STRONG FIRST HALF PERFORMANCE SECURES WIN AT CORBY

Bourne travelled to Corby at the weekend for a fixture that on current form they should win, after a win against high flying Brackley at home, confidence was high within the team, a well structured performance should stop any slip ups with Corby not to be taken lightly. Conditions were heavy under foot on the pitch with the wind blowing from end to end, Bourne decided to play into the wind in the first half.

Bourne kicked off and chased the ball down immediately putting pressure on the Corby pack, Ed Cooke and Lindley were the first there with the rest of the pack close behind, despite the pressure Corby did manage to kick the ball clear but only to just outside their 22, giving Bourne an early attacking line out. Sleight threw in with pin point accuracy to Lindley who gave quick ball off the top to Thornburn to release the backs, Dixon passed to Harby who made a good straight run then passed to Binns , who took the ball on and passed inside to Cooke who scored , the try was converted 0-7

Corby then had their chance to kick at Bourne and put them under pressure and unfortunately from the kick off Wood knocked on, this gave Corby a scrum on the Bourne 22, fortunately under pressure they knocked on, Bourne won their own ball and Dixon put a massive boot on it to clear the danger, speedy winger Lagdon gave chase and made sure there was no chance of a quick throw. Corby took their own ball but under pressure and a joint drive from 2nd rows Faversham and Hiscocks resulted in Corby being in touch and a Bourne throw. Sleight changed the call and it was Appleby who was up this time to again give quick ball to Thornburn, he in turn took the ball on himself before passing to Dixon, Wood was making a run inside on the angle and if he had held onto the ball would have been in at the corner but unfortunately it was just a scrum for Corby who cleared their lines with the aid of the wind. On the Bourne next attack the ball was being thrown around freely and a bit too freely at one point when Dixons loose pass was intercepted by the Corby fly half some good covering back by Lagdon stopped the break and Berry bundled the Corby man into touch. Bourne were winning their own lineout comfortably and cleared their lines , running the ball into the Corby half and thanks to good rucking by Hume and Faversham gained a scrum in the middle of the pitch just outside the Corby 22. Quick ball was the order of the day as both scrum half’s were getting away with putting the ball in at 45 degrees , Dixon collected the ball beat his man and passed to Harby who scored under the posts. 0-14

Wood decided he was going to show his footballing skills on the next attack , the ball had come loose and he kicked on and chased 2 or 3 times , Corby did stop him in his tracks but illegally and a penalty was awarded 30m out , Binns stepped up and made the penalty to keep his 100% record up for the day 0-17. Wood knocked backwards this time from the kick off and the Hiscocks dived on the ball to secure it , Corby went over the top so a penalty was awarded. Thornburn took t5his quick and had Berry in support , but he did not fancy the 60m run so kicked ahead , Jordan Boddey chased and earned Bourne another line out as he shepherded the Corby player into touch. The resulting line out was won by Bourne and at the next breakdown the ball came lose , which Lindley picked up and ran in from halfway to under the posts with a converted try 0-24. Berry was coming into the line more and worked well with Jordan Boddey to take the ball up field, a kick ahead was chased by Dixon who looked like he had scored but it was adjudged over the dead ball line so no try this time. Not long after though Berry kicked ahead again and Lagdon showed his speed to get there first and touch down in the corner for an unconverted try. 0-29. Bourne still had time to put on more pressure before half time and Thornburn first found Appleby running a good line followed by Sleight Who came to an abrupt halt when running into the large Corby 2nd rows, Bourne still recycled the ball and when Dixon got it he kicked ahead chased it and scored this time on the stroke of half time, unconverted 0-34 half time.

Bourne made 3 changes at half time Mabey coming on for Hiscocks after returning from panto, MT on one wing and Bentley on the other, Corby kicked to Bourne and Wood took cleanly and went off on a trundle up field , he weaved in and out like a back making a good 30m before hitting traffic, Corby were again penalised at the breakdown and Berry kicked for the corner. Good lineout again allowed Thornburn to take the opposition on and then with a neat inside pass to Cooke who nearly went over but was held up just short. One move saw MT released on the wing and run in what looked like a try in the corner, the referee however said it was dropped so no score. Bourne were getting frustrated as twice good backs moves involving clever switches between Binns and Berry were given as crossing , each time allowing Corby to clear their lines. A score did eventually come when Berry ran the ball back at Corby hit traffic and did a showboating pass in-between his legs to Bentley who ran in to score a converted try under the posts 0-41.

Corby to their credit never gave up and made things tough for Bourne in the 2nd half, Cooke was either tackling or turning over any attack they made and with the support of the rest of the forwards maintaining a lot of possession. Bourne did score again when Dixon found a gap and took the ball up to 5 out he beat his man and fullback Berry was on hand to touchdown taking the score to 0-46. A great team performance only marred by the injury to Sam Harby who left the field late in the 2nd half with a knee injury. It’s the local Derby next week at the Drove against Deeping, there is a Club Fish & Chip dinner before the match if anyone is interested starting at 12, see the Facebook page or website for more details.

Coaches Quote: Good team effort playing to the agreed match plan, to stop a potential banana skin.

Man of the match - Ed Cooke