Near-miss has Birmingham & Solihull feeling good

Rod Petty believes Birmingham & Solihull’s near-scalping of National One champions-elect Leeds Carnegie shows that his team belong at a higher level. The Australian, who produced an inspirational performance in Saturday’s EDF Energy National Trophy quarter-final defeat, maintains Bees are in the sort of form that will help them secure an immediate return to English rugby’s second tier.

Petty was just one of several heroes last weekend as he became the first player to score against Neil Back’s men in this year’s competition.

That was the first of four tries Bees put past Leeds as they built a 24-12 lead with five minutes to go. But two converted scores – the second with the last play of the match – secured the visitors a 26-24 win, saved them from ignominious defeat and denied Bees’ another glorious chapter in their history.

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