Pertemps Bees -v- Nottingham

13/11/2004 2PM 

Sharmans Cross Road, Solihull

 Bees will take on Nottingham at Sharmans Cross Road at 2pm. Bees will be without Matt Long who is still recovering from his head wound, Number 8 Jim Jenner and back row Nathan Carter who both have disc problems in their neck. Nick Baxter will be out for three weeks following a torn thigh muscle whilst playing (and scoring) for the Barbars.  Rob Hurrell is absent due to teaching commitments and Ed Orgee will probably have to join the backrow leaving a substitutes space open for young second row Ben Hughes. Hughes impressed last week in his debut against Orrell in the Powergen Cup scoring a try at the death, and deserves another chance to show off. Martin O’Keefe will start at prop, with Welshman Emyr Lewis making the bench. Mark Foster who is on loan from the Gloucester Academy is also on the bench.

Bees had a fairly comfortable win last week against an Orrell side who are yet to record a victory, but this match against Nottingham is likely to be different. National One new boys Nottingham have only won once this year against lowly Henley, but they have pushed big teams all the way and probably should have won against Rotherham. They have no trouble scoring tries racking up just 7 less than Bees, and “out tried” Rotherham.

Steve McCormacks Preview

Back to league rugby for these two sides who both played in the Powergen Cup last weekend with different fortunes.

Pertemps Bees had a predictable win against Orrell and have yet to be beaten at Sharmans Cross Road this season. They sit third in the league and have only lost twice, away at first and second in the league Bristol and Rotherham.

Nottingham were well beaten at Bristol in the cup on Sunday but they have shown improvements recently and opened their National One account with a home win against Henley in their last league match. They continue to score points, they have actually ran in more than fourth placed Plymouth, but their defence is the worst in the league and they have conceded 45 tries in eight matches. They have yet to win away from home in the league.

These teams have not met for four seasons when Bees completed a league double. They will be strong favourites to win on Saturday.

Steve's Prediction: Pertemps Bees to win by 14 points

My prediction: 34-12 to Bees 

League Form Guide:

Pertemps Bees: w w l w l

Nottingham: l l l l w

Comparisons:

Other Matches:

Orrell v Henley Hawks

London Welsh v Penzance & Newlyn

Plymouth Albion v Bedford

Sedgley Park v Exeter

Rotherham v Bristol Shoguns

Coventry v Otley 

REMEMBER. THIS GAME IS A 2PM KO!

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