Bees ready for Esher challenge
Mar
The Bees’ face Esher on home soil this Sunday (13th March KO 1pm) in the first of six crucial games in which they will be looking to secure their Championship status again for next season.
The visitors from Surrey are the Bees’ first opponents in Round One of the Championship Relegation Playoffs. With the exception of Dan Oselton and Jack Preece, Director of Rugby Russell Earnshaw has a full strength squad at his disposal and is upbeat about the Bees’ Playoff prospects.
“We’ve looked very sharp in training this week and with good recent performances against both Worcester and Rotherham, coupled with pretty much a full strength squad available, getting our campaign off to a winning start is well within our capabilities.”
Honours were even between the two Clubs in the first stage Championship with the Bees recording a well deserved 38-16 home win in October, which was followed by a 13-21 defeat to Esher at Molesey Road in January.
Esher go into the Playoffs with 7 points, having recorded seven wins in Stage 1 of the Championship, 3 more than the Bees. However a win for the Bees on Sunday would wipe out that advantage at a stroke.
“Esher will be keen to set the tone for their Playoff campaign and having won three out of their last four Championship games they come to Damson Park in a good vein of form. It will be a tough physical battle but we are focused and prepared for whatever Mike Schmid’s men throw at us.”
The Club will delay naming the starting XV for the game against Esher until later on in the week but the Bees’ Director of Rugby is calling on as many fans as possible to come along and support the side. “The fantastic support we had from fans was a vital part of our Playoff success last season and I would urge as many supporters as possible to get down to Damson Park on Sunday – it makes a real difference!”
The game against Esher kicks off at 1pm, with the England v Scotland game shown live in the bar at the ground afterwards. Entrance to the ground is £15 for Adults, £10 for Concessions and £5 for Juniors, with a family ticket (2 Adults and up to 3 Children) great value at £35.
