By Roger Clarke
April 13 2005

Pertemps Bees skipper Ed Orgee was looking at the performance rather than the result after their 29-18 defeat by Bedford. He said: "It was a little unfortunate. The lads were a lot more up for it. The defence was a lot better. We had the majority of possession and we got through a few more more phases than we normally did and put some pattern together. It was quite pleasing.

"Obviously it has come to the stage where we are pleased about the performance rather than the result given the performances over recent weeks."

Bees' last nine matches have slipped by in an avalanche of defeats.

Not since Orrell in mid-January have Bees, or the Sharmans Cross Road faithful, tasted victory.

With two games left, Orgee said: "We are desperate for a win."

First up is a trip to Exeter, who had the wind taken out of their sails in a 2-22 defeat at Coventry which all but ended their hopes of catching Bristol, who are now 10 points clear with two to play, in the race for promotion.

That is followed a week later by Sedgley Park at home, a team a place and four points below Bees, safely in the bottom third of the table.

Director of rugby Phil Maynard had wanted 15 points from the last five games.

With just one point in the bag, 11 is now the best that can be achieved but Orgee wants a win from somewhere to break the sequence.

He said: "It has been a meteoric fall from grace. Losing becomes a little bit of a habit and suddenly things don't go your way and it becomes difficult to break it. We just need to break the habit of losing."

Maynard feels the team are about four players short of being competitive again and Orgee does not disagree.

He said: "What has been our strength is that a lot of the lads have been together for a while. Some have been in the same team for three years.

"On the flip side of that people get into the comfort zone and the introduction of three or four good players would make a big difference, it sharpens everyone up.

"It has helped getting Simon Martin back as well for a bit of competition in the centres and to take some of the kicking pressure off fly-half Tim Walsh."

Roger Clarke