Cov Bears win Midlands 9's

Bulldogs’ Great Show in “Nines”

Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC put up a highly commendable performance to finish in the runners up spot at the 2013 Midlands Nines competition held on ‘Dogs’ own turf at Aston Old Eds. Dogs won three of their four matches, losing by only two points to eventual winners Coventry Bears.

In the first of two preliminary pool matches, Brum faced the “Aussie Exiles” [actually, a team from Loughborough University]
Two early tries, from skipper Matt Dudley and Nic Evans, were countered by a converted try to make it 8-6 to Bulldogs. A second try for Evans, goaled by Sam Edgar, made it 14-6, but Aussies scored a late converted try to make it 14-12; Brum held on to win.

Next up, Coventry Dragons, who took an early six-point lead. A try from Curtis Wellington goaled by Edgar leveled it at 6-6. Dragons went ahead 10-6, but tries from Adam Bromley and James Johnson saw Brum home 14-10 to top their pool.

Now in the top merit pool, Bulldogs faced favourites Coventry Bears from the National Conference League. Undaunted, Brum went ahead with a try from Edgar. Bears responded with a converted try to edge ahead 6-4
A try and a conversion from Johnson put Dogs ahead 10-6, but a second converted try saw Bears home 10-12

Finally Brum faced Charnwood [actually another Loughborough Uni side] in a match for the runners-up spot.
Despite their earlier exertions, Bulldogs racked up an early 14-0 lead with a try and a goal for Wellington and a brace of tries from Dudley. A try from Charnwood was countered by a second from Wellington plus a long-range interception score from Burton. Charnwood posted a second try, but last word went to Brum with a deserved try for Evans to end matters at 26-8

It was a good show from Birmingham whose attentions now turn to full, 13-a-side rugby in the Midlands Merit League, starting next Saturday [May 11] with a home fixture versus Telford Raiders at Aston Old Edwardians,
Kick off 2:30 pm