Bourne lose against higher league opposition

Bourne RUFC 5 Horncastle 30

Bourne hosted Horncastle on Saturday in their first real pre season game .

Playing into a strong wind in the first half, Bourne started positively against a larger Horncastle pack. With the visitors looking to move the ball wide in the early phases, Bournes 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 Horncastle 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 Horncastles back row and backs. Bourne however came charging back, with Beanland in particular looking a livewire in the centres, making 3 clean breaks which then broke down.

Towards half time Bournes forwards really got the bit between their teeth, as 6 or 7 phases brought them charging upfield. The imposing figure of Douglas was making good gains close into the ruck, and with Gray hitting holes around the rucks like a Hobbit posessed, Bourne looked to get back on level terms. Horncastles 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 Adams, and some good scrambling defence from Pick, prevented further scores early on. Injuries depleted the Bourne ranks, with Whittock and Sleight having to be replaced, and South Lincs iron man Callum Weston 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

Gray,Sleight,Pick,Port,Douglas,Adams,Hume,Smith,Mamby,Whittock,weston,Beanland,Hallam,Ginger,Payne Replacements Thomas,Mulherne,Bennett,cochrane,Donnelly,Lugg,Binns

Bourne Travel to Stamford College on Saturday continuing their pre season preperations