Enjoyable afternoon at Thorney for the 2nd XV

Bourne's ambition to get a genuine 2nd XV up-and-running took a boost at the weekend when they fielded a strong squad at Thorney. Bourne's intent was clear from the start when they garthered the kick-off and quickly shipped the ball to outside centre Matt Kidd who found his way straight to the Thorney posts without a defender getting near him. In similar circumstances Kidd crossed again just a minute later. With scrumhalf Chris Warnes hitting both the uprights with his two conversion attempts Bourne were ten nil up inside five minutes.

Second row Danny Day looked to have extended the lead when he galloped in from fifteen metres but an error of judgement as he went to place the ball saw him held up. It was Day though who made amends as he did cross minutes later to take his side to seventeen points ahead as he added the conversion to his try.

The Bourne pack were busy and once Thorney had found their feet the forwards were made to work hard. Props Chris Mulhern and Iain Taylor were heavily involved in providing good ball for their side and 1st XV hopefuls Keir Moore and Gary Farrell carried well. Number eight Farrell crossed twice towards the end of the first half and with Warnes adding the extras both times Bourne were heading to half-time with a comfortable lead.

But it was Kidd, Bourne's standout player of the first half, who dotted down for the final try of the half capping his hat-trick as he did so. With the conversion missed Bourne were 36 - 0 ahead and looked to be enjoying themselves.

The second half proved something more of a test for Bourne. Thorney had started the game with a bare fifteen players and for an array of reasons found themslves heavily depleted. In the true spirit of the game Bourne were quick to share their players to ensure the game was still contested as much as possible. 1st XV regular Jack Berry came off the bench and with his first touch at flyhalf for Thorney crossed from thirty metres out despite several efforts to thwart his progress. Throughout the half Bourne 1st XV backrower Adam Binns added another try for Thorney and Bourne's 2nd XV Captain Calum Weston also crossed having switched allegiance.

There was distinct lack of structure in the second half but the game remained an entertaining affair. In response to Thorney's points Bourne added another four tries through Warnes twice and one each from up-and-coming youngsters Kieran McFarlane and Dan Cheek. The game finished Bourne 56 - Thorney 15.

Skipper Weston was understandably positive after the game, "It's been a fantastic afternoon and the result is obviously a good one for us. But more than anything it's great to see a genuine second fifteen take to the field. We're hoping that will be a regular thing this season which will bring with it a number of positives for the Club, least of all more people getting involved."

Hat-trick hero Kidd echoed Weston's sentiments, "It was a great game to be involved in. There was a good mix of experience and youth and everybody contributed. It was a real second fifteen squad and there are other guys still to be included so hopefully we have the makings of a decent group to progress through the season."