New season, New team, New style of play. after the success from last season has seen the Bees 2nd team promoted up to the Merit Championship, giving them a new challenge.
With new coaching team brought into the club over the preseason comes a new style of play, with everything new it needs time to settle in . this was the Bees third game into the season going down in their last two games to last minute try's but you can see the way the new system is once the boys get it we are in for some exciting games over the season.
The Bees this week was away to Ripon 2nd team and talking to their coaches like us their last two game just losing by a couple of points, both team looking to break their duck to claim their first win in the league.
From the start the Bees laid down their intentions they was going to attack Ripon at speed. Pinning Ripon back in their own half for long periods of the first half, it we the Bees to strike first with Phil Greaves running a supporting line down the wing to collect the pass from Ryan Wilson, new boy Sven Guttenbeil adding the extras, as i have mention the Bees are playing with a new system, and still getting to grips with it, this found the Bees making some errors to allow Ripon to attack, but the one thing this side has proved is they have great defense spoiling a lot of Ripon's attacks.
The one thing that the Bees was giving in the first half was free ball to Ripon in way of penalty's, ten in all for the first half. the Bees was soon having to ring the changes with injuries, so swapping a few players moving Byron Finn from the back row to centre, bringing on both their replacements Alavro Casas and Dominic Liversidge.
From the side it was clear to see the Bees was starting to move up the gears with some strong running from Ricky Thomas, with Ricky giving a lot in attack and defense with some big tackles, also advice to the younger lads in the pack, with Pete Booth leading by example as Captain with his defense, the next points went to Alex Leadbetter who was having a brilliant game, breaking Ripons lines and storming down the pitch for a great solo try.
The Bees had given one to many penalty's which gifted Ripon their first points of the game, but the boys didn't fluster and got back on with asking questions of Ripon's defense, camping themselves deep in Ripon's half. Out of nowhere Dominic Liversidge came at the line like a steam train hitting the perfect line back from the ruck to crash over for the first of two try's, at that range their was no stopping him. what make's it all the better Dominic was returning from a long stay from injury a couple of seasons ago, it was side he may not have played again. but it was great to welcome him back and boy with a bang.
At half time and another returning player but this time as the second team coach this season Mark Smith spoke about the errors and penalty's and asked the team not to give him any more in the second half, it was a much improved performance in the second half with only two penalty's given, but the error still played their part in allowing Ripon back into the game just like the first half Dominic popped up with another break and running through Ripon's defense to give the Bees the bonus point to round of a great performance.
another Dominic, playing full back Dominic Walker dug the Bees out with some pin point pressure kicks and marshaling from the back, kick the Bees further with two conversions and two penalty's to add to his name. but fitness started to play its part or should l say lack of, in the last twenty minutes allowing Ripon to claw their way back and at one point looked like they could of taken the win from the Bees, but the boys held out, over the cause of the game think it could be said the Bees deserved the win.
I spouse i could name the whole team for their efforts today as it was a team performance with a lot of individuals giving their all with David Exley once again with his attacking runs to Byron Finn in defense keeping Ripon's full back at bay who was causing the Bees a lot of problems all game. But the boys should be proud and kick on from this game with confidence.
As was said after the game fitness and training is a must as they meeting up with some quality side in this league.
Big derby game next week against Keighley 2nd team down at Wagon lane.