Bees welcome Esher

Posted on Oct 8, 2010 in Rugby News

The Bees face newly promoted Esher this weekend at Damson Park (Sunday 10th October, Kick Off 3pm).

Esher have surprised many with their strong start to the Championship season, winning three of their first six fixtures, but not Bees’ Assistant Coach, Eugene Martin. “They’re a good side”, he explained, “they did extremely well last year in their promotion season and have just carried that forward into the new Championship campaign”.

Martin also maintains that the Bees have been playing well without getting the results they need. “Building on the passion and commitment shown by the squad last week, Sunday’s game against Esher will be another challenging and gruelling match. With Esher coming off the back of a good win against London Welsh last week and sitting in a top eight position, we will have to be at our very best to halt their current momentum”.

The Bees’ injury list has shortened somewhat, but are without, for the second week running, Simon Hunt and John Brake who, along with Bees’ Director of Rugby Russell Earnshaw, are all still in Delhi with the England Sevens Commonwealth Games Rugby Squad.

Rod Petty again captains the Bees in the absence of Matt Long, whilst Jack Preece comes in at Hooker for Greg Sammons who, on the conclusion of his short-term contract, has moved to Italy to pursue his playing career.

The Birmingham & Solihull team to face Esher on Sunday is as follows:- 1. Rob Dugard, 2. Jack Preece, 3. Leo Halavatau, 4. Semisi Taulava, 5. Adrian Griffiths, 6. Mike Denbee, 7. Jack Bentall, 8. Adam Clayton, 9. Jimmy Williams, 10. Rod Petty (c), 11. Ant Elliott, 12. Will Lawson, 13. Ben Barkley, 14. Tomasi Tanumi and 15. Tom Foden. On the bench:- 16. Nglau Tau, 17. Joe Reid, 18. Mauro Sperandio, 19. Dan Sanderson, 20. Sam Robinson, 21. Ed Binham and 22. Ollie Grove.

Kyle to lead the Pirates against the Bees

Posted on Sep 17, 2010 in Rugby News

In the absence of rested captain Gavin Cattle, the Cornish Pirates, who have a few players injured, have named Kyle Marriott to lead them in Sunday’s RFU Championship Round 4 match against Birmingham & Solihull. Kick-off at the Mennaye Field, Penzance, is at 3pm.

No. 8 Kyle is part of a new look back-row, which provides a first Championship appearance of the season for open-side flanker Tyrone Holmes.

In the front-row, Rudi Brits returns at tight-head prop, with Carl Rimmer moving across to loose-head, and Rob Elloway is named to start at hooker, having been used as a replacement for Dave Ward in the opening three games.

James Doherty will look to comfortably slot into the scrum-half berth in place of Gavin Cattle, and with Jonny Bentley returning from injury as his half-back partner, Rob Cook moves back to full-back.

Other changes in the backs sees Nick Jackson move to outside centre, with Rhodri McAtee selected on the wing.

The named teams for Sunday are as follows:-

Cornish Pirates: R. Cook, R. McAtee, N. Jackson, T. Luke, W. Davies, J. Bentley, J. Doherty, K. Marriott (capt), T. Holmes, S. Betty, M. Myerscough, I. Nimmo, R. Brits, R. Elloway, C. Rimmer.
Replacements: R. Storer, D. Ward, J. Currie, C. Morgan, B. Cowan, G. Pointer, S. Winn.

Birmingham & Solihull: O. Winter, A. Elliott, O. Grove, W. Lawson, M. Culpin, S. Robinson, R. Petty, M. Hopley, J. Preece, J. Bentall, A. Griffiths, S. Taulava, N. Tau, D. Oselton, M. Long.
Replacements: L. Halavatu, R. Dugard, A. Ball, M. Denbee, D. Sanderson, J. Brake, S. Hunt.

Referee: Michael Tutty (RFU) Assistants: Dale Newitt & Eric Woodmason

Assessor: Steve Leyshon

Bees look to iron out mistakes

Posted on Sep 17, 2010 in Championship, English Rugby

Birmingham & Solihull Rugby Club make the long trip into Cornwall to Mennaye Field this Sunday, looking for some good fortune as they face the in-form Cornish Pirates (KO 3pm).

Heading into round 4 of the RFU Championship the Bees find themselves searching for that elusive first win, which has not been helped by injuries to a number of players including Dan Oselton, Dan Sanderson, Alex Ball, Mike Denbee, Adam Clayton, Rob Connolly, Ross Noonan, Jimmy Williams, George Crook and John Holtby.

With some of the injured players returning to the squad this weekend to gain some much needed match fitness, a change of fortune should hopefully be just around the corner.

“Weekends can’t come quickly enough for me at the moment, explained Bees Director of Rugby Russell Earnshaw. “We need to show that we are learning from our mistakes and getting better”.

“This weekend, we are hoping to take build on the belief created from a very good second half against Nottingham and a good first half at London Welsh”, he continued. “I still feel we need to piece together the good bits from all of our games and come up with a more complete performance for the full 80 minutes”.

The Bees team to face the Cornish Pirates includes for the first time flanker Jack Bentall who is a new signing for the club. Formerly of Bath, Bentall was out on loan with National Division 1 side Newbury last season.

The full team to face Cornish Pirates at Mennaye Field on Sunday 19th September kick off 3pm is as follows:- 1. Matt Long, 2. Dan Oselton, 3. Ngalu Tau, 4. Semisi Taulava, 5. Adrian Griffiths, 6. Jack Bentall, 7. Jack Preece, 8. Mark Hopley, 9. Rod Petty, 10. Sam Robinson, 11. Mitch Culpin, 12. Will Lawson, 13. Ollie Grove, 14. Ant Elliott, 15. Ollie Winter.

On the Bench:- 16. Leo Halavatau, 17. Rob Dugard, 18. Alex Ball, 19. Mike Denbee, 20. Dan Sanderson, 21. John Brake, 22. Simon Hunt

Rob Andrew shows off England’s hi-tech support

Posted on Sep 16, 2010 in English Rugby

The high-tech support provided for England’s teams was on show when Rob Andrew opened the doors of the RFU Elite Rugby department this week.

England Team Manager Martin Johnson showed how GPS monitoring helps coaches and players, Commonwealth Super Middleweight champ George Groves helped demonstrate how boxing conditioning sessions help improve footwork and agility, while nutritionist Matt Lovell explained how he can aid players in reducing their body fat levels.

We also hear from Andrew, the RFU’s Elite Rugby Director, GPS analyst Jonny Bloomfield and from England Women’s assistant coach Graham Smith.

“Teams are trying to get an edge in the way they monitor players and with GPS you can get a really accurate idea of how hard people are working and the toll on their bodies,” Johnson told the RFU Podcast.

“It makes us able to train more effectively and supports the team playing well on a Saturday.”

Bees focus on defence at Welsh

Posted on Sep 10, 2010 in Championship, Welsh Rugby

Birmingham & Solihull travel to London Welsh on Saturday looking for an improvement in their defensive performance, as they search for a first win of their Championship campaign.

“London Welsh away will be a massive challenge for us as a team. They are a side intent on achieving Premiership rugby as soon as possible and have recruited accordingly. I also fully expect them to come out fighting after their result last week” said Bees Director of Rugby Russell Earnshaw. “Put simply, we must hold onto the ball like we did last week in scoring 28 points against Nottingham ,but also defend with the passion and clarity necessary at this level.”

Mike Denbee is set to make his Bees debut at blindside flanker, coming in for the injured Rob Connolly, with Greg Sammons starting at hooker. In the backs, Rod Petty and Sam Robinson who impressed in the second half of the Nottingham game are the starting half back pairing. Tom Foden returns at full back, with Ant Elliott switching to wing, whilst Will Lawson comes in at inside centre.

The full team to face London Welsh at The Old Deer Park on Saturday 11th September kick off 3pm is as follows:- 1.Matt Long, 2.Greg Sammons, 3.Leo Halavatau,4.Semisi Taulava, 5.Adrian Griffiths, 6.Mike Denbee, 7.Jack Preece, 8.Mark Hopley, 9.Rod Petty, 10.Sam Robinson, 11.Ant Elliott, 12.Will Lawson, 13.Ben Barkley, 14.Simon Hunt and 15.Tom Foden.

On the Bench:- 16.Ngalu Tau, 17.Mauro Sperandio, 18.Rob Dugard, 19.Ben Gerry, 20.John Brake, 21.George Crook and 22.Ollie Winter.