Bourne RUFC 1st XV 7 - 53 Stamford Town 1st XV

Bourne hosted local rivals Stamford Town on Saturday in the first round of the NLD Vase, Bourne’s first competitive game, after preseason had ended the previous week with the abandonment of their away game to March Bears 2nds.

Playing into a strong wind in the first half, Bourne started positively against a larger Stamford pack. With the visitors looking to move the ball wide in the early phases, Bourne’s back row were working overtime to compete in the loose. The defence held firm, but Bourne were taught a harsh lesson in playing to the whistle after 10 minutes – the otherwise excellent official missing a Stamford knock on which led to an opening score for the visitors.

A further 2 scores followed shortly after, with individual mistakes being clinically punished by some smart interplay between Stamford’s back row and backs. Bourne however came charging back, with Thornburn in particular looking a livewire in the centres, making 3 clean breaks which then broke down.

Towards half time Bourne’s forwards really got the bit between their teeth, as 6 or 7 phases brought them charging upfield. The imposing figure of Coupland was making good gains close into the ruck, and with Sleight hitting holes around the rucks like a man possessed, Bourne looked to get back on level terms. Stamford’s defence however held firm, and Bourne went in to the interval still looking to break their duck.

In the second period however the visitors really got their game together, and only some solid defensive work by Oglesbee, and some good scrambling defence from Bishop, prevented further scores early on. Injuries depleted the Bourne ranks, with Whittock and Sleight having to be replaced, and South African iron man Ted Stacey playing on in spite of a severe wrist injury. Bourne were able to take some consolation from an inspired last ten minutes of play, taking the game downfield, which eventually led to skipper Glen Smith, returning from injury, burrowing his way over from 5 yards out.

Bourne begin their Lincolnshire Merit League next weekend versus Spalding 3rds (kick off 3pm).

Bourne RUFC: John Burgin; Tom Adams, Ben Thornburn, Tom Bishop, Neil Oglesbee; Dean Smith, Phil Whittock; Rob Coupland, Simon Sleight, Martin Brown, John Adams, Jay Rock, Ted Stacey, John Hume, Chris Mulhern. Repl.: John Motton, Lester Gaunt, Glen Smith, Karl Gray.