Bulldogs in Command

Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC bounced back after two narrow defeats to register an emphatic victory over their local, Hopwood-based rivals. Bulldogs hit their straps from the off and finished with a total of 15 tries.

The opening quarter saw tries from Toby Davies, Danny Bancroft, speedy debutant winger Nathan Burchell, a brace from Matt Dudley and one from Justin Kearns; Bancroft added the goal points to four of these scores.
Good work from Kearns ended with Dean Morris going down the elft touch line to score in the corner and make it 38-0 to the home side.
Ravens struck back: powerful loose forward Hallam Blake found space to cross wide out, the try being well goaled by Dave Wimbury.
But the remainder of the half was Bulldogs’ score-wise: prop Mark Smith showed a good turn of pace to make it over the line for a try that Bancroft goaled, and scoring for the half was completed with a try for industrious second rower Matt “Egg” Beattie.

HT: Birmingham Bulldogs 48 Pts, North East Worcestershire Ravens 6

Ravens lost the ball following the restart and Brum skipper Nic Evans was on hand to scoot over for a try that Bancroft improved.
Ravens, though, were still battling away and in a ten minute spell, posted two more tries: Blake, always a threat with ball in hand, went over for a second touchdown that Wimbury goaled. A few minutes later, Darrell Aldridge posted his side’s third try.

Back came Brum: Davies took an assist from Adam Walker and raced some 50 metres to the posts for his second try, Bancroft goaling. Ravens replied with a try from centre Ryan Wilson to make the score 60-20.
The remaining minutes were conclusively Brum’s: Dudley finished off some good handling for his hat-trick try, Bancroft adding a good goal from wide out. Not to be outdone, Davies then broke clear for his third touchdown, converted by James Kenny, and then added a fourth. Finally, Burchell picked up a loose ball some 20 metres from his own line and raced to the other end off the field fro his second try, goaled by Kenny.

Full credit to Ravens for battling to the end, but on the day Bulldogs’ pace was the decisive factor.

Danny Bancroft took the man-of-the-match award, but Dudley, Davies, Florey and Burchell were all strong contenders.

Bulldogs next match is a away to Leicester Storm “A” next Saturday [August 3]

Summary: Birmingham Bulldogs 82, NEW Ravens 20

Birmingham T: T.Davies 4, D.Bancroft, N.Burchell 2, M.Dudley 3, J.Kearns, D.Morris, M.Smith, M.Beattie, N.Evans
G: D.Bancroft 9, J.Kenny 2

NEW Ravens T: H.Blake 2,D.Aldridge, R.Wilson
G:D.Wimbury 2