Bees bested by Sandbach once again

Midlands Premier

SANDBACH secured the double over champions Birmingham & Solihull following a party-spoiling 33-26 victory at Portway.

The Cheshire outfit were the only side to have beaten the Bees this season and they came out on top once again courtesy of a 23point haul from Ben Elliot.

Buoyed by their titleclinching win last weekend, the hosts opened the scoring with a try from Matt Dight.

But Sandbach responded with 20 unanswered points, as Elliot converted Jack Seddon’s try before crossing the whitewash himself and adding three penalties.

Trailing 20-7 at half-time, Bees came storming back as Marcus Brown struck twice either side of Steve Johns’ touchdown to lead 26-20. But Elliot guided Sandbach to victory as he landed two more penalties and converted Cameron Crampton’s try.

There was also drama at the other end of the table as a last-gasp try condemned

Newbold-on-Avon to relegation in a gut-wrenching 27-21 defeat at fellow strugglers Lichfield.

Tries from KJ Henry and Stuart Houghton saw Newbold come from 17-3 down at half-time to take a 21-20 lead going into the final three minutes. But in the dying seconds, Paul Maxwell-Keys touched down for his second try to clinch the win and secure survival for Lichfield. In total, 483 points were scored in a barmy penultimate weekend of the season as Derby saw off Nuneaton 44-31 and Newport (Salop) defeated Doncaster Phoenix 54-21. The highest-scoring game took place at Bournville where Peterborough Lions claimed a 55-36 triumph.

There was little between the two sides in the first half an hour as Bournville led 12-10 before Lions put together a stunning 15minute spell.

The visitors registered 35 points without reply in that period as Semisi Tei completed his hat-trick and Ben Young, Tom Lewis and Kaz Henderson struck.

After Bournville got one back, scores from Niko Moa and Nico Defeo increased Lions’ lead before the hosts bagged three late tries.

Elsewhere, Bridgnorth thumped bottom club Old Halesonians 57-14 and

Scunthorpe thrashed already-relegated Longton 47-17.