Bees face unknown test
By Paul Berry - IC Birmingham
December 5 2005
PHIL Maynard today warned Pertemps Bees they face a journey into the unknown as they prepare to welcome free-flowing Newbury to Sharmans Cross Road.
By Paul Berry - IC Birmingham
December 5 2005
PHIL Maynard today warned Pertemps Bees they face a journey into the unknown as they prepare to welcome free-flowing Newbury to Sharmans Cross Road.
Although like Bees not a fulltime professional outfit, Newbury have made a decent early impression in National One following promotion last season with five wins and five defeats putting them sixth in the table.
In doing so they have also adopted an expansive style of rugby not pursued by many teams in the division which is why director of rugby Maynard has warned his troops to be on their guard when they cross horns tomorrow (2pm).
"Newbury are a good strong side who have stated their intentions in the league this season," he said.
"They offer us a major challenge in the way they play which is a running game using the entire width of the pitch.
Story continues Continue story
ADVERTISEMENT
"I have told the players that we probably haven't faced a team which plays like that at all yet this season.
"Their style causes different problems, but it should make for an exciting game and we have to remember that we are at home.
"Newbury will admit themselves they are not title contenders and are a team who are perhaps within our remit in terms of trying to get a result."
Getting that result would provide Bees with back-to-back league wins for the first time this season although it will have to be achieved with an ever-growing casualty list.
Utility back Ben Harvey joined those sidelined this week thanks to a broken thumb, but on the bright side former England winger Tom Beim has passed a fitness test on a groin injury and returns to the starting line-up.
Beim's fellow winger Nick Baxter also returns having been rested and the half-backs have been reshuffled thanks to Harvey's absence with Tim Walsh moving from full back to fly half in place of Ryan Lamb and Paul Knight coming in at scrum-half.
There is one change in the pack with Emyr Lewis making only his second league start at tighthead prop after Adrian Olver (shoulder) joined Matt Long and Reuben Leilau on the injury list.
Leilau has, however, recovered sufficiently from his neck injury to be named as a replacement.
Elsewhere, back-row forward Guillaume Schueller has been released by Bees midway through his contract after failing to establish himself.
And Maynard has drawn a line under the controversial incident in last week's Powergen Trophy defeat at Otley that denied the Bees a possible match-saving try.
Video evidence has suggested that the touch judge was correct to flag for a Dave Knightindiscretion prior to Cae Trayhern touching down and Maynard confirmed the full back had been severely reprimanded.
In doing so they have also adopted an expansive style of rugby not pursued by many teams in the division which is why director of rugby Maynard has warned his troops to be on their guard when they cross horns tomorrow (2pm).
"Newbury are a good strong side who have stated their intentions in the league this season," he said.
"They offer us a major challenge in the way they play which is a running game using the entire width of the pitch.
Story continues Continue story
ADVERTISEMENT
"I have told the players that we probably haven't faced a team which plays like that at all yet this season.
"Their style causes different problems, but it should make for an exciting game and we have to remember that we are at home.
"Newbury will admit themselves they are not title contenders and are a team who are perhaps within our remit in terms of trying to get a result."
Getting that result would provide Bees with back-to-back league wins for the first time this season although it will have to be achieved with an ever-growing casualty list.
Utility back Ben Harvey joined those sidelined this week thanks to a broken thumb, but on the bright side former England winger Tom Beim has passed a fitness test on a groin injury and returns to the starting line-up.
Beim's fellow winger Nick Baxter also returns having been rested and the half-backs have been reshuffled thanks to Harvey's absence with Tim Walsh moving from full back to fly half in place of Ryan Lamb and Paul Knight coming in at scrum-half.
There is one change in the pack with Emyr Lewis making only his second league start at tighthead prop after Adrian Olver (shoulder) joined Matt Long and Reuben Leilau on the injury list.
Leilau has, however, recovered sufficiently from his neck injury to be named as a replacement.
Elsewhere, back-row forward Guillaume Schueller has been released by Bees midway through his contract after failing to establish himself.
And Maynard has drawn a line under the controversial incident in last week's Powergen Trophy defeat at Otley that denied the Bees a possible match-saving try.
Video evidence has suggested that the touch judge was correct to flag for a Dave Knightindiscretion prior to Cae Trayhern touching down and Maynard confirmed the full back had been severely reprimanded.
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon