Barnes squander possession

The visitors' high kick-off resulted in a Barnes' scrum at which the home team's pack were penalised. The Bees chose another scrum from which they went wide, advanced before being forced back to an opposition scrum. Barnes attacked well from that to get a penalty 14 metres from Birmingham's line. They chose to kick for a line-out 5 metres out and had that stolen. The Bees' up-and-under towards touch bounced millimetres from touch and into the hands of Barnes' scrumhalf Franklin. The visitors thought it had touched the line and hesitated; the Ref.'s assistant was close by and Franklin beat one defender from 12 metres out to touch down at the corner at 6 1/2 minutes. The conversion missed.

The home team dealt with the restart and soon used an up-and-under. Birmingham got the ball and advanced to halfway where they got a penalty for a tackler not rolling away. They kicked for a line-out at the 22 that resulted in their scrum there. From it they attacked well with 3 mixed phases, starting blind then a high tackle by a Barnes' player earned a yellow card at 12 minutes.

They kicked for 5 metre line-out and threw to the front, but not 5 metres, giving the defence a free-kick which was cleared to touch to the their 10 metre line. The Bees went wide from their line-out then were almost immediately penalised. Barnes kicked for a line-out 26 metres from the visitors' line then threw that not-straight. From their scrum Birmingham advanced then used an up-and-under that resulted in an opposition scrum near halfway. From that an over-complicated Barnes' three-quarter attack resulted in a dropped pass 2 metres past halfway. From the resulting scrum the Bees went wide and after a couple of three-quarter passes wing Smith easily went to the corner at 17 minutes. The conversion missed.

The Bees soon cleared to touch after the restart; a touched ball in the air gave them the line-out at halfway; after a couple of phases from them Barnes were back to 15 players. Then the visitors had a scrum 2 metres into the opposition half; from that they had the ball for 4 phases before getting a penalty at halfway. They kicked for a line-out 20 metres ahead and from it kept the ball for 6 mixed phases to get a penalty 3 metres back and their scrumhalf Jolly kicked for the points but missed. They ran back the long 22 drop-out from their half and started a good attack then kicked to touch 15 metres from Barnes' line. They stole the line-out then recycled close twice to get a penalty 15 metres out and Jolly kicked the points at 27 minutes.

They didn't secure the restart; the ball was hacked on before being recovered at the 22. They used an up-and-under that resulted in a penalty for Barnes 12 metres into the visitors half. That was run and led to another 27 metres out; the kick took the home team to their line-out 14 metres out. The defence forced an error after 3 close phases and got the ball; they broke out and kicked for territory. Barnes ran back then an error gave the Bees a scrum 14 metres inside their half. From that they advanced breaking blind then recycled twice to get a penalty 9 metres past halfway. They kicked for points but were short and Barnes cleared to touch 14 metres from halfway. From their line-out Birmingham put together a good attack with 15 mixed phases before losing possession. Barnes got the ball and created a better attack with just 4 phases from their half to 8 metres from the visitors' line where the defence had a line-out. This was followed by a penalty for the Bees 5 metres from their line. They cleared to touch 17 metres from halfway; the line-out resulted in their scrum there. After it Barnes dealt with an up-and-under and had the ball for a couple of phases before the halftime whistle. The penalty count in the first half was 7 against Barnes, 4 against Birmingham; the points score 5 - 8.

Two kicks followed the second half restart before a Barnes' line-out just inside their 22. From it they first kept the ball close then after recycling 3 times the broke through sending wing Martey to the corner at 2 minutes. The conversion missed.

Barnes used an up-and-under after the restart and that resulted in their scrum 13 metres inside their half. From that they went wide but soon a difficult pass was dropped. From their scrum, 12 metres into the opposition half, Birmingham put together and excellent passing attack finished by no. 8 Jadwat, halfway between the posts and touch at 7 minutes. Jolly added.

The Bees used an up-and-under after the restart; Barnes dealt with this and after recycling once were awarded a scrum at halfway. That resulted in a free-kick to the opposition; another up-and-under was marked in the 22 by Barnes who cleared to touch 13 metres from halfway. After their line-out Birmingham were penalised at the opposition 10 metre line. The kick gained 22 metres for Barnes then from their line-out they put together 7 mostly close phases before chipping through to touch 17 metres out. The Bees used an up-and-under after the line-out and the opposition secured the ball then recycled twice to get a penalty at halfway. They kicked for a line-out to the 22 then from that put together 9, almost all close, phases before their error. The Ref. went back to previously signalled penalty 17 metres out that was kicked to touch 5 metres out. The pack kept the ball in to get another penalty before another line-out near the same place. This one was thrown too long and Birmingham got the ball and ran to halfway.

After recycling they used an up-and-under; Barnes got the ball and after recycling once were awarded another penalty 15 metres inside their half. Their kick gained 16 metres then from their line-out they advanced strongly having put together 7 mixed phases before dropping 14 metres out. The Bees kicked soon after their scrum; Barnes ran back with 6 phases to get another penalty 21 metres out and kicked for a line-out 8 metres out. Birmingham stole the line-out.

They recycled once then used an up-and-under; Barnes dropped the catch giving the visitors a scrum 10 metres inside their half. The scrum resulted in a penalty for the home team's pack and the kick took them to the 22. Each team threw a line-out not straight. Barnes recovered from an error after their scrum then got a penalty at the opposition 10 metre line and they ran the ball. After recycling once they were turned over; 4 kicks followed before another scrum for Barnes back 11 metres inside their half.

An accidental error by Barnes when the ball came out of the scrum sideways was judged to be a penalty against them and Jolly tried for the 3 points and missed a again. Barnes regained from their high 22 drop-out and recycled close twice to get another penalty at their 10 metre line. The kick gained 20 metres then they only just secured their line-out. The Bees soon forced an error to get the next scrum 15 metres inside their half. After it they soon kicked for territory and regained at the opposition 22. They advanced well from there with 5 close phases until penalised 10 metres out.

Barnes cleared to touch 16 metres from halfway; again 2 line-outs were thrown not straight. From their scrum Barnes advanced a bit with 3 mixed phases to get a penalty which they kicked for a line-out 17 metres past halfway. From that they advanced strongly with 15 phases before passing forward 9 metres out.

After their scrum Birmingham cleared to touch 15 metres from halfway. From the line-out Barnes advanced, not easily, with 10 phases to their penalty 25 metres out. They kicked for a line-out 5 metres out and threw that not straight before the final whistle.

In the second half Barnes were penalised once; the Bees 12 times.

Cool; overcast at the start, clearing later; some wind, some light rain; the pitch good.