BOURNVILLE SHOW THEIR GRIT IN DOGGED BATTLE AT COOKEFIELD

Bournville continued 2012 with a tough away fixture to Lichfield, one of the inform teams in the league. Bournville were able to recall talented hooker Dean Bick up after a 2 month absence through injury. Ian Coles, Simon Homer, Carl Colvin and Adam Coniff also returned to the starting line-up.  Lichfield had beaten Walsall last week and they were looking to continue their good run of form at home.

The match started at a frantic pace and Lichfield showed that they were happy to throw the ball around to try and stretch Bournville’s defence. The tackles were flying in and Lichfield’s free running rugby was finding it hard to breakdown a well organised defence. After a number of phases Lichfield misplaced a long pass straight to Carl Colvin who rolled back the years to run a try from Bournville’s 10 metre line. This was converted by Alex Warner to give Bournville the first score of the match. This try didn’t seem to stem Lichfield’s willingness to throw the ball around and after a number of rucks Bournville lost their discipline to give Lichfield a kickable penalty, ably dispatched by their fullback.

Bournville started to have some possession of their own and gradually started to apply pressure to the Lichfield defence. Bournville looked sharper at the breakdown than they have in previous matches and were giving Rod Petty quick ball to feed the backs. Bournville were starting to cause Lichfield problems and the penalties started to come. Alex Warner comfortably kicked one of these to extend their lead by 3 points whilst another was kicked to the corner where the Bournville pack would be looking for a try. After a well taken lineout and driven maul Dean Bick popped over the line for Bournville’s second try of the match.

Lichfield were still playing a wide game as well as holding on to possession well. They were continually applying pressure to the Bournville defence but a number of big tackles were flying in. Simon Homer and Thomas McIntosh were at the forefront in defence stifling a number of Lichfield attacks. After a loose pass Nick Southern fly-hacked the ball clear of Lichfield’s defence into the open field. After a long run and some good footwork Nick’s final touch let him down metres from the line when he knocked the ball on for what should have been a well-deserved try.

Lichfield continued to play some good rugby but Bournville’s defence seemed impenetrable. After another attack broke down and a penalty was awarded to Bournville, Rod Petty took a quick tap penalty in their 22 and burst clear of the defence. With Alex Ward and Chris Humphrey in support Rod put a kick over the full back for Chris Humphrey to collect and score Bournville’s third try of the match, well converted by Alex Warner. Bournville went in at half time leading 22-3.

At the start of the second half Lichfield carried on the way they had played the first, stretching the Bournville defence across the pitch with wide, expansive play. After a number of phases Lichfield’s full back managed to break straight through the middle of the Bournville defence. He then used his pace to step his way past the cover tackles and score in the corner.

Bournville were shocked at that lapse in defence and went about restoring their lead. Bournville’s forwards were starting to get on top of Lichfield’s pack, with some big carries taking us deep into Lichfield’s half. Lichfield were struggling with the powerful runners and after a number of pick and drives close to the Lichfield line Nick Southern popped over for Bournville’s fourth try and the bonus point.

Bournville obviously felt this it was job done but Lichfield had something to say about that. Shortly after that try Lichfield again broke through a tiring Bournville defence and with Lichfield’s fullback scoring his second try of the match which he happily converted  to leave the score 27-17.

No sooner had Bournville kicked off and Lichfield were again cutting holes in their defence. After a good surging run from the pack, Lichfield spun the ball wide for their winger to score and leave the match nicely poised at 27-22. Bournville seemed a bit shell shocked after this comeback but started to compose themselves and hold on to the ball.

Bournville started to take control of the game and made their way back into the Lichfield half looking for the next score to settle the match. Lichfield were defending stoutly but they started giving away a number of penalties in their red zone. After a while the referee had enough and sin binned their flanker for killing the ball. From the penalty Bournville kicked to the corner and set up another driving maul. With Lichfield down to 7 men in the pack they were powerless to stop Dean Bick scoring his second try of the match.

Lichfield had played well all game and were not going to give up and mounted a number of attacks. They were rewarded in the final minute when they turned the ball over at the scrum. A quick play of the ball and powerful running led to their centre scoring a try that secured 2 thoroughly deserved bonus points for this young Lichfield side. This left the final score 32-29 to Bournville.

After the match the travelling Bournville supporters were happy the team came away with the 5 points. Social Secretary Craig O’Donnell was pleased with the win, “I’m glad the boys came away with the 5 points after Lichfield came back strongly in the second half. First half we played some great rugby, but second half we didn’t play to those same standards.”

Next week Bournville welcome Burton to the University for what will be a very tough encounter. So far in 2012 Burton only just lost to Sutton Coldfield and comfortably beat Walsall. Bournville will have to be at their very best to beat another inform side and continue their pursuit of Sutton at the top of the table.

Bournville line-up: 1. Paul Coles, 2. Dean Bick, 3. Ian Coles, 4. Simon Homer, 5. Rob Griffin, 6. Adrian Maynard, 7. Tom McIntosh, 8. Nick Southern, 9. Rod Petty, 10. Alex Warner, 11. Chris Humphrey, 12. Paul Cox, 13. Carl Colvin, 14. Adam Coniff, 15. Alex Ward, 16. Phil Brown, 17. Hesy Fakatou, 18. Steve Rice STANDOUT PLAYERS: Simon Homer & Paul Cox

Match report by Dicko. Match pics by Sully - click here. League table - click here.