CRUFC 15 - 30 Birmingham and Solihull

A brave, battling performance from the Blood & Sand saw them beaten by a powerful and streetwise Birmingham pack.

Bees earned the bonus point win with penalty tries and pushovers from Jack Preece in each half, but Cambridge played most of the rugby in a cagey contest and looked decent with ball in hand despite their disadvantage up front.

Having lost lock Bryn Jenkins overnight to a knee problem and young prop Ben Cooper 24 minutes in, the hosts’ forwards had a torrid afternoon and finished the match with three hookers in the front row.

Tries from Sam Dimmick after nine minutes and Delarey Veenendaal near the hour mark kept them in contention, along with a penalty and conversion from Elliot Bale.

Dimmick started and finished his own score, hacking on a loose ball in defence - Mike Ayrton and Albert Portsmouth kept it alive and the centre went over on the outside in the corner.

The Welshman also provided the miss-pass for Veenendaal’s touch-down, linking with Steve Hipwell after a rampaging run from the giant number eight.

Though Bale’s conversion tied the game, Woodrow’s second penalty gave the lead back to Bees, who denied Cambridge possession and steam-rollered their way to victory.

Another penalty try, and Preece’s second in the dying moments, sealed the points but somehwhat flattered the victors.

CARTER JONAS MAN OF THE MATCH - ELLIOT BALE

Referee - Michael Tutty

Attendance - 435

Full Time 15-30 Half time 8-12

Scorers

Cambridge -

Tries: Dimmick 9, Veenendaal 57

Conversions - Bale 58

Penalties - Bale 4

Birmingham -

Tries: Penalty 15, 73, Preece 25, 82