Coventry -v- Pertemps Bees

11/02/2006 2PM

The Butts Arena, Coventry

Midlands rugby bragging rights are up for grabs at Butts Park Arena tomorrow when Pertemps Bees travel to Coventry for their National One derby.

Bees won the reverse fixture at Sharmans Cross Road last November 29-7 which has added a touch of revenge to Coventry's preparation.

Underlying the match, though, is Bees' battle for survival and the need to grab a few more points to ease away from the relegation zone just in case the plan to expand the leagues involves downs as well as ups.

Bees are two places and two points clear of the bottom two, while Coventry are top half but only 10 points clear of Bees.

Phil Maynard, Bees director of rugby, said: "We have always been working on the basis there could be relegation.

"I have said from the start that you cannot make that be part of your planning, you have to just play what is in front of you and the game of the day is Coventry Birmingham."

Bees had a long injury list with centre Adam Billig, who had a chipped shin bone, and lock Alex Davidson, a dislocated shoulder, the most serious but both are expected to be fit.

Also fit again is winger Nick Baxter who is suffering from a chronic knee condition which will force his retirement at the end of the season.

But Baxter, the first player to score 100 tries in the national leagues is just one off scoring 150, a record which will probably never be broken, and is determined to achieve that milestone before he hangs up his boots.

Maynard said: "There is every possibility of him playing a part this weekend."

Bees come into the match off the back of a 12-6 win over bottom club Sedgley Park which was a battling war of attrition between two clubs determined not to lose and Bees are unlikely to change their attitude for a local derby.

Maynard said: "It has been a case of blood, sweat and cheers for the last few weeks down at Bees and we are getting our heads around what is going to be a very combative game.

"We have to remind ourselves how we won these games sometimes. When we beat Coventry early on we were losing for 60 minutes of the game so we know these games are not won and lost in the first 50-60 minutes or so.

"If we can bring them into a closequarter battle which is what we want to do then hopefully it will be who makes fewer mistakes.

"You have to get the percentage right in a local derby. It often hinges on one piece of brilliance or one mistake. I love these local derbies, it is what makes the league exciting."

Steve McCormack’s Preview:

Eighth placed Coventry entertain 11^th placed Pertemps Bees at the Butts Arena with both sides looking to make it three wins in a row.  

 

After a bad run of defeats Coventry have won their last two and would hope with home advantage to make it three in a row. In nine matches at the Butts Arena this season they have a poor record with just three wins.

 

The Bees are also going for a hat trick of wins after a poor losing run and will see this as a good opportunity with Coventry having a poor home record this season.

On the road though the Bees have played nine times this season winning just once, at Otley, and getting a draw against bottom side Sedgley Park, they have lost the other seven.

 

When the sides met at Sharmans Cross Road earlier in the season the Bees came out on top with a 29-7 victory.

Steve’s Prediction: Coventry by 8

My prediction: 28-26 Bees

Form Guide:

Pertemps Bees: LLLWW

Coventry: LLLWW

Other Matches:

 

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