The gods had their say in Nottingham on Saturday afternoon. As Bourne’s second team arrived in the big city, lightning lit the skies and thunder rumbled overhead, delaying kick-off and lending a sense of theatre to proceedings. The storm seemed almost a divine prelude, a song from the heavens announcing the clash to come. David vs Goliath, Maudsley vs Lagdon.

The setting was quintessentially metropolitan: low-lying pitches stretched between the Trent and the monorail, with the unmistakable glow of nightclubs visible in the distance. Against this smokey backdrop, Bourne arrived eager and determined, but very much the underdogs. Smaller in stature and lighter in numbers, they faced a formidable Moderns side. Yet, as any Bourne man will tell you, the town once had a Woolworths, and resilience runs deep.

Optimism had not been in short supply. With eleven second-teamers turning up to training in midweek, there was a buzz of anticipation; as well as the literal electricity of the storm. Sadly, the 2s Veo camera was absent, and with it the chance to immortalise the contest, while water boy Paul Mambey was also conspicuously missing.

The match began with Moderns fielding an extra man, though in the spirit of fairness they lent Bourne two Colts. Despite this generosity, the home side opened strongly, spreading the ball wide and exploiting overlaps to devastating effect. Bourne’s defensive line at times resembled a herd of wildebeest grazing across the savannah; full of intent, but not always moving in the right direction.

There were flashes of brilliance, however. Lightning winger Charlie, crossing for a hat-trick and even slotting his first conversion, to great applause by the capacity crowd. Dan Cheek, making his return from a major injury last week, lasted the full match and produced a thrilling breakaway in the second half that almost brought Bourne another score. Skipper Dave Maudsley, fresh from international duties, orchestrated matters with several audacious cross-field kicks. His post-match reflections summed it up best:

“Solid effort today, fellas. They were well drilled; young, strong and very pacey. But we matched them for heart, and the second half was, loosely speaking, a thing of beauty. We never gave up, and that counts for so much. Proud to be out there with you.”

In the pack, Seth once again impressed in the second row, carrying forward his form from the previous week. He even attempted a cross-field kick himself, which demonstrated conclusively why forwards should never be allowed near the boot. Perhaps the attempt was inspired by a touch of concussion after a dubious clothes-line earlier in the game.

With numbers short in the front row, MT and Boris stepped up like Titans, but against a full Moderns pack they were outgunned. The pressure eventually told, with the scrum creaking backwards and MT’s back giving way after a scrum collapse. To their credit, Moderns responded with sporting spirit and agreed to reduce numbers to match Bourne.

The first half proved more of a warm-up; the second was a contest. Bourne regrouped at the break, stemmed the tide, and limited Moderns to just three further tries. There was real heart in their resistance, and passages of play that suggested a growing cohesion.

The returning Stu Richardson managed a full match without recourse to a wheelbarrow exit, which counted as a victory in itself. Utility man Ollie, last week’s man of the match, was everywhere once again, no doubt spurred on by the promise of a night out in Nottingham. Debutant Austin at scrum-half distributed with the sharpness of his namesake Austin Healey, while Big Sam, playing only his second match, endured a baptism of fire in the backline. Built like a giant who clearly belongs in the pack, he nonetheless soaked up wave after wave of tackling practice. Before the game, Dave was heard giving Sam some tackling tips, cheek to cheek, extolling the virtues of a “ring of steel.”

In an attempt to weaken the Bourne side, Moderns lent former Bourne player, lad about town, Jack Langdon. His first act in a Bourne shirt was to send a kick sailing straight dead, gifting Moderns a scrum and proving himself, as ever, remarkably generous with possession. He really is the gift that keeps on giving.

The scoreline, Nottingham Moderns II 69, Bourne II 17, told one story. The second half told another: of heart, humour and resilience against the odds.

The showers afterwards were cold, with no Veo to confirm, but Bananarama and Soft Cell soon warmed spirits. The bright lights of Nottingham beckoned, and the squad answered.

Spirits are high for future games with reinforcements on the way. The wild animals: Nogs and Sherwin due to return in October, promising more ballast and bite. For now, Bourne march on, promising more games, more camaraderie, and more fun. This is a side built on promise and inappropriate memes.

Come and join the Mighty Twos as they continue their campaign to greatness. Fun bus journeys, potential Veo replays, and stories for the ages await.