NATIONAL TWO
ROB TANNER
Bees head coach Russell Earnshaw has urged his side to treat every game as a cup final.
The Bees go into tomorrow’s home clash with big spenders Cambridge second in National Two and on a run of eight victories from nine games.
However, former Bath forward Earnshaw is still not satisfied.
“It isn’t a case of so far, so good because I didn’t want us to lose any games before Christmas and we have,” he said. “We now have 13 cup finals and we have to take each game as they come and see where that takes us.”
While Earnshaw may have hoped for more from his emerging side, he has been pleased with what he has seen.
“We are quite positive with how things have been going,” he said. “We are playing some good rugby and we try and play an exciting, expansive game, which makes us a threat on the pitch.
“We are strong defensively and although we conceded a few points last week against Stourbridge, we have been quite miserly and need to continue that in the new year.”
Cambridge are one place and seven points behind the Bees and Earnshaw is in no doubt they will present a physical challenge at Sharmans Cross Road.
“Everyone keeps talking about this monster pack they have and it is their main strength so we have to front up to that,” he said. “The game starts and ends in the forwards so it is a key area for us. We have to get some momentum, move their big pack around and stretch the game. We are probably in a similar position to them as both clubs made a lot of changes during the summer and it is a case of learning as we go along.
“We both want to push for promotion and that is our ultimate aim. Both sides are building a squad to achieve that.
“They have some strong backing and have recruited some big names, like Darren Fox, who was at Northampton Saints.
“When you are building a new side you have to try and get the blend right but this is an uncompromising league to be in when you are building a new side.”
