Everyone likes a good local Derby and after the intensity of the previous meeting this was always going to be a tough match for both teams. Deeping had scraped victory the last time the 2 teams met and Bourne with good form coming into the game were determined to reverse the previous result. A club lunch had been held before the game which had helped to further bolster the crowd and conditions were good, all was set for a competitive game.

Bourne started at a fast pace and were unlucky not to score in the opening minutes when Dixon broke the line to release Bentley in the centres, unfortunately he took the ball just too far and was held up , unable to get his pass away to Lagdon on the overlap. Honours were fairly even in the scrum with each side taking their own ball, Deeping won a scrum on the 22 and cleared their lines, giving Bourne a lineout, quick ball was the order of the day and Sleight found Lindley who passed to Thornburn off the top, he took the ball on himself beat the opposition to create space and his pass to Dixon led to a try for Bourne, Berry converted to make it 7-0 to Bourne.

Deepings then put on the pressure and the defensive effort by Bourne led to a yellow card for Lindley, Deeping kicked for the corner and at the resulting lineout a well organised drive was just too strong for Bourne and they scored in the corner, unconverted 7-5. The kick off was again chased hard by Bourne with Cooke and Appleby there first and holding the ball up to win a scrum. On the last meeting the scrum had struggled a bit but with improved experience in the front row led by Wood and Sleight and the power of Hiscocks and Faversham in the 2nd row , some good powerful drives were being produced, this in turn was giving scrum half Thornburn more time to pick out his men. Good use of the ball was being made by Dixon and Berry, playing to the strengths of the speedy wings Lagdon and Jordan-Boddey with some neat kicks through the defensive line. Bourne were again reduced to 14 men, when Berry went for an ambitious interception and knocked on, which the referee adjudged to be deliberate, again a big defensive effort from Bourne kept Deeping to minimal possession, kicking long each time they had the ball and with chasing from all the forwards a penalty opportunity came some 40m out, unfortunately Dixons kick went just wide.

Faversham was having a great game with the ball in hand and also putting pressure on the opposition, no one could tell he had just returned from a broken leg. Bourne were unlucky when he charged down a kick 10 out, and Deeping scrambled a touchdown to earn a 22 drop out. Just before half time Bourne again went down to 14 men as Wood went for a breakdown infringement, meaning Oglesbee had to join the pitch as front row replacement for 10 minutes at the expense of Hume in the back row Half time score 7-5.

At half time a stiff talking to on discipline was made, Bourne had managed to play 30 minutes with 14 men again. The 2nd half started and was as tight as the first, both teams were even , winning their own balls in scrums and lineout. Thornburn continued to break the line and give opportunities to his backs, who were playing to their strength and shipping wide, with Xipu coming into the line whenever possible to try and break the Deeping defensive line. Bourne were keeping their discipline and playing as a team and not reacting to any provocation and keeping a full team on the field. Berry , Thornburn and Faversham all made big hits on the opposition pinning them back and if they did get the ball and kicked ahead Xipu was fielding everything at fullback.
The hard working Hiscocks was replaced by Hill and Harding came onto the wing , to give fresh legs a run out. Harding showed his freshness chasing every clearance, helping keep Deeping pinned back in their own half. Deeping were penalised at the breakdown 30m out and Berry came forward this time to take the kicking, slotting it through the posts to the cheers of the crowd. 10-5.

Deeping did throw everything at Bourne in the last 15 minutes when further replacements joined the fray; Oglesbee came on in the front row and Mabey in the 2nd row to bolster the defensive effort. Deeping thought they had scored with 10 left, but the ball was held up by a combined effort from Berry and Dixon, the resulting scrum was won comfortably and the Bourne line cleared. The final whistle went and Bourne had held out after a massive defensive effort by each and every player, final score 10-5.

Bourne remain unbeaten in 2015 and are in cup action next week at home against either Belper in the NLD cup or Stamford College in the Lincs Cup , kick off will be 2.15pm

Coach’s comment : Better discipline and a huge defensive effort in the 2nd half secured the game.

MOM – Alan Faversham