BIRMINGHAM SOLIHULL RFC 12 v DMPRFC 32

Looking to add to the league points after the Westoe victory, DMPRFC made the trek to Solihull and were rewarded with a good team performance against decent opposition.

DMPRFC started the better and after a good period of pressure, Tom HODGSON was successful with a penalty after three minutes (0 – 3).

This seemed to sting the Bees into action and they responded a couple of minutes later, with a try shortly after,after a good break by their always dangerous backs (5 – 3). The conversion was missed.

The Bees applied more pressure, but when an attacking move broke down, the visitng scrum half Zylon McGAFFIN gathered the ball and set off on a mazy run, lobbing the back out to his backs The ball found its way to centre Cameron MITCHELL, who outstripped the defence and scored under the posts (5 – 8). The conversion was easy for Tom HODGSON (5 – 10).

Tom HODGSON slotted another penalty shortly afterwards, as a home side defender was adjudged not to have released the ball after the tackle, when the DMPRFC forwards made inroads into the heart of the home defence, ably led by Danny DIXON and Tom SCHOFIELD (5 – 13).

Tom HODGSON stretched the lead, when the Bees were caught crossing out of defence (5 – 16).

The Bees looked able to penetrate with some good running lines in their backs, but it was their forwards who scored the next try after a break from the back of a scrum near to the posts ( 10 – 16). The conversion was assured from under the posts (12 – 16).

Just prior to oranges, a determined charge through the heart of the Bees defence took Danny DIXON within a yard of the line and quick ball would have heralded a try. However, a Bees defender held on to the ball and when a ‘red zone’ yellow card seemed inevitable, the official merely awarded the penalty, which Tom Hodgson obliged (12 – 19).

Justice was done in the next play on the restart, when the same home player received his marching orders for the same offence, but at the break, honours were fairly even and similar was anticipated in the second half.

That proved not to be the case, as the Bees failed to score another point and DMPRFC increased their lead.

After a period of midfield stalemate, DMOPRFC applied the pressure and caught the home side offside in midfiled for the next penalty score by Tom HODGSON (12 – 22).

In their frustration from then on, the Bees fell foul of the referee and consipired to their own downfall, as frustration boiled over. Another penalty for DMPRFC followed from Tom HODGSON from another offside offence (12 – 25).

Two further sin binnings for the Bees and one for DMPRFC followed, before visiting centre Cameron MITCHELL scored his brace under the posts (12 – 30), making the conversion easy for the reliable Tom HODGSON (12 – 32).

All in all a good away victory and a chance, at this stage, to catch up on the early league leaders.