BOURNE PUSH LEAGUE LEADERS ALL THE WAY IN DEFEAT.

St Neots had won their previous 6 league matches all with bonus points , Bourne still had their captain away plus a couple of other players out with injury, but the squad had been bolstered with colts players.

The first 10 minutes were fairly even with the majority of the play taking place in the middle of the pitch, both teams were making attacks but the defensive effort from both teams was matching this, big tackles were being made by young flanker Jones and Harby in the backs defensive line. The scrum was again causing Bourne concern but the steady front row of Sleight, Appleby and Wood were managing to hold just long enough for scrum half Thornburn to give reasonable ball to his backs.

It was at a scrum on the Bourne 22 that resulted in the first try for St Neots a steady scrum was fed to their inside centre who chose his line well to take the crash ball and score just to the right of the posts, the conversion was missed 0-5.

A neat lofted re start ball from Berry gave good ball for Bourne to chase , Jones was the first there making a big hit leading to turnover ball, Harby gathered the loose ball and powered his way upfield being held up on the 22, scrum Bourne. Bourne although under pressure won their own ball and Berry found veteran wing Andy Dixon running a good line, but unfortunately he was forced into touch about 10m out. St Neots cleared their lines but were sent straight back in to defensive mode with a great chip over from Berry which Cooke junior chased down and with the help of Wood secured the ball for Thornburn, who took it on his own rather than using his backs, Binns came in at scrum half and brought his other wing Jordan- Boddey into play who had an impressive run but ended up being bundled into touch just short. St Neots again won the lineout and cleared their lines, Lagdon collected this time and went into contact, penalty Bourne as st Neots had gone offside at the breakdown. Binns stepped up and pointed at the posts , an ambitious kick which missed just wide of the uprights.

It was now St Neots turn to put on some pressure and Bourne defended admirably as a team, big tackles again came in from Jones and his back row partners Lindley and Cooke, prop Sleight got in on the act with a massive hit on the St Neots centre , but after a good 10 minutes, the Bourne line was broken with a score out in the corner again un converted, 0-10. Berry got another good floating kick away from the restart enabling Lindley combined with Appleby to tie the ball up and win another penalty for Bourne right in the middle of the park 35m out. Binns again pointed to the post and hit the ball sweetly straight through the middle, 3-10. Although very much in the game St Neots did score again before half time and this time it was converted 3-17 half time.

The 2nd half saw the introduction of Rab Forbes to the Bourne pack, he immediately showed his intentions , by making 3 huge tackles on the bounce and gave a new vigour to the team. The forwards were now holding their own at scrum time and the backs building in confidence. Young fullback Lagdon caught a kick through by St Neots and tried his own kick and chase, thanks to support from Cooke and Thomas the ball was retained and further pressure was put on the St Neots line. Sleight then made the loudest shout of the day , picking his line and getting on the end of a popped ball from Thornburn to be stopped just short of the line and bundled into touch.

The lineout was starting to function with Xipu now on the park and finding Aplleby who gave good quick ball to Thornburn, Dixon had come in off his wing and the ball went across the back line to Jordan-Boddey, Lindley and Wood were there first in support and the ball was moved again , unfortunately after about 12 phases the moved came to halt through a knock on resulting in a Bourne scrummage. Forbes had now moved to prop and was not giving his opposite number an easy ride and good pressure was put on the St Neots 8, Thornburn hassled the scrum half who with his forwards going back for one knocked on giving Bourne the ball .

The scrum was again solid and secured the ball effectively , Berry and Binns both tried to break the line but without success, but with support from the forwards a forwards drive started Cooke senior and Wood led the drive with Forbes keeping hold of the ball, they managed to cross the line and get the ball down but unfortunately the referee did not allow a try instead giving a scrum to St Neots which they won this time and cleared their lines.

Against the run of play St Neots did score another try out wide which was unconverted 3-22 , despite the last gap tackle attempt by Harby. St Neots were getting a bit of confidence back and were back down in the Bourne 22 , when Binns managed to intercept a stray pass, he ran the length of the pitch to score under the posts which he converted 10-22.

There was 10 minutes left and this score had again brought Bourne back to life , the final 10 minutes was all Bourne but a solid defensive effort from St Neots saw them hold out and deny Bourne even a bonus point. Bourne should be proud of their performance; they had won the 2nd Half, and kept the team who are top of the league to a reasonable points difference and kept 15 men on the pitch for the whole game , a big turn around from earlier in the season.

Man of the match : Sam Harby

Coaches Quote : A great team effort and commitment , which with a few things going our way could have been a totally different story.