By Roger Clarke - IC Birmingham
October 31 2005

Pertemps Bees enter the Powergen National Trophy next month with a trip to Yorkshire outfit Cleckheaton. The town, near Dewsbury, has been the butt of many a music hall joke but Division Two Harrogate were not laughing when they were unceremoniously dumped out of the trophy by the Division Three North outfit 33-15 on Saturday.

Cleckheaton have a powerful squad, which includes two former England internationals in John Bentley and Scott Benton.

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Bentley, the former British Lions winger, is also Cleckheaton's director of rugby and Benton, an international scrum-half, joined the West Yorkshire club midway through last season after he was released by Sale Sharks.

That being said, the draw should pose few problems for Bees, although director of rugby Phil Maynard said: "We will expect another northern welcome. Having battled away in the north for many years, I know it will not be an easy trip.

"It is not the draw we wanted, we would have preferred a home draw, preferably against Harlequins which would have been a real money-spinner, or a local derby."

Maynard is currently looking at Argentinian international Fernando Higgs, who delayed his departure to South America to take part in last night's Wannabee's game against Oxford University at Iffley Road along with another couple of trialists.

Bees used the match, which they lost 33-21, to provide much-needed game time for their large squad with a powerful pack, which included Reuben Leilau, Liam Wordsley, Adrian Olver, Alex Davidson, Rob Hurrell, Hese Fakatou, Cae Trayhern and Jim Jenner.

The combined midweek side trailed by 25 points at the break but tries from Stourbridge winger Ryan Lux, Fakatou and Jenner led a fightback with fly-half Joe Wearne converting all three.

Higgs has five caps and Maynard said: "We have room to take him as we only have one out-and-out 13, Adam Billig, and if he is injured that could be a problem."