Pertemps Bees -v- Orrell

6/11/2004 2.15 PM 

Sharmans Cross Road, Solihull

Bees will be grateful for a week off from the league schedule, to focus on another long cup campaign. Bees face Orrell to decide who is sent to Coventry or Penzance.

Bees have struggled over recent weeks in the league having lost to challengers at the top Bristol and Plymouth, but Bees are still amongst the top few in the league. The same cannot be said for Orrell.

Orrell had serious financial difficulties over the summer which resulted in many players and coaches migrating on mass firstly to Rotherham, and then to Penzance. Orrell were second in last seasons National League One, but so far this season are the only side not to have beaten anybody. They are languishing in bottom place as I speak.

Bees are slightly weakened from their first choice and are facing their first game without cornerstone Matt Long. Matt has been ever present this season but in last weeks top of the table clash with Rotherham, faced a horrific stamp onto his face leaving a tramline going from his nose up to his hairline. They will also miss Jim Jenner having not recovered from a neck injury, and Simon Martin who will be a long term absentee. Team lists not yet confirmed.

Steve McCormacks Preview

A top versus bottom clash sees unbeaten at home Bees entertain an Orrell side still looking for their first league win of the season.

Pertemps Bees dropped to third in the table as they were well beaten by Rotherham at Clifton Lane on Saturday. They are proving very difficult to beat at Sharmans Cross Road though and have victories over Otley, Penzance and Plymouth under their belt to date. In the last round of this competition they won at top National Two side Doncaster, They have reached the fifth round of the Powergen Cup for the last three seasons and are likely to make it six on the trot this season.

Orrell were relegated to bottom position in the league following last weekend’s games. They went down at Plymouth by a respectable 15 point margin but have still not won in eight league starts this season. They comfortably disposed of National Three North side Blaydon in the last round. They have a great tradition in the Powergen Cup and have been beaten semi finalists on four occasions and quarter finalists twice. They have the best record of any club side who have not reached the Twickenham final. They have reached at least the fifth round for the last three seasons, going down by two points at Bristol last year.

Despite their history, Orrell are now struggling to find any consistent form and Pertemps Bees should progress to the fifth round to play Coventry or Penzance and Newlyn away from home.

Steve's Prediction: Bees to win by 12 points

My prediction: 32-8 to Bees 

League Form Guide:

Pertemps Bees: w w l w l

Albion: l l l l l

Comparisons:

Other Matches:

Saturday:

Pertemps Bees v Orrell        

Kendal v Waterloo

Plymouth Albion v Moseley  

Bedford v Halifax

Coventry v Penzance/ Newlyn       

Exeter v Manchester                                                

Sunday:

Bristol  v Nottingham

REMEMBER. THE PREDICTIONS LEAGUE IS NOW OPEN

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