Both old and young donned the Blue and Amber hoop, for many, their first game of senior of rugby. They arrived with confidence and a colossal performance gave them the first points of the season, veterans of the club supporting the Colts in their debut and winning performance. Before the game, captain and coach, Mark Thomas, instructed the newly formed team to stick to their game plan of fast continuous play and support each other in every phase of defence and attack and most importantly, ENJOY the experience, a core value of this sport of modern day gods.

Kesteven had a size and age advantage in the pack and from the very first scrum were pushing the Bourne forwards backwards at a rate of knots. The plucky Bourne side kept their heads held high and played an open, fast game with superb support lines and a fierce defence, especially on their own try line. Scrum Half, Harley Guillari, supplied Liam Parker with fast and efficient ball all game, the pair working extremely well together for a new combination. Distribution down the back line was immense with remarkable handling skills, releasing the wingers like Gazelles to score a glut of tries in the corners.

Bourne’s line-out was incredible and won every ball of the day. The return of Josh Nassau and newbies Robert Martin and Liam Rushton, soaring into the air a meter clear of Kesteven fingers. However, this was a game of pace and Bourne had that extra yard in them. Fast flowing rugby was the game plan and Bourne were quick to offload in the tackle and kept their noses clean in the rucks and mauls, tiring the Kesteven pack from side to side and breaking the line with sensational passing in the centres.

Kesteven kept the pressure on throughout, releasing their NLD Colts in the second half to match Bourne’s pace, but dazzling defence kept the score line respectable and the Black Army at bay. Jack Lagdon, new to Full Back, caught every high ball that came his way and returned with confidence, splitting the centres like a bowling ball. Bolstered by the Poachers and Team Fiji the tempo stayed fast and hard, giving Kesteven very little opportunity to use the ball. Now integral to the setup, this strength in depth will make Bourne a force to be reckoned with and fitness levels at an all-time high.

It was also a great game for the more senior members of the squad, James Farrington, now an ‘Old Head’ showed exactly the determination needed to be a robust ball carrier. Tom Marler, renowned veteran at Bourne rugby club, played as well as can be expected for a man of his hair colour. After the match, the Colts and coaches were united in thanking Glynn Jones, 64, Tight Head Prop and minibus driver who survived eighty minutes on the field, despite cries from the stirring fans who feared for his safety. In contrast, Matt Solomon, returned to rugby this weekend and managed ten minutes of competitive play before an enforced visit to Grantham A&E with Club President Simon Perkins, to get his shoulder looked at and to investigate response times for the Lincolnshire Ambulance Service. Result, not good, on both counts.

Bourne Development XV look forward to a positive season and are due to go from strength to strength in the coming weeks. A glimpse at the Lincs Merit League silverware is in sight already, perhaps?