As a former Pertemps Bees player, Tim Walsh enjoyed leading Moseley a less than merry dance on Saturday. He'll be even happier if he produces an encore this weekend.

The Australian is due to return to Sharmans Cross Road in five days' time for the first time since leaving in the summer and if his 17-point display at Billesley Common is anything to go by, he's a different player to the one that departed at the end of last season.

Somehow, the diminutive fly half seemed to embody the disillusionment that clouded the Bees 2005-6 vintage, battered silly - mentally and physically - as the club fought what they thought was a relegation battle.

By the time he left, even when they won games they lost the points because of registration irregularities and it's best not to mention the placekicking.

Yet against Moseley, the 27-year-old was back to his impish best as the fulcrum of Newbury's many sweeping attacks and scorer of an audacious solo try.

The dark days, although only six months ago, seem a lifetime away: "It was all very downbeat by the end," Walsh recalled. "Even when we beat Newbury in that last game, we ended up losing because we fielded ineligible players.

"I don't have any bad feeling towards Birmingham & Solihull but it was time for me to move on - things had not gone well.

"I read one article where they said they had released me, but there was a contract offered. It was best for both parties that I moved, though."

Walsh won't see too many familiar faces this weekend. Only a handful of players remain from last year's squad as Bees have reshuffled and done so reasonably well.

Although they lost at Plymouth on Saturday, they put in a brave comeback and cut a 31-3 half-time deficit to 38-29. They are eight points better off than Newbury and sat snugly in mid-table.

Walsh believes the statistics point to a home win. "It is always a tough place to go," he said. "We are going in as underdogs but we have got two wins and they are on two losses so, hopefully, we can keep our momentum."

One man he did recognise was Moseley scrum half Paul Knight, his half back partner in Solihull for a couple of years.

Knight gave another promising display, but could not guide his team to anything more than a loss bonus and a 22-17 reverse.

Nevertheless, Walsh was reasonably impressed with the National One new boys and predicted a relatively bright future for the Birmingham side.

"They are definitely going to cause trouble against some of the division's top teams," he said.

"I reckon they will stay up. From what we have played so far, I think they are a competitive club who play right to the end. If they keep doing that, results will soon start going their way."

That they didn't last weekend was down to his personal haul of a try and four penalties. Not bad for a man who tried a dropped goal that nearly went out for a lineout.

"The kicking? It's still pretty hot and cold - it'll never be my forte," Walsh quipped. "But it's something I want to be able to nail before my career is out. I'm not going to give up on it just yet. It would be nice to kick a touchline penalty to win against Bees."

Bees winger Dave Knight is a doubt for the game because of a back injury.