Bees to struggle up front

By Elliott Josypenko
November 16 2005

Pertemps Bees prop Reuben Leilau has joined the club's casualty list and is rated highly doubtful for the National League One game against Otley at Cross Green on Saturday November 19 (2.15pm).

The Samoan suffered a neck injury in last Saturday's defeat by Rotherham at Sharmans Cross Road and is unlikely to feature in the first of back-to-back meetings with Otley. The second is the Powergen National Trophy sixth round tie at Sharmans Cross Road on November 26.
With Matt Long already ruled out for six weeks by a torn calf muscle, Pertemps Bees are down to just two fit specialist props - Andrew Le Chevalier and Adrian Olver - so will consider recalling Emyr Lewis from a loan spell with National Three North club Nuneaton to provide front row cover.
But Pertemps Bees are hopeful that former England winger Tom Beim (groin) and centre Mike Davies (ribs) will come through fitness tests this week and rejoin the squad.
Beim has withdrawn from the Barbarians side that takes on the Combined Services at Newbury tomorrow (November 15) because of the injury.
Experienced flanker Tu Tamarua, who returned to action as a replacement against Rotherham after five weeks out with a rib injury, is likely to make his first start in six weeks at Otley.