BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL BEES 28  NOTTINGHAM 41

Nottingham got the disappointment of that narrow opening day defeat against big-spending London Welsh out of their system with a dominant performance at Birmingham and Solihull Bees to record their first win of the season.

Bees were very keen to make a big impression in their first game at their new home, Damson Park.

But although they showed bags of energy and enthusiasm, their defence was suspect and Nottingham took full advantage, wrapping up the bonus point by the half hour.

Centre Andy Forsyth ran in a first half hat trick, whilst last week’s Man-of-the-Match James Arlidge also ran in a try to add to his four conversions and single penalty.

It was a performance that gave their travelling support plenty of encouragement, not least of all in their dominance of the lineout, not one of their strengths in recent years.

Bees forced a penalty try in first half injury time, and then bagged another couple in the second half to remind everyone of their attacking capability, but it was Nottingham who had most of the possession and there were times during the first half it seemed they could score almost at will.

The home side looked lively from the start, working their way into the visitors 22 before knocking on.

Nottingham opened the scoring in the fourth minute, stealing a lineout against the throw. Fit again Ben Johnstone made the crucial break to send Forsyth in for the try, with Arlidge adding the conversion.

Bees hit straight back to win a penalty for George Crook to make it 3-7.

Sam Raven stretched well to take a high lineout throw and when the ball was moved out Arlidge put up a high crossfield kick which Andy Savage did well to gather and send in the supporting Cesar Sempere in for his first try for the club. Arlidge was again on target with the conversion.

But two penalties in quick succession from Crook brought the home side back to within three points, and Crook was then desperately close to levelling the scores with a huge kick from his own ten metre line.

Savage then got the third try following a drive from a close range lineout, and it was his break that set up a second try for Forsyth to clinch the bonus point.

And minutes later Forsyth completed his hat trick, Arlidge’s conversion giving Nottingham a 22 point lead.

But Bees finished the first half strongly, their pack forcing a series of scrums.

After one try had been disallowed, they were awarded a penalty try, which Crook converted, to make it 16-31 at the break.

They lost openside Jack Priest in the early minutes of the second half in an incident which gave Arlidge a penalty for 16-34, but within minutes numbers were evened up when Craig Hammond was also shown a yellow card.

A thrilling break, started by Sempere deep in his own half, almost saw David Jackson through as Nottingham continued to dominate.

Try number six came when Arlidge wrong-footed the defence to go clear under the posts, adding the conversion to make it 16-41.

A similar effort from replacement Sam Robinson kept Bees in it, while an injury time try from Simon Hunt completed the scoring.

Sempere; Savage, Forsyth, Johnstone (Cobden), Jackson; Arlidge (Marshall), Usasz (Barnham); Fowkes (Harris), Youngs (Farrell), French (Davies), Kench, Raven (Baird), Hammond (capt), Armes, Shaw.

Tries: Forsyth (3), Sempere, Arlidge, Savage. Convs: Arlidge (4). Pen: Arlidge