BOURNVILLE CONTINUE THEIR HOT STREAK

Bournville’s second home fixture saw them play Lichfield, looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season and impress the supporters who had turned out in great number on Vice Presidents’ Day. Bournville were forced into changes again this week with Dai Hallmen and Iestyn Pratt unavailable, Dean Bick dropping out due to illness and Adrian Maynard getting food poisoning late on Friday. Simon Homer, Dan Barratt, Phil Brown and Pete Nancarrow were drafted in. Rob Sigley, returning from a period of enforced absence, was able to take a place on the bench.

The match started slowly with the referee imposing himself from the start by awarding penalties for any minor offence. Lichfield capitalised on Bournville’s inability to adapt to this by scoring the first penalty. Bournville responded quickly through the boot of Alex Warner with a long range penalty. Bournville then began to stretch the Lichfield defence leaving space out wide for first Alex Ward then Robin Eatough to cross Lichfield’s try line.

Lichfield responded well, running from all areas of the pitch and they were rewarded with a great team try. Alex Warner restored Bournville’s 10 point lead with another penalty before Robin Eatough burst down the wing to score another try and Rod Petty shrugged off the tackle from the open-side flanker to run in unopposed to score in under the posts. At half time Bournville lead 34-13. The only sour point of the half was a hamstring injury to Super Coles, luckily there were two able physios to tend to his needs.

Lichfield started the second half looking to attack at any opportunity and they were rewarded with a penalty after another Bournville infringement. Bournville came straight back at Lichfield with Alex Warner showing a turn of pass and some fancy footwork to score a try which he then converted. This score seemed to spur on the visitors with the free running plays starting to trouble Bournville out wide. Lichfield scored 2 well worked tries and added a penalty to move them within 2 scores of the lead. Bournville also had Paul Cox sin binned for what the referee considered to be a professional foul.

Going down to 14 men seemed to be the kick start Bournville needed and they started to pick holes in the Lichfield defence as they had done in the first half. Incisive running from Chris Humphrey, Rob Griffin and Nick Southern stretched Lichfield and allowed for Bournville to finish the game with a flourish. Tries from Hesy Fakatou, Robin Eatough(2) and Paul Cox saw Bournville finish another game strongly.

After the match Social Secretary Craig O’Donnell was pleased with the Bournville performance commenting, “It was amazing that the boys are all pulling together and playing some top running rugby. Everyone is putting in a lot of effort which was great to see especially on Vice Presidents’ Day.”

Match report by Matt Dicko. Match pics courtesy of Sully - click here.

Next week Bournville travel to Burton, traditionally a tough fixture with Bournville coming out on top the last time the two sides met. 
Bournville line-up: 1. Paul Coles, 2. Phil Brown, 3. Ian Coles, 4. Simon Homer, 5. Rob Griffin, 6. Matt Dickerson, 7. Pete Nancarrow, 8. Nick Southern, 9. Rod Petty, 10. Alex Warner, 11. Chris Humphrey, 12. Paul Cox, 13. Robin Eatough, 14. Dan Barratt, 15. Alex Ward, 16. Rob Sigley, 17. Hesy Fakatou, 18. Jonny Richards STAND OUT PLAYERS: Robin Eatough & Nick Southern