Date: Sunday February 28 2010
Venue: Aston Old Edwardians RUFC, Perry Common, Birmingham
Competition: N.A. (Pre-season friendly)
Bulldogs Limber Up
Birmingham Bulldogs 34 Pts, University of Birmingham 16
Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC started their preparation for the 2010 summer season with a run-out against a relatively small – but mobile – University of Birmingham XIII. In the end, experience and size carried the day, but Bulldogs didn’t have it all their own way.
In fact, it was the students who posted the first points as they took advantage of a Bulldogs knock-on, the break being rounded off by scrum half Scott Bennet.
Good right-to-left handling brought a try for Fabian Edwards – making his senior debut – with the conversion from right winger Danny Bancroft edging Bulldogs ahead.
Two more home scores followed quickly: left centre Drew Harper ran strongly through the visiting defence to touch down, then Abel’s downfield kick after just two tackles was gathered by scrum half Rich Rainger who ran to the posts for a try which Bancroft goaled.
Back came University, an alert interception by second row Tom Goodrich taking him over the line; Bennet converted. A second try for Harper, from a cross kick by Bancroft who also added the conversion gave the hosts a 12-point lead at the half way mark.
The second half of the match went generally Bulldogs’ way: tries from second row Mike Loughrey, following a tap penalty move, and centre Chris McGregor, making a sound impression on his debut, were both improved by Bancroft to put the result beyond any doubt.
Last word, though went deservedly enough to University as right centre Rhys Llewellyn side-stepped adroitly through the Bulldogs defence to touch down, Bennet converting.
It was a useful first get-together for the Bulldogs, but they know there is plenty of work to be done over the next two months to prepare for the season proper which starts in May.
