Bees start 2012 well
Jan
THE returning Simon Hunt fired Bees to victory to get 2012 off to the best
possible start as the Damson Park outfit battles to beat relegation from
National League One.
Hunt scored two tries, made the third and could have scored the a bonus
point fourth had fly half Mark Woodrow seen him instead of kicking for
the try line in the dying moments of the first half.
There’s no blame on Woodrow though who, returning from Stourbridge,
turned in a faultless game with the boot, kicking five penalties and all
three conversions to keep the scoreboard constantly ticking over in Bees’
favour.
Director of rugby Russell Earnshaw was naturally in celebratory mood
following what in the end was an emphatic victory: “We had a number of
key players back and I was confident of victory,” he said.
“We played a simple game which suited us and the result speaks for itself.
“Before Christmas it’s fair to say that some of the players had lost their
mojo but we stuck to the game plan and have come off knowing we’ve
enjoyed our rugby, and that’s what it is all about.”
Bees were helped in their task by a Wharfedale side which displayed
appalling handling and gave away a catalogue of penalties.
In addition, despite scoring the try of the game, a beautiful cross field kick
from fly half William Bell which went straight into the arms of winger
Scott Jordan who beat three men to score; they persisted in keeping the
ball among the forwards where Bees were stronger.
And, in a match which had its odd testy moment, their skipper and
Number 8 Rob Baldwin contrived to get himself red carded for foul play
on Earnshaw on 69 minutes.
Wharfedale gave their first kickable penalty away on five minutes, which
Woodrow duly converted before England Sevens star Hunt, installed at
full back, burst through the centre after 19 minutes to score. Woodrow
converted.
The visitors then scored their wonder try but the conversion was missed
and Woodrow popped over another penalty.
Wharfedale then closed to 13 – 12 when their second row Richard Brown
waltzed throw through to score under the posts for a converted try.
However it was the nearest they were to come.
Woodrow’s boot quickly made it 19-12 before Hunt scored his second,
four minutes into first half injury time and again from set play, this time
from a scrum. The No 10 naturally converted.
As the temperature plunged the second half was littered with errors by
both sides, and just when it looked like it was about to fizzle out an inside
pass from Hunt found centre Gregg Evans who burst through to score on
80 minutes.
Wharfedale weren’t done though, Jordan crossing again in the corner
deep into injury time, the visitors finishing on the front foot as they too
went in search of a fourth try bonus point.
However for Bees fans the victory was all that mattered, although with
Cinderford beating Blackheath 20-18 Birmingham Solihull sit 16 points
from safety on 20 points at the foot of National League One.
Attention now switches to next week and the highly winnable fixture
away at Stourbridge. The question is will Hunt, who gave Bees the pace,
power and hunger for the try line their back division has lacked all season,
be available?
“I don’t know,” he said, “I didn’t get much match time out in Dubai with
England Sevens and with the break over Christmas you’ve got to keep
your match fitness.
“They pick the England team the week after next so I don’t know if I’ll be
available, it depends what they say.
“The great thing about playing for Bees though is that it doesn’t matter
who scores the tries as long as we win because we all play for each other.
“Whichever way you look at it, it’s a great start to 2012.”
