WHEN the Rugby Football Union launched the new Championship division amid the backdrop of their vast Twickenham HQ, it was supposed to signal a new dawn for the future of the English game outside of the top flight.

Just two months down the road and already that bright vision has been shattered with the likelihood that Birmingham-Solihull are to be no more come the end of this week.

With the club in crisis and the Inland Revenue among others closing in on an outstanding debt of £93,000, the Bees are set to become the latest casualty of the so-called "professional game".

There is, however, possibly one last hope for them and today player-coach Russell Earnshaw is set to hold talks with the new owners of Birmingham City Football Club in a last-ditch attempt to save the beleaguered club.

"I have got a meeting with Carson Yeung's right-hand man [Sammy Yu]. It's a real long shot, but I got hold of his mobile number on Friday and rang him, and we will see what happens when we meet," said Earnshaw following yesterday's 62-10 defeat to the Cornish Pirates at Camborne.

"We will see if we can offer something that is good for both sides. City obviously had a fantastic win on Saturday, so I am hoping he is in a good mood!'

Although there may be a chance of something being put into place, the likelihood is the Bees have now played their last competitive fixture.

If that is the case, Earnshaw can be rightfully proud of the 22 players, himself included, who turned out for action against the Pirates. Although well beaten on the day by their Cornish hosts, who ran in nine tries, their never-say-die attitude was commendable right to the death.

The standing ovation afforded to the Midlanders as they trooped off the Rec was heartfelt – as was the healthy collection of cash the home faithful donated during the half-time interval and again at the final whistle.

But whereas the Bees are sadly struggling in the current climate, the Pirates are in a much healthier state of affairs, both on and off the field.

Not surprisingly the difference was clear to see as Chris Stirling's side brought to an end a three-game losing streak by running riot against their lowly counterparts.

Skipper Gavin Cattle, Nick Jackson and Wes Davies all crossed for two tries apiece, while Rob Cook, Blair Cowan and replacement Aisea Havili – with his very first touch of the ball – also weighed in with tries, seven of which were converted by the boot of Jimmy Moore.

In response, the Bees countered with a converted try from flanker Chris Brightwell, plus a first-half penalty from centre Ronnie McLean.

However, it was Moore who opened the game's scoring in the fourth minute with a penalty after visiting fly-half Rod Petty had strayed offside in front of his own posts.

A similar effort from McLean levelled the game up on ten minutes, before the Pirates slowly began to move through the gears. Cattle was the first to cross in the 21st minute, quickly followed by South African centre Jackson five minutes later. Moore converted both touchdowns.

Davies was the next over, the full-back rounding off an excellent handling move, which had been instigated initially by a break out from the returning Cattle.

Moore superbly added the extras to that score and a second from Davies on 32 minutes as the Pirates threatened – at that stage – to rack up a hefty cricket score.

To their credit, the Bees held firm for the remainder of the half and then started the second period the brighter of the two as hooker Jack Preece caused an early scare in the home defence with a searing break down the right touchline.

Felled just short of the line, the chance was lost and it was the Pirates who soon kicked back into the life. Significant home pressure brought about a yellow card for McLean on 57 minutes – and with the man advantage, the Duchy's finest added to their tally.

Cattle sniped in for his second of the game two minutes later, before Cook – with his maiden Championship try – Cowan and Tongan international Havili helped to squeeze the last semblance of air out of the visiting challenge.

In a fitting last hurrah, the Bees did get a consolation score when Brightwell barged his way over from ten metres out. However, it was Jackson who concluded the day's proceedings when he latched onto a pass to scorch over for a ninth score, which was again converted by Moore.

"We were back where I liked to see us," remarked Stirling afterwards. "It's now up to us to back this up and put up a performance on the park again next week [at Rotherham].

"We played with a lot of tempo and that was really pleasing. The width, the way we shifted the ball wide, it was all good. We had worked hard all week on running what we call under lines. Watching the game from the end, like I do down here, I thought Steve Winn and Nick Jackson were superb in running those lines and creating space outside.

"However, the actual key component came from us running hard and straight at them and engaging the opposition defence, I thought Jimmy [Moore] did a fantastic job there."

A return to winning ways was certainly what the doctor ordered for Stirling and his troops, but the Kiwi is well aware his side will face much tougher challenges than that which they came up against yesterday.

"We are going to have to go away and look at a couple of areas and sharpen up," admitted Stirling. "With no disrespect to the Bees, we are going to face much strong opposition than that."

Stirling did, however, have praise for the work put in by the visitors. He added: "It was a little bit sombre right at the end. It was sad to see the players possibly closing off their season like that. It was fantastic, though, to see the support of the Cornish people towards them."