Match Report – BRUFC U15s vs Market Rasen & Louth (Friendly)

On April 12th, BRUFC U15s welcomed Market Rasen and Louth RFC to The Drove for a friendly fixture played in great spirit. The Easter holidays had taken their toll on availability, with Rasen able to field just 12 players and Bourne 16. A compromise was quickly agreed: 13-a-side, 3-2-1 scrums, with Bourne lending a flanker in each half to keep things competitive and fair.

The weather was superb, though the firm pitches across the county – including at The Drove – made for a fast and physical contest.

Bourne opened the scoring with a well-worked try, stretching the Rasen defence out wide before Rafaels Placis-Vitols finished confidently on the overlap. Will Calvert added an excellent conversion from distance, battling both the angle and strong winds.

The remainder of the first half was evenly contested, with both sides trading tries. Rasen capitalised on Bourne’s occasional reluctance to go to ground, forcing turnovers and attacking effectively both through the middle and out wide. Set pieces were a real positive for both teams: scrums were solid, controlled, and safe, while the lineouts were well executed – Rasen making good use of the maul and Bourne taking the opportunity to test a variety of set plays.

After the break, Bourne raised their intensity and took control. With a few tactical tweaks, they began to dominate possession and territory, executing their set plays with growing confidence. Two of their tries came from clean line breaks, while Zak Forbes showed great awareness to chase down a short restart, gathering at pace and finishing in style – complete with a dramatic (and arguably unnecessary) dive for the line.

Rasen continued to battle and were rewarded with a well-earned second-half try, driving over from a strong scrum pick. Both sides, however, were clearly below full strength – Bourne missing key front-row options and some pace in the backs – making this a valuable and enjoyable contest with plenty of positives to take forward. A full-strength rematch next season is certainly one to look forward to.

After the game, both teams came together to enjoy post-match food provided by BRUFC. Bourne recognised Rasen’s number 12 and 15 as standout performers, while Benjamin Kuhn was named BRUFC’s Man of the Match. The Captain’s Award went to Alex Allen for his strong carries and excellent all-round performance. Special mention also goes to Dan Croom and Dawson Crowson, who both pulled on a Rasen shirt for a half, and to referee Rhys, who managed the game superbly with his usual mix of control and good humour.

BRUFC wish Market Rasen and Louth RFC all the very best for the remainder of their season.