Bourne lose local derby at home

Deepings took the bragging rights after a second local derby in just a fortnight.

Losing 24 - 15 might seem a relatively close finish but due to the nature of the game Bourne will almost consider themselves unlucky. Having suffered a number of injuries the previous week Bourne began the game with a very different line-up, notably without skipper Tom Dixon and the influential Adam Binns. The side did welcome back prop Danny Gill, though, and colt Josh Wheeler was given his first senior start. To further worsen any selection issues the home side lost pack-leader Andrew Brown to injury after just five minutes and then on the twelve minute mark they were reduced to fourteen men after lock Bradley Hiscocks was red carded.

Player-coach Dave Maudsley said later: "it was nothing more than stupidity on Brad's behalf and that moment of madness has undoubtedly influenced the outcome - they beat fifteen of us two weeks ago so they weren't likely to struggle against fourteen!"

Bouyed by their advantage Deepings quickly piled on the pressure and with some frantic and clinical play they soon crossed to go in front. A short while later they crossed again and at 12 - 0 up they looked ready to stretch their lead well beyond the reach of the home side. Bourne looked out of sorts and were clearly getting used to filling the gap left by the absent Hiscocks; short of options at scrum-time centre Sam Harby shifted to second row which limited the Bourne backline at the set-piece. Maudsley at fly half for the first time this season did what he could to stick to the narrow channels with first phase ball allowing his side time to build some effective phases once the ball was in open play. After finally building some pressure Bourne were rewarded with a penalty well within the range of scrum half Sam Evison. The hosts turned round at half-time 12 - 3 down.

Half-time brought with it a chance for Maudsley's side to regroup and refresh and they started the second half the better side. The forwards managed to maintain some decent possession and after recycling the ball a number of times the ball was shipped to Maudsley who stepped one defender before feeding the ball to flanker Harry Thornburn who had a hit a sublime angle against the grain - as Thornburn neared the tryline he drew the last two defenders and was set to be pulled up short but found Maudsley had continued his run in support and was available for an offload. Evison converted and Bourne were just two points behind.

Despite being a man down Bourne were in the running and the score remained 12 - 10 long into the second half. Having successfully sacked a number of the Deepings line outs Bourne were frustrated to switch off as the visitors successfully rolled a maul from a line out just inside the twenty-two all the way to the line. From the restart Bourne once again started with some resolve but soon found themselves back on their try line, the pressure of being a man short finally starting to tell. With centre Harby being tied up with the forwards Deepings crossed through the middle unchallenged and after adding the conversion they were 24 - 10 in front with just minutes left.

Bourne once again started with some ambition and aware they were running out of time seemed to find another level of energy to finish off in style. Some brilliant phase play by both the forwards and the backs saw Deeping pinned in their own twenty-two. After some good carries the ball made its way wide and Maudsley finding himself at scrum half quickly swiped the ball out of a ruck going blind and dummied the Deepings winger before crossing to claim his second. With the kick being the last play of the game and sailing just wide the game finished with Bourne coming up slightly short.

Maudsley said: "that was a hell of a game! The fourteen guys on the pitch, including the guys off the bench, put in an incredible shift and made Deepings work very hard for their win. There was talk during the week about how we'd cope without the various players we were missing but week on week it's becoming less of an issue because the guys coming into the squad are just as strong."

"We're trying to build a culture where everything we do is about playing well and enjoying ourselves; whilst results are of course important they're only really a consequence of getting everything else right. Unfortunately though, whilst most of the squad are getting the message, and also realise the importance of being disciplined, individuals are still subject to silly behaviour and there's no doubting that cost us today."