Bees 46-12 Stourbridge
By Elliott Josypenko August 15 2005
It was a lovely warm and sunny day when Bees challenged local rivals Stourbridge to a friendly.
By Elliott Josypenko August 15 2005
It was a lovely warm and sunny day when Bees challenged local rivals Stourbridge to a friendly.
It was a lovely warm and sunny day when Bees challenged local rivals Stourbridge to a friendly. Unfortunately that was 2004 and at lovely Stourbridge and this is 2005 and rather dank Sharmans Cross Road.
The weather wasn't exactly perfect for rugby. In fact, I actually saw a frog sitting in the pavement outside Sharmans Cross Road! At one stage in the second half, the rain was so strong, it was threatening an end to the 20 minutely quick run to the burger van and the bar. Fortunately it stopped, 10 minutes after the end of the match!
On the field it was a traditional friendly. Virtually impossible to work out who's playing due to the rolling sub nature but in the desperation for rugby after the summer, who cares!
In truth, the standard was pretty shoddy. The significant number of knock-ons, particularly in the tackle wasn't helped by the greasy ball, but both sides could do with working on their handling. Tackling was much improved from the Bees as were the scrummaging and general attacking flair which could have been so lacking in the weather.
Many regulars were noticeable particularly Alex Davidson who was very controlling. If he can channel his aggression into his play, this could be his season. Backo looked good as per usual but seemed to have carried on his tendancy to chip over the top.
Lineouts were terrible but given better conditions, I think they will improve.
It was also nice to watch some former faces playing for Stour. Tom Jordan was in the dugout, now a Stourbridge player, and Andy Gravil scored for the visitors underneath a pushover. Former favourite Mark Woodrow was playing 15 for Stourbridge.
Pertemps Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard declared himself pleased with his side's performance in the 46-12 victory over National Two side Stourbridge in their opening pre-season friendly at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday August 13.
Stourbridge provided Pertemps Bees with stiff opposition in a competitive and often physical game in which a number of close season signings and triallists were given the chance to impress.
Former England winger Tom Beim and ex-Bristol and Leicester centre Adam Billig sat out the game and the Knight brothers, Paul and Dave, were missing because they were attending a family christening party.
But ex-Orrell number eight Guillaume Scheuller, flankers Tu Tamarua (Rotherham) and Cae Trayhern (Pontypool) and prop Adrian Olver (Coventry) all played an impressed.
"It's early days but that was a very pleasing first effort," Maynard said. "We were without half-a-dozen backs but I thought that we put the some of the systems that we have been working on into practice pretty well.
"Stourbridge gave us a very good work out which is just what we needed although I felt that we kept the cork in the bottle. If we had needed to move up another gear that we could have done that."
The match was played in 30 minute thirds and winger Aaron Takarangi scored tries in the first and final periods. Other Pertemps Bees tries came from wingers Roman Piotrowski and Nick Baxter and prop Andrew Le Chevalier. Teenage centre Alex Grove, the son of the club's prsident-elect Lawrence Grove, impressed on a first senior outing for the Scotland Under-18 international.
Pertemps Bees continue their pre-season friendlies with games at Bridgend on August 19 and Pontypool on August 21 on their South Wales tour next weekend.
The weather wasn't exactly perfect for rugby. In fact, I actually saw a frog sitting in the pavement outside Sharmans Cross Road! At one stage in the second half, the rain was so strong, it was threatening an end to the 20 minutely quick run to the burger van and the bar. Fortunately it stopped, 10 minutes after the end of the match!
On the field it was a traditional friendly. Virtually impossible to work out who's playing due to the rolling sub nature but in the desperation for rugby after the summer, who cares!
In truth, the standard was pretty shoddy. The significant number of knock-ons, particularly in the tackle wasn't helped by the greasy ball, but both sides could do with working on their handling. Tackling was much improved from the Bees as were the scrummaging and general attacking flair which could have been so lacking in the weather.
Many regulars were noticeable particularly Alex Davidson who was very controlling. If he can channel his aggression into his play, this could be his season. Backo looked good as per usual but seemed to have carried on his tendancy to chip over the top.
Lineouts were terrible but given better conditions, I think they will improve.
It was also nice to watch some former faces playing for Stour. Tom Jordan was in the dugout, now a Stourbridge player, and Andy Gravil scored for the visitors underneath a pushover. Former favourite Mark Woodrow was playing 15 for Stourbridge.
Pertemps Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard declared himself pleased with his side's performance in the 46-12 victory over National Two side Stourbridge in their opening pre-season friendly at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday August 13.
Stourbridge provided Pertemps Bees with stiff opposition in a competitive and often physical game in which a number of close season signings and triallists were given the chance to impress.
Former England winger Tom Beim and ex-Bristol and Leicester centre Adam Billig sat out the game and the Knight brothers, Paul and Dave, were missing because they were attending a family christening party.
But ex-Orrell number eight Guillaume Scheuller, flankers Tu Tamarua (Rotherham) and Cae Trayhern (Pontypool) and prop Adrian Olver (Coventry) all played an impressed.
"It's early days but that was a very pleasing first effort," Maynard said. "We were without half-a-dozen backs but I thought that we put the some of the systems that we have been working on into practice pretty well.
"Stourbridge gave us a very good work out which is just what we needed although I felt that we kept the cork in the bottle. If we had needed to move up another gear that we could have done that."
The match was played in 30 minute thirds and winger Aaron Takarangi scored tries in the first and final periods. Other Pertemps Bees tries came from wingers Roman Piotrowski and Nick Baxter and prop Andrew Le Chevalier. Teenage centre Alex Grove, the son of the club's prsident-elect Lawrence Grove, impressed on a first senior outing for the Scotland Under-18 international.
Pertemps Bees continue their pre-season friendlies with games at Bridgend on August 19 and Pontypool on August 21 on their South Wales tour next weekend.
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