Birmingham Win Top of the Table Clash with Manchester

A powerful first half forward display from Birmingham University proved to be the difference yesterday, as the Midlands side topped the BUCS Northern Premier B league with a 35-8 victory away at Manchester University.

A pair of forward dominated early first half tries for Birmingham set a gap between the two sides that was never recovered.

On a bitterly cold, wet and windy BUCS afternoon, the league’s joint leaders, Manchester and Birmingham, clashed for the first time this season.

Manchester had recorded victories over Sheffield Hallam and York; whereas Birmingham had beaten Loughborough second team and Durham seconds.

From the kick off, the visiting side – who were visibly bigger upfront – began to stamp their authority on the game, slowly forcing Manchester back inside their own half.

Although the Manchester backline, with ball in hand looked threatening, they could not relive the early pressure from Birmingham, who dominated the opening exchanges.

With less than ten minutes gone on the clock, Birmingham managed to break through the middle of the defence from the base of a ruck, and firmly ground themselves in the home side’s 22.

The visitors had great continuity upfront, constantly keeping the ball alive with short, powerful pick and goes from their pack. Manchester could not hold onto the Midlands side for long, as the breakthrough eventually game, with flanker Dan Wood burrowing his way over the line.

In unusual fashion, Wood, the flanker, also took the conversion and sent his side to an early 7-0 lead.
Despite the clear size disadvantage in the pack, Manchester fought back hard and had their own period of dominant play.

However, the home side could not capitalise on their good field position due to some poor handling and a number of dubious calls.

Eventually a decision did go their way, with a penalty awarded near the 10 metre line in front of the posts. Captain Paddy Shaw stepped up to the tee and kicked his side back into the fight, to make the score 7-3.
Like the rest of the half, the side in the ascendency swapped around again, with Birmingham making their way back in to the Manchester half.

The home side were struggling at the set piece, with their lineout not functioning properly and the larger Birmingham pack driving them backwards at the scrum.

It was only a matter of time before struggling in such a key area of the game would prove costly, and it did, just minutes later. A home lineout throw missed the mark and handed Birmingham the ball in an attacking position.

Again the visitors highlighted their offloading game, as the pack rumbled deeper into the 22, before flanker, Dan Wood, put the ball down again over the line. Once more, Wood added the extras and made the lead 14-3.

True to fashion, it was now Manchester’s turn to fight back and enjoy a spell of rugby. The fight-back was lead from the back row and captain Paddy Shaw, as Manchester began to run the ball through their back’s hands.

The home side looked to be improving all areas with a convincing scrum win against the head. Number 8 Danny Kennedy then made an impressive break but did not manage to convert the opportunity.

However, disaster struck as the ball was turned over and Birmingham launched a counter attack of their own. The ball spread from one wing to the other with impressive speed, as the visitors exploited the space on the left wing.

After a small number of all too easy two-on-ones and some poor tackling, winger James Wiltshire ran in seemingly unopposed to make the score 21-3, with Wood again adding the extras.

In all credit to Manchester, they did not let their heads drop and hit back hard. An impressive kick brought them deep into the visitors half, providing the pack with their own chance to power their way over the line.

The Manchester pack edged closer until they were less than a metre from the line, but the pack could not cross the whitewash. Eventually, it was mistakes that cost the home side, as they were penalised for holding on; handing Birmingham the chance to clear their lines and bring the half time whistle.

After a very brief and cold turnaround, Birmingham started the second half as they did the first, and powered the ball up the field through their forwards and some good offloading.

After only a few minutes second row Jamie Rose managed to take the ball at pace and touch down in the corner. Wood again added the extras from a difficult kick in the corner making the score 28-3.

Again, the Manchester side showed that they had plenty of heart, as they immediately clawed their way back up field and were rewarded with a penalty.

Fly half Shaw kicked the ball to the 5 metre line for a lineout that was excellently caught and driven by the Manchester pack over the line for their first try. Shaw could not add the difficult conversion, so the scores remained at 28-8.

The remainder of the half was dominated by the Manchester backline, who fought their way into Birmingham territory time and again, through the help of some great running by Captain Shaw and centre James Williams.

The forwards were providing much cleaner ball for their backs, but the home side could not convert.
The undeniable passion and heart of the Manchester side was undone by a late turnover, as Birmingham recovered the ball, broke through the defence, with second row Rose touching the ball down for his second score.

Flanker, Wood, who was perfect from the tee on the day, again added the extras to bring the final score of 35-8 to Birmingham.

A disappointed Manchester Head Coach, Thiu Barnard, spoke to Talking Rugby Union, and said that his side “just didn’t turn up in the first half.

“We just weren’t in the game at all in the first half and they got away from us. We played well and began to show what we could do in the second half, so I think the score line flatters them a bit; but, essentially it was the set piece and especially tackling that cost us the game.

“We’re away to Nottingham Trent next week and we’ll really need to improve in both of those areas if we are to get a win there and keep our league hopes alive.”

Coach Barnard added that “after all I think this is the most difficult league in BUCS rugby. In Premiership A there are a few teams that are leagues ahead of the others, but in this league, anyone can beat anyone on the day.”

Birmingham now sit top of the BUCS North B League with three wins from as many games; they welcome Edinburgh to the midlands next week.

Manchester are joint second on two wins, with Durham 2nds and Nottingham Trent who they travel to on Wednesday.