Haag), Hunt, Hobson, Nelson (N. Clarke), Hilton (A. Clarke).

Tries: Marsden
Pens: Hook (2)

Pertemps Bees:

D. Knight, Nabaro, Woof, Davies (Vivian), Baxter, Woodrow , P. Knight (Bainbridge-Kay), Jenner, Carter, Fakatou (White), Orgee, Davidson (Walton), Sigley, Merritt (Hubbleday), Thorp (Long)

Tries: D. Knight, Woof, Fakatou (2), Hubbelday, Long, Nabaro
Con: Woodrow (5)