MAYNARD & WARNER SHINE AS BOURNS GRIND OUT WIN TO REMAIN UNBEATEN

Bournville travelled to Stratford to face a home side struggling with only 2 league wins so far this season and hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone. However, having lost only narrowly away to Burton the previous week (in the process surrendering a 32-10 point half time lead), Stratford were determined to make a game of it and to do themselves proud.

Bournville were forced to make a last minute change with star centre Paul Cox being unavailable through illness leading to the call up of first team virgin “Big” Charlie Maunder from the seconds. Also, Adam Coniff and Adrian Maynard returned to the starting line-up having recovered from the concussion they both suffered in separate incidents away at Whitchurch a fortnight earlier with Maynard replacing the injured Matt Dickerson in the back-row. In a direct reversal of the week before, Chris Humphrey had to settle for a place on the bench with the now fully recovered Coniff being given the nod.

Stratford made the better start with a lengthy opening incursion into the Bournville half. However, despite 10 minutes of sustained pressure they were unable to put any points on the board. Against the run of play Bournville winger Dan Barratt intercepted the ball and used his formidable power and speed to break through the Stratford defence allowing Carl Colvin to score right under the posts to set up an easy conversion for Bournville fly-half Alex Warner who was to enjoy a faultless day with the boot.

From the restart Bournville were able to apply further pressure with Stratford conceding a series of penalties around the half-way line. The two sides were evenly matched for the next 20 minutes of play with neither seeming able to take control of the game. After 30 minutes Stratford were rewarded with a well-worked try which they failed to convert leaving the score at 7-5 to the visiting side. The first half closed with a Bournville penalty kicked seamlessly by Warner leaving the score 10-5 to Bournville at half time.

Stratford came out for the second half clearly determined to secure a try and place themselves firmly back in the game. However, after a sustained period of pressure what appeared to be a Stratford try was disallowed by the referee who was unable to see the touch down. This unrewarded effort appeared to knock the stuffing out of Stratford and Bournville were quickly back on the attack benefiting from a Warner penalty 12 minutes into the second half stretching the lead to 13-10. Five minutes later Rob “Horse” Griffin single-handedly stormed through the desperate Stratford defence to score a stunning forward’s try under the posts that oozed both power and class. Warner once again slotted the kick giving Bournville a commanding 20-5 lead.

Following the restart a short period of sustained Bournville pressure was rewarded with another penalty ruthlessly slotted over by Warner. Voices in the crowd questioned the wisdom of taking the penalty kick rather than a line-out close to the Stratford line and those concerns were later found prescient. However, Bournville no.8  Nick Southern (who had another excellent game) deployed his legendary  “Strawbs swerve” to make one of his trademark breaks running in a try from outside the Stratford 22 and only touching down the ball as close as possible to the Stratford posts. A grateful Warner made the conversion (deflected in by the left hand goal post) leaving the score at 30-5 with 11 minutes still to play and Bournville desperately seeking another try to secure the bonus point.

Despite an enormous effort by the Bournville forwards and a controversial decision by the referee who found himself out of position once again and unable to give what looked to be an Ian Coles try, the final whistle blew with Bournville still camped on the Stratford line.

Fortified by an excellent buffet lunch courtesy of the Stratford committee Club Treasurer and stalwart Mick O’Sullivan summed up the mood saying “It’s always great to watch a convincing Bournville win but there were one or two disappointing aspects to the game. First, we gave away far too many penalties particularly in the first half taking the pressure off Stratford at crucial points during the game and second, we didn’t really arrive until mid way through the second half leaving us too little time to secure the bonus point despite a fantastic effort by the forwards for the last 20 minutes of the game.”

Next week Bournville host defending champions Newport (Shropshire) at Bournbrook in the quarter finals of the North Midlands Cup. With the Winter Ball taking place the same evening the expected large home crowd should be treated to a very exciting game. 

Bournville line-up: 1. Paul Coles, 2. Phil Brown, 3. Ian Coles, 4. Simon Homer, 5. Hesy Fakatou, 6. Adrian Maynard, 7. Rob Griffin, 8. Nick Southern, 9. Rod Petty, 10. Alex Warner, 11. Adam Coniff, 12. Charlie Maunder, 13. Carl Colvin, 14. Dan Barratt, 15. Alex Ward, 16. Chris Humphrey, 17. Pete Nancarrow, 18. David Hallmen.  STAND OUT PLAYERS: Adrian Maynard and Alex Warner.

Match report by Darren Clegg. Match pics by Sully - click here. League table - click here.