First half performance sets up Bourne win

Facing a Deeping side for the first time in a number of years, Bourne looked forward to renewing a local rivalry that had been neglected in recent years. They arrived at Deeping’s Linchfield Road home to find a home side shorn of a number of players due to a last-minute call-up to the first team.

Travelling with 4 substitutes, Bourne skipper Hume was able to have the luxury of leaving talisman Oglesbee on the bench, with a view to using him as a dynamic impact player late in the game. The game began cautiously, with neither side wanting to show their hand too early, and Deeping keeping the ball in hand and looking to use supporting players for the offload at every opportunity.

Bourne felt they had an advantage in the backs, and it wasn’t long before Berry was able to send Bishop storming through a gap in midfield. Some clever footwork allowed the centre to beat the cover defence before going over to score. Shortly afterwards he was able to double his tally, as the ball was again moved wide; Binns beat his man before unselfishly passing to Bishop to score.

Bourne’s pack was standing up well against a large set of Deeping forwards, and the performance of Sleight in particular was shining out, with a number of takes against the head in the scrum, and a dynamic performance in getting to the breakdown. With halftime approaching, Bishop was able to complete his hattrick in style, beating a number of defenders with a mazy run to score under the posts. Dixon converted to leave the score 0-19 at the interval.

Deeping had shown signs of putting some good sets of phases together, and the older heads in the Bourne side warned against complacency. True to form, this came home to roost early in the second period. Replacing their fly-half, Deeping took the game to Bourne, off-loading well out of the tackle and driving downfield through the forwards. Following a penalty kicked to the left corner, Deeping set up the resulting ruck, and the next phase saw former Bourne man Sean Lynch crash over to score.

A response came from Bourne, but it wasn’t the one skipper Hume had hoped for, as an instinctive but heinous trip on the Deeping wing saw Berry yellow carded, a crime for which he will be duly punished at the next home game. In spite of the man disadvantage, Bourne continued to throw the ball around with abandon, and quick hands in the backs sent Chappell clear to score.

Binns has been in great form in recent weeks, and a cross field kick from Dixon next found its way to him. Chipping over his opposite number, the wing regathered to score a great try. Dixon converted for a 4 from 5 tally for the day, before going from hero to villain as he was sinbinned for a dangerous tackle. Credit goes to Bourne’s pack for working hard to negate the efforts of a large and wily set of Deeping forwards.

Bourne face Stamford 2nds at home this weekend, kick off 2.30pm.

GOOD FRIDAY GAME

On Good Friday (April 2nd), Bourne face Enfield Ignatians RFC, a touring side on their way up to Skegness. Kick off is 2.30pm, and all are welcome to watch – the bar will be open.

Bourne RUFC: John Burgin; Adam Binns, Jack Berry, Tom Bishop, Richard Chappell; Tom Dixon, Xanti Xipu; Donk Hill, Simon Sleight, Rob Coupland, John Adams, Steve Hirshfeld, Andy Sims, John Hume, Mark Bills. Repl.: John Motton, Glen Smith, Mick Bennett, Neil Oglesbee.