Bourne were left disappointed after a narrow 31–27 defeat away to local rivals Spalding, in a fiercely contested derby that saw momentum swing throughout. Despite a strong start and an early score, Bourne were unable to maintain control and ultimately paid the price for errors and missed opportunities.

Bourne opened brightly, showing intent and energy with an early try that put them ahead. However, Spalding responded well, competing aggressively at every breakdown and putting Bourne under sustained pressure. The home side’s fast – and at times questionable – line speed disrupted Bourne’s attacking structure and prevented them from finding any real fluency.

At the set piece, Bourne’s scrum was dominant, yet frustration grew as they were repeatedly penalised despite going forward. Refereeing interpretations proved difficult to read, and momentum slipped away as a result.

Loose kicking also cost Bourne dear, with Spalding running the ball back dangerously in broken play. Handling errors crept in, and Bourne’s normally clinical attack became too direct and predictable.

To their credit, the visitors never gave in. A determined final-quarter surge saw Bourne reduce an 11-point deficit to just one score, showing great resilience and character. However, their usually reliable lineout – a strength all season – misfired at key moments, surrendering valuable territory and possession.

Pushing hard for victory in the closing stages, Bourne forced the play too often and squandered attacking positions. They were ultimately left to settle for two losing bonus points from a fixture that continues to be a difficult ground for them.

Head Coach Hickman praised his side’s effort but admitted accuracy remains a key area for improvement:

“The effort and fight were there, but we need to be smarter in key moments,” Hickman said. “We created enough chances to win that game, but our execution let us down. Credit to Spalding – they were physical and clinical when it mattered.”

Despite the disappointment, Bourne remain firmly in the hunt near the top of the table, just four points adrift of the league leaders. With lessons learned and positives to build on, they will look to bounce back strongly in the next fixture.