Birmingham & Solihull 47 Westcombe Park 7
By Birmingham Mail
November 3 2008
BEES confirmed their credentials as promotion favourites with a seven try demolition of their Orpington visitors to open up a chink of a gap at the top of National Two. Undefeated Redruth still lead with big spending Cambridge second but a point behind now come Bees with fourth placed Launceston, relegated with Bees last season, now six points adrift from the front-runners.
Not that it looked as if it was going to be an easy day as solid defending by Westcombe Park and poor handling by Bees dulled the home sides’ opening.
Then, with nine minutes gone, the visitors’ Niki Davies broke free to score in the corner and Gareth Hunter converted to deflate the home sails somewhat.
It took 25 minutes for Bees to come back when No.10 Mark Woodrow picked up and went over under the sticks then with 37 minutes gone full-back Reece Spee was fed by Scott Young and with the final play of the half hooker Ben Phillips dived in.
With Woodrow’s 100 per cent conversion rate the game was all but over for the visitors from Kent at 21-7 down at the break.
Westcombe Park, playing with the strong wind after the interval, were finding it difficult to break out and when a penalty was dropped in the corner Phillips claimed his second score and a bonus point from the line-out.
As Park tired full-time Bees took advantage with a Woodrow tap penalty setting up Young and one of the tries of the season which started with Bees behind their own line and ended with Mitch Culpin going over with a move covering the entire pitch.
The final score went to Rod Petty after another forward break and Petty also landed a conversion.