BOURNVILLE SNATCH VICTORY AT THE DEATH

Bournville have won their opening North Midlands Cup game away to Worcester Wanderers 24-20 and will now face cup holders Newport (Salop) in the next round. Bournville were put under pressure for the first 20 minutes by the home side who had started extremely well and used a strong wind well to pin Bournville deep in their half. Match pics now available.

Against the run of play, Bournville scored the first try of the match when Alex Warner pounced on a mistake by Wanderers from a high kick to race up the touch line and score in the corner for a 5-0 lead. Bournville then dominated the rest of the half with the forwards well on top and after being held up over the line twice Bournville's pressure paid dividends when Rob Griffin went over in injury time. Warner converted the try for a well deserved 12-0 half time lead.

Playing with the slope and the wind at their backs Bournville could not use this to their advantage and started the second half poorly and were soon back defending their line. A cheap penalty was awarded to Wanderers which was converted to take the score to 12-3. Some wayward kicking from Bournville was punished when the home side's sustained attack had stretched the Bournville defence from touchline to touchline to score in the corner on 55 minutes to reduce the gap to 12-8. This shook Bournville into gear and strong play took them deep into the Wanderers 22 where Dean Bick burrowed his way over for a well worked try with Warner converting for a 19-8 lead.

A yellow card to Ian Coles proved costly when Wanderers used their extra man to good effect and were back in the game with a try on 66 minutes to close the gap to 19-13. Bournville once again were stung into action and dominated for the next 10 minutes but could not turn their pressure into points. Two missed penalties and a clear cut try scoring chance lost was compounded by another yellow card this time to Nick Southern. Bournville battled gamely with 13 men to keep an attacking Wanderers side at bay, but the pressure finally told and in the 83 minute the home side took the lead for the first time in the match when they scored under the posts for a converted try to take the score to 20-19.

With only 5 minutes of injury time remaining Bournville showed good composure and spirit to regroup and launch one final raid. Nick Southern collected the kick off and made good yards. Hesy Fakatou carried strongly deep into the Wanderer's 22. Bournville hammered away at the line and the relentless pressure finally told when Rod Petty darted over from a quick tap penalty. Bournville closed out the final 2 minutes to record a satisfying win.

Match pics courtesy of Lee Sullivan - click here.