Bourne 25 Spalding 0
With a large crowd along the touchline looking forward to this local derby between Bourne and Spalding and just two points separating the clubs in Midlands County One East North it was the home team who would walk off the pitch at the end of the game with smiles on their faces.
Both teams were fielding their strongest teams available and with locks George Douglas and Henry Hobson, Spalding were looking to meet head on Bourne’s powerful forwards.
With Spalding’s regular scrum half Jim Wraith still on the side lines with his shoulder injury, Will Shields continued to deputise and was one of few stand out players on the day for Spalding.
Whilst Ollie Sorrell was making his debut on the subs’ bench having had some good performances in the 1923s.
The opening minutes were naturally fierce with both teams trying to impose and inside centre Sam Booth was off with a calf problem with Sorrell on.
It was Bourne who opened the scoring with a penalty kick with their forwards using pick and goes which drew an infringement at the breakdown.
Competition in the forwards was building with Bourne driving hard with the ball in hand and good support play at the breakdown.
Hobson drove straight through the middle of a ruck, which looked good to everybody, except the referee who produced his yellow card.
Bourne, with an extra man, quickly took advantage to run in a try near the corner flag.
Spalding responded drawing a ruck penalty and instead of going for a kick between the posts, they opted for a kick to touch for a lineout, but Bourne stole the lineout possession.
Hobson was in the thick of things and the Spalding coaches took action by bringing on Ash Anker.
Spalding’s strength is with the backs running at pace but Bourne were doing an excellent job of cutting off the pipeline with their flankers and centres quick up and in Spalding’s faces.
Flanker Lachlan Summers was next to suffer a referee decision following a strong tackle. The tackle seemed no higher than many others but because it was robust, a yellow card was produced.
In fact many of the referee decisions or lack of them would affect this local derby.
Again Bourne very quickly capitalised as they pressed. A penalty was awarded and Bourne elected to take a scrum but with both front rows popping up a further penalty was awarded to Bourne who took a quick tap to score their second try. The successful conversion saw Bourne go in 15 points up at half time.
The second half was an anti-climax, with rain coming down and Bourne determined not to let Spalding in for a score and very early on Hobson was back on the field, with Tom Parker off and Anker moving to prop.
But when Spalding were able to use the ball along the backs there was pace out wide. Right wing Alexander Creak was unlucky with a good run being tackled into touch just a few yards short of the try line. Then, a bit later on, a flowing move along the backs saw outside centre Ollie Machin put Gav Sharman into space to dive over to score in the corner, only for the referee to disallow the try.
In fact, the referee was missing knock-ons, sealing off in the rucks, confusing players and spectators with his decisions or lack of them, which certainly affected the players and the flow of the game.
It was Bourne who wrapped up the contest for a deserved win with a converted try in the last five minutes leaving Spalding pointless.
Team: Tom Parker, Tom Rollinson, Zain Berge, George Douglas, Henry Hobson, Lachlan Summers, Ryan Firth, Jack Grundy, Will Shields, Willis Ingleby, Gav Sharman, Ollie Machin, Sam Booth, Alexander Creak, Charlie Beecham. Subs: Elliot Humphreys, Ash Anker and Ollie Sorrell.
Photos by Sarah Bartlett.
