Team Selection: In the backs, there was one positional and one personnel change: Fullback Ryan Morrell moved to the left wing to replace the injured Ash Taylor and Ryan, in turn, was replaced by Mike Pope coming off the bench. The forwards: were unchanged.

The weather was grey and over cast with the threat of rain.

Disappointing End to the Season.

As in last week’s game, losing two players to yellow cards in the first few minutes of the game didn’t help Bournemouth’s cause. As it was, Bournemouth conceded a score within a minute of the start and we never got into the game during the that first half. Down by 19 points after 25 minutes, Bournemouth pulled one score back when, a couple or more minutes later, inside centre Aam Higgins forced his way over for a try, converted by his fellow centre the ever-reliable Grant Hancox. With Bournemouth getting in the game much more effectively, a chance went a-begging when the ball was knocked on in front of the posts to frustrate a promising move. Nonetheless, the pressure yielded a penalty as Banbury strove to keep the visitors out and Hancox kicked his second goal. Banbury kicked the restart straight out and from a solid scrum Bournemouth went left and were almost in, but the try was not awarded. Bournemouth’s efforts also did not meet with the referee’s approval and Banbury kicked the ball off to end the half.

That was as good as it got, I’m afraid. Bournemouth failed to score in the second half and Banbury added two more tries to gain a 5-point win. Although lower than us in the division, Banbury remain a bogey side for us, and we have only won once in seven encounters.

That’s it folks. The end of another season. Thank you for your support throughout and we look forward to hosting you all next season. Stick with us. Your company is always a pleasure as well as vital. Thank you also to all those who make this at all possible, the management, the support staff and we especially value the treatment the boys get from Luisa and Mateo. However, I must pick out one person whose contribution to the Bournemouth effort and that is the indefatigable Gemma Buchanan. Not certain where would be without her. ‘Thank you’ Gemma. However disappointing Saturday might have been I hope you have all enjoyed the season nonetheless.

Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: One positional change in the backs: centres Higgins and Hancox swopping places. In the forwards: BS flanker Connor McCaffery replaced lock Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa, OS flanker Ben Kimber replaced McCaffery and Sam Elrick made his first start in replacing Kimber. On the bench, 2nd team player Matt Durkin, making his 1st XV debut, replaced Elrick.

Yet another Bournemouth Come-back this time pipped at the Post.

The weather was simply awful. Very wet and very cold. Losing two players to yellow cards in the first few minutes of the game didn’t help Bournemouth’s cause and they did well to confine the damage to just a penalty. Bournemouth struggled to contain RWB in those opening minutes and they eventually conceded another score to go behind 0-8 after nearly 20 minutes. RWB chose to scrum a penalty in front of Bournemouth’s posts but that didn’t go to plan and Bournemouth were able to clear. Nonetheless RWB continued to dominate and with half-time fast approaching they drove off a lineout before moving the ball left to score under the posts. The goal was duly kicked and RWB led 15-0 after 39 minutes. Despite some good Bournemouth play they couldn’t breach the home defence and they went in for their oranges adrift by 15 points. Winger Jordie Wayman had a good run early to lift the Bournemouth spirits, but they remained scoreless, and it was 20 minutes into the half before Hancox had the opportunity to get Bournemouth on the scoreboard with a penalty. The game was very tight with neither side yielding. It was from a line-out some ten metres out that Bournemouth first drove before releasing left. The ball came back right, and Hancox was over for Bournemouth’s first try. The same player failed to convert but at least Bournemouth had reduced the deficit at 8-15 30 minutes into the half. RWB committed the cardinal sin of kicking the restart straight out to give Bournemouth an attacking scrum on the half-way line. Attacking right they rather spoilt things with a knock on but regained the advantage by winning the subsequent scrum. Going left off the scrum, they were awarded a scrum inside the RWB 22m. Securing the ball they made a dent going right before coming back left and Pope was over. Hancox tied the scores up at 15-all with six minutes of actual time left. Securing the restart, Bournemouth kicked left to find touch. Bournemouth were awarded a scrum at the line-out and attacked right. With the referee signalling advantage, Bournemouth continued to attack but when no advantage accrued, play came back to the original penalty. Hancox kicked the penalty from inside the RWB 22m and Bournemouth led 18-15 with just a minute of actual time to go. RWB secured the restart and attacked right before kicking. Bournemouth kicked clear but RWB countered only for Bournemouth to be penalized in the tackle. RWB found touch to their left inside the Bournemouth 22m. They drove off the line-out and scored. Although the conversion attempt failed, they were back in the lead at 22-18. Bournemouth chased down the restart forcing RWB to kick. The kick was fielded, and a rather optimistic drop goal was attempted which was charged down and RWB were pleased to end proceedings by kicking the ball off the park in the sixth minute of extra time.

Bournemouth’s next match is away to Banbury, Saturday, March 18, KO 3.00PM.
Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: There were a number of changes to both the backs and forwards that played in the Maidenhead game a fortnight ago: At fullback, Ryan Morrell returned to replace Josh Wickens and on the right-wing Ashley Taylor was moved to the left-wing to replace Sam Palmer. OS centre Jordan Wayman was moved to replace Taylor to be replaced by IS centre Adam Higgins. Higgins, in turn, was replaced by the returning Hancox at IS Centre. In the forwards: the front row remained unchanged. In the second row, Connor McCaffery was moved to BS flanker to be replaced by Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa returning from injury. BS Flanker Ben Kimber, replaced by McCaffery, replaced OS Flanker Ciaran Smyth concussed in the Maidenhead game. There were two changes on the bench: Mike Pope and newcomer Sam Elrick replacing Oli Grainger-Williams and Ken Sasu.

The weather was again over cast with no sun, with no noticeable wind. Under foot, the pitch looked in good nick, all amounting to perfect conditions for a game of rugby football.

The ‘Come-back’ Kids Edge a Thriller – The headlines from last week’s report and pertinent for this one.

Again, what an astonishing match. Despite taking an early lead of 7-3 through a Hancox try and conversion despite the same player missing an earlier penalty through his unerring ability to hit a 4-inch upright from some 50 yards distance rather than putting it through a much larger gap between the uprights just to the left, Bournemouth contrived to make life difficult for themselves y being reduced to 12 players when referee Tom Falkingham showed the yellow peril to three Bournemouth players – causing much consternation amongst the supporters I can assure you. Bournemouth did well to limit the damage to just 10 points, in fact clawing back three points of their own through the Hancox boot but, on being restored to a full complement, promptly conceded 14 points through some pretty rapid dashes down the right wing. However, Bournemouth got back 12 points of their own late in the half through the good offices of captain Manning and No 8 Desmond topped-up by Mr Hancox.to give some sort of respectability to the half-time score of 22-27.

However, much of this late recovery was undone when the Welsh scored a couple of tries within eight minutes of the restart to make the score 22-37. How crucial would those missed kicks at goal be? Nonetheless a resilient Bournemouth struck back with two scores of their own through wingers Taylor and Wayman to make the score 32-37 after almost an hour. With Bournemouth refusing to give anything away, the rising tension and hope amongst the home supporters was palpable. However, it was stalemate for a quarter of an hour before Hancox kicked another goal to make the score 35-37 and, as somebody said, ‘This game can be still won or lost.’ It was all getting too much for your correspondent and many others in the crowd I would suggest as Bournemouth strove to conjure up a winning score.

Then dramatically and accompanied by an enormous roar of delight from the home crowd the indefatigable Hancox rounded off a fine personal display by forcing his way over to score his second try, neatly bracketing Bournemouth’s scoring. ‘What a score’ as a certain Mr Morgan once famously said. Hancox picked himself up and kicked the goal to make the score 42-37 and as the ball sailed between the uprights, referee Falkingham relieved the tension amongst the rest of us by blowing for no side.

Bournemouth move up one place to 7th on 45 points. London Welsh remain 6^th on 50 points having played 21 games, one more than Bournemouth.

Fixtures Next Week – March 11:

Havant v Banbury, London Welsh v Maidenhead, Oxford Harlequins v Brighton, Royal Wootton Bassett v Bournemouth, Sutton & Epsom v Bracknell, Wimbeldon v Camberley.

Bournemouth’s next match is away to Royal Wootton Bassett, Saturday, March 11, KO 3.00PM.

Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: There were two changes to the backs that played in the Brighton game: At full back, Ryan Morrell was replaced by Josh Wickens and at IS centre Grant Hancox’s place was taken by the returning Adam Higgins, now recovered from injury. Just one change in the forwards: Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa was replaced by Ben Goodall, coming of the bench. Two other changes on the bench: The returning Oli Grainger-Williams replaced Josh Wickens and the also returning Ken Sasu replaced Ben Goodall.

The weather was thankfully over cast with no sun, with a noticeable wind blowing right/left as viewed from the stand. Under foot, the pitch looked in good nick, all amounting to perfect conditions for a game of rugby football.

The ‘Come-back’ Kids Edge a Thriller

What an astonishing match. Sharing 12 tries and Bournemouth overcoming a match-losing deficit. Bournemouth, after early pressure tested the Maidenhead defence, were stunned by two tries from deep inside their own half, outdone by the electrifying pace of the Maidenhead left winger, found themselves 19-nil down after just 18 minutes. Bournemouth managed to get on the score board with a converted try but conceded a fourth try after half-an-hour. Despite responding almost immediately with a try of their own, Bournemouth conceded a fifth try in extra time of that first half to go into the break 14-29 down. A ‘three-score’ lead, a challenging situation you might say.

Scrum-half Harry pegged the home side back with a penalty early in the second half to leave the scores at 17-29. Then in an astonishing 15 minutes of play, Bournemouth scored three tries to take the lead for the first time at 34-29. Maidenhead were not yet done, with five minutes left they scored their sixth try of the afternoon to regain the lead at 36-34. Two minutes later Bournemouth struck back for them, in turn, to regain the lead at 39-36. With referee De Weyman playing six minutes of extra time those last nine minutes of play were highly stressful for the Bournemouth supporters, but the lads held on for what can only be described as a welcome ‘away’ win.

Bournemouth move up one place to 7th on 40 points. Maidenhead remain 4th on 57 points having played 20 games, one more than Bournemouth.

Fixtures Next Week – February 25:

Banbury v Camberley, Bracknell v London Welsh, Brighton v Sutton & Epsom, Royal Wootton Bassett v Oxford Harlequins.

Bournemouth’s next match is home to London Welsh, Saturday, March 4, KO 3.00PM.

Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: Two changes to the backs that played in the Havant game: Ryan Morrell replaced Antony Fitch, now left us joining Ayre Bulls, at full back and the injured Adam Higgins was replaced by Jordan Wayman at outside centre. Two changes in the forwards: Alan Manning replaced the injured Tom Napier at LH prop, Alan being replaced at hooker by Conrad Carkeet coming off the bench and Connor McCaffery returned to replace Ben Goodall at lock, Ben moving to the bench to replace Conrad Carkeet. The back row remained unchanged. On the bench, the other change was Louis Allum being replaced by Henry Turner. The weather was thankfully over cast, cold but crucially no wind. Under foot, the pitch looked in good nick, all amounting to perfect conditions for a game of rugby football.

Robust Second-half Defence Ensures A Well-earned Victory

As last week and for every other week it strikes me, Grant Hancox was in fine kicking form again capitalizing on early Bournemouth pressure that yielded two penalties both of which he converted. Bournemouth kicked off left, recovered the ball and ran a very aggressive three-quarter move that almost got in but when they came back left the Brighton defence was penalized in their attempts to stem the flow. From in front of the posts, Hancox kicked his first goal of the afternoon in an identical scenario to last week.

1m: 3-0 Hancox/12/p.

Bournemouth ran the Brighton restart left before kicking. Brighton conceded a penalty as Bournemouth chased down the ball and, with the resultant kick, found touch to their left inside the Brighton 22m. Driving off the line-out, they released the ball right but the Brighton defence turned the ball over and countered before finding touch to their right on their own 10m. Bournemouth were awarded a penalty at the line-out. From inside the Brighton 10m, Hancox kicked his second goal, a little later than last week but welcome nonetheless.

7m: 6-0 Hancox/12/p.

Bournemouth kicked the restart back left for a Brighton line-out on their own 22m. Going left, they kicked the ball straight out for a Bournemouth lien-out. Initially driving off the line-out, Bournemouth released the ball to the backs and outside centre Jordan Wayman made a searing break and was almost in under the posts, but flanker Ciaran Smyth was on hand to secure the try giving Hancox the easiest of tasks of securing those vital two extra points.

10m: 13-0 Smyth/7/t, Hancox/12/c.

Brighton’s restart didn’t go 10m for a ‘scrum back’. From the scrum,

Bournemouth went left before kicking and Brighton had a line-out outside their own 22m. The Brighton backs showed how dangerous they could be with a strong run left, but Bournemouth managed to turn the ball over midfield. A Bournemouth player was injured in the process and referee Foster stopped play so he could be attended to by physio Laura. Play was restarted with a Bournemouth scrum. Going right, however, the ball was ‘lost’ forward for a Brighton scrum. Typical of the play all afternoon, the defences were hard to break down but in this phase of play it was largely Bournemouth on the offensive. Scrum half Harry Warr tried a little chip into the Brighton dead ball area only for the home side to have a try-line drop out. On receiving the bail, Bournemouth attacked strongly down their right with hooker Conrad Carkeet up in support of his threes with a strong run tight down the right touchline stretching the home defence. Although the move was stopped short of the line, Bournemouth worked the ball infield and there was Smyth on hand to crash over under the posts to secure his second try. Hancox kicked his fourth goal of the afternoon and Bournemouth were beginning to stretch away.

28m: 20-0 Smyth/7/t, Hancox/12/c.

With play being a real ding-dong back and forth, Brighton got themselves penalized and another 10 metres for questioning the decision to make Hancox’s job that much easier and, from inside the Brighton 22m, Hancox kicked another excellent goal.

35m: 23-0 Hancox/12/p.

With two defences largely neutralizing the opposition’s attacking plays there was no more score in the half.

40+9m: 23-0 Half-time.

After such a consummate first-half performance, if Bournemouth thought they would be able to continue in the same vein in the second period they were quickly disabused of any such notion. The first wake-up call came just a couple of minutes after the restart when Bournemouth were penalized in midfield after Brighton attacked off a line-out. ‘Running’ the penalty, Brighton went right and were over the corner, but the kick for goal was pushed past the near post.

43m: 23-5 Brighton/t.

Brighton ran back Bournemouth’s restart with a dangerous run right before kicking the ball to find touch just 5 metres out from the Bournemouth line. Brighton ‘stole’ the throw-in, drove for the line and were over. From wide-out, the kick was good, and Brighton were right back in this game, if they were ever out of it I might surmise.

48m: 23-12 Brighton/tc.

Perhaps even worse was to follow at the restart. Brighton ran the restart back and scored, just like that. On top of that the kick was good and Bournemouth’s lead had shrunk to very tenuous proportions.

49m: 23-19 Brighton/tc.

Brighton kicked Bournemouth’s restart and Bournemouth ran it back left, Brighton conceding a penalty in their attempts to cut out the threat. From the Brighton 10m, the reliable Hancox did what he knows best, an Bournemouth had extended that threatened lead.

53m: 26-19 Hancox/12/p.

That shred of comfort was promptly neutralized when Brighton restarted left and were awarded a penalty inside the Bournemouth 22m Over the kick went and Bournemouth were back where they were just a minute or so earlier.

54m: 26-22 Brighton/p.

Bournemouth threatened from an early line-out but rather spoilt things by knocking the ball on. To ru salt in the wounds, Bournemouth were penalized at the scrum. Brighton found touch for a line-out on the Bournemouth 22m. Securing the throw-in, Brighton attacked strongly first left, back right, back left, and back right but a missed pass gave Bournemouth the put-in at a scrum on their own 22m. Strong attacks by both sides couldn’t provide the break through and referee Foster eventually stopped play so that a Brighton player could be treated for an injury. A strong Bournemouth shove at the resultant scrum meant it had to be reset but when Brighton attacked left Bournemouth turned the ball over and countered left to be awarded a penalty. Hancox kicked the goal to redress Brighton’s earlier effort.

66m: 29-22 Hancox/12/p.

Both sides threatened but again the defences held firm. Bournemouth were awarded a penalty but Hancox’s kick from the half-way line hit the cross bar and bounced clear. The game remained very tight and was the cause of much nervousness for us looking on. In those dying the strong play of Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa was much in evidence and he was instrumental in Brighton conceding a penalty just ten metres out. With what proved to be the last kick of the game, Hancox added the three points and Foster blew for ‘no time’.

80+2m: 32-22 Hancox/12/p. Full Time.

Fixtures Next Week – February 18:

Havant v Sutton & Epsom, London Welsh v Brighton,

Maidenhead v Bournemouth, Oxford Harlequins v Banbury,

Royal Wootton Bassett v Camberley, Wimbledon v Bracknell.

Bournemouth’s next match is away to Maidenhead, Saturday, February 18, KO 2.30PM.

Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: Just one change to the backs that played in the Camberley game. In the forwards, the two locks: Matt Warwick and Connor McCaffery were replaced by Ben Goodall and Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa, the latter coming off the bench. The back row remained unchanged. On the bench, Louis Allum and Josh Wickens replacd Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa and Jordan Wayman Over cast, so good with out the sun, cold but crucially no wind. Underfoot, the pitch looked in good nick, all amounting to perfect conditions for a game of rugby football.

Bournemouth’s Second-half Performance nearly brought Home the Bacon

As last week, Grant Hancox was in fine kicking form capitalizing on early Bournemouth pressure that yielded three penalties all of which he kicked. Bournemouth got to a flying-start with Havant being penalized for a high tackleas Bournemouth recovered their own kick-off with Hancox kicking his first goal from inside the Havant 10m.

1m: 3-0 Hancox/12/9.

With Bournemouth continuing to put Havant under considerable pressure, the visitors yielded a second penalty and two minutes later, from a similar position, the inside centre kicked his second goal.

3m: 6-0 Hancox/12/p.

Havant were penalized at a scrum at the restart and full-back Antony Fitch found a good touch to his left on the Havant 22m. The throw-in wasn’t straight but Bournemouth pressure at the resulting scrum yielded a penalty. Hancox, from just 10 metres, kicked his third goal of the afternoon.

9m: 9-0 Hancox/12/p.

Bournemouth soon discovered how dangerous Havant’s Joel Knight could be, when the centre broke from deep within his own half to release Ben Holt to score an outstanding try, if rather ominous one from a Bournemouth perspective.

12m: 9-7 Havant/tc.

Again, Bournemouth pressure in a scrum at the restart yielded another penalty and Hancox, from again inside the Havant 10m, kicked another excellent goal.

14m: 12-7 Havant/tc.

Havant found it difficult to break down the Bournemouth defence but from a lineout on the Bournemouth 10m kicked. A good chase saw them catch the receiver in possession and turned the ball over to score under the posts. The conversion was a formality.

28m: 12-14 Havant/tc.

Havant ran the restart back and a good passing movement, again through their dangerous threes, saw them over again for a third converted try.

30m: 12-21 Havant/tc.

To add to Bournemouth’s misery, they had been penalized in trying to prevent the score and Havant had a penalty at the restart. They found touch to their left on the Bournemouth 22m but attacking right off the line-out they were penalized. Bournemouth found touch to their left. Havant ‘stole’ the throw-in, but Bournemouth recovered the situation by turning the ball over and being awarded a scrum on the Havant 10m for a Havant knock-on. With referee Ware playing advantage, Bournemouth out from the scrum but a desperate Havant defence managed to prevent them from scoring. The cleared right for a Bournemouth line-out on the Havant 22m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out and released the ball right but were penalized on the Havant 5m. Havant found touch to their left and, at the line-out, Ware blew for half-time.

40m: 12-21 Half-time.

Bournemouth ran the Havant restart before kicking but Havant countered dangerously taking play deep into the Bournemouth 22m before they were finally stopped, and Bournemouth awarded a scrum. Havant were penalized as Bournemouth attacked right off the scrum and Fitch found touch to his left inside the Bournemouth 10m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out before releasing the ball right taking play into the Havant 22m where the visitors were penalized. Bournemouth found touch to their right 10 metres out. Driving off the line-out, Havant turned the ball over and cleared left for a Bournemouth line-out outside the Havant 22m. Driving off the line-out, they released the ball left with full-back Fitch coming in the line to provide the extra man, but a dangerous three-quarter move ended when Bournemouth were penalized chasing down their kick ahead. Havant Found touch to their right for a line-out outside their own 22m. Attacking left, Havant chipped ahead. Bournemouth secured the ball and countered first right then left before breaking out. They worked the ball back left to find Taylor coming off his wing to score in the corner. Hancox failed to convert but Bournemouth had got the second half off to a good start.

49m: 17-21 Taylor/14/t, Hancox/12/c miss.

Despite some good Bournemouth pressure from the restart, they were penalized at a Havant scrum despite an excellent counter shove. Havant found touch to their left just 10 metres out from the Bournemouth. A well-organized drive off the line-out saw them over the line. The kick was good, and Havant had, very quickly, restored their lead.

56m: 17-28 Havant/tc.

With Lock Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa to the fore Bournemouth struck back strongly and won a penalty. Fitch found touch his right just ten metres from the Havant line. Havant were penalized again, and Fitch found touch but this time a little closer. Havant countered the drive but Bournemouth recovered for flanker Ciaran Smyth to force his way over. Hancox kicked the goal.

62m: 24-28 Smyth/7/t. Hancox/12/c..

Try as they might, Bournemouth couldn’t break Havant down and the visitors held on for a hard-won victory.

80+1m: 24-28 Full Time.

Bournemouth’s playing record against Havant.

League: P2 W0 D0 L2. For 31/3e2c4p, Ag 62/9t7cp.

Overall: 43 W15 D0 L28. For 453/47t20c33p2d, Ag 689/89t52c35pd.

Bournemouth’s next match is away to Brighton, Saturday (Feb 11, KO 2.30PM).

Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: The backs are unchanged from that selected for the voided Banbury game. In the forwards, two changes: Henry Turner was replaced by the returning Tom Napier at loosehead prop and Matt Warwick came off the bench to replace Lock Ben Goodall. On the bench; Louis Allum was replaced by the returning Conrad Carkeet and Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa replaced Matt Warwick. Overcast and cold but crucially no wind. Underfoot, the pitch looked in good nick, all amounting to perfect conditions for a game of rugby football.

Hancox’s Flawless Kicking Maximizes His Team’s Extraordinary Effort

It is perhaps invidious to pick out an individual in a team game as I do in my headline, but Grant’s kicking proved to be the difference between the two teams. Whereas Bournemouth were penalized off the park, Camberley chose not to kick for goal once. Grant, on the other hand, kicked at every opportunity his team presented to him and returned a crucial haul of four goals. Despite this he was not even nominated Bournemouth’s Man of the Match that being awarded to lock Connor McCaffery who nicked much of Camberley’s lineout ball thus robbing them of much of their momentum that would be gained at this set piece. Right from the kick-off Bournemouth, although under constant pressure, showed remarkable energy in smothering any Camberley threat giving the visitors no chance to develop any scoring chance. It was largely stalemate for the first quarter of an hour, but an exchange of kicks saw Alan Manning in possession and the prop was over just right of the posts. Hancox kicked the first of his goals and Bournemouth lead 7-nil.

15m: 7-0 Manning/C/1/t, Hancox/12/c.

Bournemouth almost broke through to score going left inside the Camberley 22m but were penalized for holding on. Camberley found touch to their left, but McCaffery ‘stole’ the ball at the line-out. Bournemouth attacked first left then back right then back left. A chip forward saw the ball go into the dead-ball area. It was chased down by the rapid Ryan Morrell and he beat the opposition to secure the touchdown. From wide out, and on the ‘wrong side’ for the left-footed Hancox, the centre kicked a quite remarkable and most valuable, in the context of this game, goal much to the evident pleasure of those of us looking on.

23m: 14-0 Morrell/11/t, Hancox/12/c.

Camberley recovered their own restart and put Bournemouth under much pressure. This was stoutly resisted but Camberley weren’t to be denied. From a line-out on their right, the forwards drove for the line and scored only for the kick at goal to be pulled wide of the posts. Perhaps reflecting the pressure they were under, that completed Bournemouth’s try-scoring efforts for the afternoon

34m: 14-5 Camberley/t.

Bournemouth recovered their own restart and Camberley were penalized in the contact. Hancox kicked the goal to partially restore the situation.

38m: 17-5 Hancox/12/p.

Camberley threatened at the death of the first half when they had a line out on the Bournemouth 5m. When they drove off the line-out but were forced wide, Bournemouth broke it up to end the half.

46m: 17-5 Half-time. Clock reset to 40m for the second half.

Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa, on for No 8 Matt Warwick, was in much evidence in the early exchanges of the second period and helped get Bournemouth going forward. It was this pressure that yielded a penalty in front of the posts, that Hancox duly kicked to give his side an apparent comfortable lead at 20-5.

54m: 20-5 Hancox/12/p.

Not only did this mark the completion of the Bournemouth scoring for the afternoon, but the opposition demonstrated that this was by no means comfortable lead. Bournemouth’s cause was not helped when they ‘lost’ scrumhalf Warr to a yellow card, Hancox taking over scrum-half duties.

70m: 20-5 Warr/9 yellow card.

With the penalty, Camberley found touch to their left for a 5m line-out. Driving off the line-out, the forwards got the ball over the line but were held up for a Bournemouth try-line drop out. Camberley countered right but were penalized on the Bournemouth 22m and Hancox found a very useful touch to his left on the halfway line. Despite Bournemouth securing the throw-in, Camberley were awarded a scrum where Bournemouth were penalized. Finding touch to their right Camberley attacked first left and then back right but a low pass caused the knock-on for a Bournemouth scrum on their 22m. Camberley’s shove yielded the penalty and from a line-out 10m out on their drove for the line and scored. The kick failed but the lead was looking particularly vulnerable especially to nervous supporters.

80m: 20-10 Camberley/t.

We were nw into time added on for injury. Bournemouth chased down the restart, but the ball was knocked on for Camberley scrum. Going right, a great run took play deep into the Bournemouth half and they scored under the posts. The conversion was a formality and there was just a score in it. The remainder of extra time was going to be an eternity, well at least for the Bournemouth supporters.

83m: 20-17 Camberley/t.

And so it proved. Another six minutes of tense rugby. Perhaps a reflection of that was Camberley being penalized and then a further 10m for dissent straight from the restart. Fitch found touch to his left outside the Camberley 22m. However, a ‘not straight’ gave Camberley the put-in at a scrum. Bournemouth compounded this error by getting themselves penalized yet again and Camberley found touch to their right on the Bournemouth 10m. Camberley drove off the line-out countered by Bournemouth who were awarded a scrum for their efforts.

The restored Warr put the ball in at the scrum and unceremoniously kicked the ball off the park when it was successfully hooked to end the agony for the rest of us.

89m: 20-17 Full Time.

Fixtures Next Week:

Bournemouth v Havant, Bracknell v Banbury, Royal Wootton Bassett v Maidenhead, Sutton & Epsom v Camberley.

Bournemouth’s next match is the game postponed from December 17 against Havant this coming Saturday (February 4, KO 2.00PM.

Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: In the backs, inside centre Antony Fitch replaced Ryan Morrell at full back, Morrell moving to the bench. Fitch was replaced by scrum-half Grant Hancox who was replaced by Harry Warr, returning after a two-match absence. There was a reshuffle in the front row. In the absence of hooker Conrad Carkeet (concussed in the Sutton game the previous week), Alan Manning took over hooking duties and Tom Napier came off the bench to replace Manning at loosehead. In the second row, Ben Goodall was preferred to Matt Warwick as fellow lock to Connor McCafferty, the two swopping places on the bench. The back row was unchanged. On the bench, new player Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa (Anjol) made his first appearance for the 1^st XV.

Fine and overcast but with a stiff Westerley breeze that blew straight down the pitch, giving the side playing with the wind a notable advantage.

Bournemouth Overwhelmed by Hard-running Backs

Bracknell kicked off right to left as viewed from the stand, i.e. into the aforesaid wind.

Bournemouth got off to a good start when they drove off a 5m line-out on the right and prop Luca Firetto secured the touchdown to the right of the posts. The left-footed Hancox pulled his kick for goal outside the near post.

6m: Bournemouth 5-0 Bracknell

Bracknell promptly nullified this score when three minutes later they did much the same to Bournemouth in the righthand corner. Their kick for goal had the same result as Bournemouth’s effort, to leave the scores level at five apiece.

9m: Bournemouth 5-5 Bracknell

Bournemouth restarted left and managed to retrieve the ball. Hancox broke through a hole in the defence, but a promising move left was stopped with a forward pass. Bracknell went right from the scrum, but a knock-on gave Bournemouth the put in at a scrum. They went left and Oli Grainger-Williams’s hands who came off his wing into contact where Bournemouth were awarded a penalty. Full back Fitch found touch to his right less than 10 metres out. A knock on in the lineout gave Bracknell a scrum. The No8 broke off the back and moved the ball right before Bracknell kicked. Bournemouth countered left and right before putting in a grubber kick only for referee Daniel Evans to bring play back for an earlier Bracknell infringement. From the Bracknell 10m Hancox kicked a fine goal to reestablish the Bournemouth lead at 8-5.

19m: Bournemouth 8-5 Bracknell

Hancox had another chance to add to his tally when Bournemouth were awarded another penalty. However, he contrived to hit the lefthand post, a remarkable feat from the halfway line and Bracknell had a 22m drop-out instead. Bracknell threatened left and right but when they kicked, a Bracknell player was ‘yellow carded’ for a high tackle on a Bournemouth defender.

26m: Bournemouth 8-5 Bracknell

Bournemouth found touch to their left and, when they attacked right off the line-out, Bracknell were penalized for Fitch to find touch on their 22m. An excellent three-quarter move left saw the ball in Grainger-Williams’s hands and the winger showed great pace to elude the would-be defenders and he was over in the corner. From his ‘wrong’ side, Hancox kicked an equally excellent goal to extend the lead to 15-5.

31m: Bournemouth 15-5 Bracknell

When Bournemouth kicked the restart back, Bracknell countered dangerously but Bournemouth managed to turn the ball over and a grubber kick right gave Bracknell a line-out outside their own 22m. When they kicked from the line-out, Bracknell were penalized for tackling a Bournemouth defender in the air. Fitch found touch to his right outside the Bracknell 22m. Driving off the line-out, Bournemouth released the ball left but a forward pass saw Evans bring play back to an earlier Bracknell infringement. Fitch found touch to his right on he Bracknell 5m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out and lock Ben Goodal ahd scored his first try for the Club. Perversely, despite clearly allowing for a very stiff wind, Hancox’s kick refused to obey the normal rules of aerodynamics and sailed past the far post before, mockingly, turning in as it should have done earlier.

31m: Bournemouth 20-5 Bracknell

Bournemouth had a last hurrah in that first half but were driven into touch by the Bracknell defenders to end proceedings and for them to retire for some well-earned oranges.

40+4m: Bournemouth 20-5 Bracknell

Despite recovering their own restart, a knock-on gave Bracknell a scrum on the Bournemouth 10m. Going left, a kick through saw Bracknell score wide out. An excellent conversion further reduced the deficit.

42m: Bournemouth 20-12 Bracknell

With both sides probing the opposition’s defences, in what was undoubtedly a crucial factor for the remainder of the game, the Bracknell hooker was ‘red-carded’ for a dangerous tackle. Hancox further punished them by kicking a penalty goal into that wind from the Bracknell 10m and, I may add, by some margin to extend Bournemouth’s lead.

56m: Bournemouth 23-12 Bracknell

If Bournemouth had any thoughts ‘game over’ they were soon disabused of such a notion. From a line-out inside the Bournemouth 22m, the Bracknell threes made a big dent in the Bournemouth defence and continuing left were over in the corner. Despite not being converted, the try brought Bracknell within one score of Bournemouth’s lead.

61m: Bournemouth 23-17 Bracknell

As it happened, that ended the scoring for the afternoon, but it didn’t end the tension for us Bournemouth supporters as the 14 Bracknell players defended like demons to keep the home side out. However, on the other side of the coin it was a gutsy performance on Bournemouth’s part not to yield their hard-won advantage and a well-earned valuable four points. There was one promising thing for Bournemouth however, it was the promising debut of Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa, or Anjol for us linguistically challenged individuals. I would be so bold as to suggest he will prove to be a real asset for Bournemouth.

80+7m: Bournemouth 23-17 Bracknell – Full Time

Bournemouth’s next match is this coming Saturday (January 21) away to Banbury, KO 2.00PM. Be there.

Doug Warren

Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: In the backs just the one change to the line-up that faced Camberley last week, the returning Grant Hancox replacing the unavailable Adam Higgins at outside centre. In the forwards, the injured Ben Kimber was replaced by Dean Smith, making his first start of the season, at blindside flanker and the unavailable Joe Desmond was replaced by the returning Jake Guildford, now recovered from a neck injury. A complete change on the bench with Joe Martin, making his 1st XV debut replacing Dean Smith, with Tom Napier and Jack Young joining him on the bench. Making his 35th appearance for the 1^st XV, Conrad Carkeet was presented with his 1st XV Honours tie after the match. The weather was pretty miserable with sheets of rain driven the length of the pitch by a fresh breeze. Underfoot, it stood up very well to what the heavens were throwing at it.

A Close Run Thing

Brighton kicked off R to L as viewed from the stand and to their R. With Bournemouth having hauled themselves into a 14-13 lead five minutes or so into the second half, this match was decided by the only other scores in the half with two changes of the lead in injury time.

Bournemouth survived an early scare when having ‘lost’ a line-out they managed to keep out a strong Brighton attack down the left. From the resulting scrum, scrum-half Harry Warr kicked, and Brighton found touch to their left. Off the line-out, a promising Bournemouth three-quarter move left came to naught when the final pass, which was perhaps a little over ambitious, was knocked on for a Brighton scrum. Despite some handling errors, Bournemouth maintained the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts after the referee, Steve McMahon had played advantage after an infringement at an earlier scrum. Hancox kicked the goal.

11m: Bournemouth 3-0 Brighton

This early advantage was nullified just a couple of minutes later when

Bournemouth, rather than clearing a penalty away to touch, managed to

contrive to get themselves penalized for ‘holding on’. From the Bournemouth 22m, Brighton kicked the goal to level the scores at 3-all

13m: Bournemouth 3-3 Brighton

Bournemouth having won a scrum resisting a Brighton drive off a line-out at the restart, went right with Mike Pope making something more than a half break with Warr chipping to gain further ground when the fly-half was stopped. Although the ball was ‘lost’ in the chase, Brighton were penalized and Bournemouth found touch to their left inside the Brighton 22m. Bournemouth maintained the pressure, with hooker Conrad Carkeet in the van going right but when the ball was released left Bournemouth kicked, the Brighton return kick fielded by right wing Ash Taylor. He took the ball into contact and Brighton were penalized in their efforts to stop him and Hancox kicked his second goal of the afternoon.

22m: Bournemouth 6-3 Brighton

Bournemouth didn’t do very well at the restart when, having kicked clear.

Brighton kicked right, deep into the Bournemouth 22m where they managed to recover the ball and were over wide out. The conversion was good, and Brighton took the lead for the first time at 10-6.

26m: Bournemouth 6-10 Brighton

Bournemouth maintained the pressure with Brighton not able to get out of their half. Bournemouth showed good ball retention as they probed a determined Brighton defence. They were eventually rewarded, if that is the right word, when a Brighton defender was ‘yellow carded’ and from in front of the posts Hancox pegged the deficit back by three points.

34m: Bournemouth 9-10 Brighton

Bournemouth restarted left and the ball bounced into touch for a Brighton lineout. ‘Not straight’ was the referee’s judgment and Bournemouth attacked left off the resulting scrum. They ‘lost’ the ball forward, got penalized and found themselves defending a line-out on their left inside their own 22m. Brighton went left and chipped back inside the Bournemouth 22m and recovered the ball with McMahon playing advantage for Bournemouth not ‘rolling away’. When none accrued, he came back to the original infringement. From right of the posts, Brighton kicked the goal to end the half.

40+2m: Bournemouth 9-13 Brighton – Half-time

The clock was reset to 40m for the start of the second half. With the weather perhaps getting even worse, it made Bournemouth’s task in this second half even more difficult, facing stubborn opponents. They restarted L. An early exchange of penalties saw Bournemouth concede a scrum after some untidy work at a line-out outside the Brighton 10m on their left. Brighton drove off the line-out before releasing left and kicking. Bournemouth kicked back and got themselves penalized and another 10m when disagreement was voiced with the referee’s verdict. Brighton found touch to their left inside their 10m. Coming right they kicked further right fielded by Josh Wickens. The left winger came infield and kicked right into the Brighton 22m. A knock-on by the defenders was pounced on by the chasing Pope and the fly-half was over wide out on the right. Hancox missed the conversion, but Bournemouth had a slender one-point lead.

46m: Bournemouth 14-13 Brighton

With both defences having a stranglehold on their opposite numbers, neither side were able to break free despite Bournemouth having a marked territorial advantage. With time fast running out, some in crowd (all right it was me) suggesting the next score would win the match, it was from a Brighton line-out that Bournemouth gained a turnover but the advantage was lost when Brighton were awarded a scrum midfield as Bournemouth tried to make their way up field. As both sets of forwards tried to dominate their opposite numbers in this clearly crucial scrum, it was reset by McMahon. When it again proved unsatisfactory, Bournemouth were penalized. Inevitably Brighton kicked the goal to retake the lead with how much time left. Who knows? Obviously, the referee but I suspect both sets of supporters would have their own ideas. In one camp far too little. In the other far too much. Oh, the tension.

80+1m: Bournemouth 14-16 Brighton

Bournemouth restarted left and ran the return right, deep into the Brighton half. When play came to a halt, McMahon, who had been playing advantage, came back to an earlier infringement outside the Brighton 10m. Ah Mr Hancox it’s up to you. You have the unenviable task of kicking that wet slimy thing, you’ve been playing with all afternoon, between those two posts you can see some 30 metres or more away into that wind that’s been plaguing you. It’s also a little damp underfoot. Nerveless, the centre added three points to his club career points scoring record, McMahon blew for no time and Bournemouth had won the

match in quite dramatic fashion.

80+3m: Bournemouth 17-16 Brighton – Full Time

Two well-matched sides played some very good football in the most trying of conditions and the score reflects on how little there was between them.

Bournemouth move up two places to 8th on 16 points. Bournemouth’s next match is this Saturday (November 11) home to Maidenhead, KO 2.00PM. There will be a one minute’s silence before the match as a mark of respect for the fallen on this Memorial weekend. Ed

Doug Warren

Bournemouth RFC.

Team Selection: Ryan Morrel, injured in the Banbury game, was replaced by Ash Taylor on the right wing. The unavailable Grant Hancox was replaced at inside centre by fly-half Antony Fitch, Mike Pope replacing Fitch. In the forwards, the only change was the returning Joe Desmond replacing the injured Jake Guildford at No 8. On the bench Bailey Andrews, made his first appearance of the season for the 1st XV, and Pat Fraser, was making his first appearance since the 2019/0 season; the pair replacing Jack Young and Henry Turner respectively.

The weather was bright and sunny with little wind. Underfoot, the pitch was in excellent nick.

Camberley prove too strong

Bournemouth kicked off towards the clubhouse and to their left.

Camberley were penalized early on enabling Fitch to find touch to his left on the Camberley 22m. Driving off the line-out the Bournemouth forwards moved right and pressed for the line-out with Carkeet in the van. They released the ball left but, when nothing came of the move, referee Randall brought play back for a Bournemouth penalty in front of the posts. Fitch kicked the goal and Bournemouth had a three-point lead.

5m: Camberley 0-3 Bournemouth

This early advantage was nullified just a couple of minutes later when Bournemouth were caught offside at the restart and from a 5m line-out, Camberley drove over to score and take a 7-3 lead. With Bournemouth finding it hard to cope with the hard-running Camberley backs Bournemouth had conceded the try-scoring bonus point with just a quarter of the match gone

20m: Camberley 24-3 Bournemouth

Bournemouth struck back however when right wing Ash Taylor finished off a strong three-quarter move by scoring in his corner. Fitch kicked the goal from wide out.

25m: Camberley 24-10 Bournemouth

Bournemouth only just kept Camberley out right from the restart and the Bournemouth defence was rewarded with a 5m-scrum. However, when Bournemouth kicked clear Camberley ran the ball back through their threes. The forwards continued the move by pressing for the line. When nothing came of it the referee brought play back for a Camberley penalty. Bournemouth did well to keep Camberley out from a 5m-lineout but when they had a dropped kick from the try-line, Camberley ran it back and scored wide out on their left.

32m: Camberley 29-10 Bournemouth

Bournemouth were caught offside in the first movement after the restart but won the resulting line-out outside their own 22m. A kick right was well chased down by Taylor but a good Camberley defence kept Bournemouth out. Camberley were awarded a scrum but were penalized for ‘pulling it down’ and Fitch kicked his third goal of the afternoon.

39m: Camberley 29-13 Bournemouth

Bournemouth set up a promising three-quarter move having ‘stolen’ the ball at a Camberley line-out at the restart but could find no way through the Camberley defence and resorted to a chip through which Camberley kicked clear. From the line-out another promising Bournemouth move came to an end when a pass didn’t go to hand and found themselves defending a Camberley break out instead. A knock-on on the Bournemouth 22m saved the visitors any further embarrassment. When the resulting scrum had to be reset, referee Randall blew for half-time.

40+5m: Camberley 29-13 Bournemouth – Half-time

Bournemouth ran the restart back, but a Fitch pass back inside didn’t go to hand for a Camberley scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m. Camberley promptly countered with a strong passing movement left and scored in the corner.

42m: Camberley 36-13 Bournemouth

A series of penalties against Camberley found themselves defending a line-out 10 yards out from their own line on their right. Bournemouth drove off the line-out but were forced in field by the Camberley defence where the home side were penalized once again. Fitch found touch to his right this time on the Camberley 5m. Despite being forced left, the Bournemouth forwards weren’t to be denied and apparently Manning was driven over to score his first try of the season.

49m: Camberley 36-20 Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s restart kick back was run back by Camberley, but a knock-on brought that threat to an end. From the scrum, left wing Josh Wickens had a good run down his flank but couldn’t weave his way through a good Camberley defence and were penalized for their efforts anyway. From the half-way line on their right, the Camberley forwards drove before releasing the ball left. Another knock-on gave Bournemouth the scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m. Bournemouth kicked right but ‘straight out’ for a Camberley line-out. Camberley attacked first right and when they came back left muscled their way over for unconverted try.

58m: Camberley 41-20 Bournemouth

Bournemouth almost recovered their restart but Camberley managed to clear left for a Bournemouth line-out on the half-way line. The forwards released the ball left and Wickens had another run down his wing but Bournemouth were penalized for ‘holding on’. Camberley found touch to their right inside the Bournemouth 22m. With some clever passing, first left then back right, Camberley proved too strong for the Bournemouth defence and went over wide out.

62m: Camberley 48-20 Bournemouth

Bournemouth were penalized at the restart as they contested for the ball in the air and found themselves defending a line-out outside their 22m on their left. Camberley’s attack left broke down when the final pass didn’t go to hand for a Bournemouth line-out on their 10m. Camberley nicked the throw-in and attacked first left and were almost in when they came back right but contrived to pass to a grateful Bournemouth player instead but who was forced into touch on the 5m line. Bournemouth were awarded a free kick and Fitch found touch to his left for a Camberley line-out outside the Bournemouth 10m. Camberley attacked right but the alert Warr intercepted the pass and ran in from some 30 yards out for Fitch to convert.

69m: Camberley 48-27 Bournemouth

Camberley attacked left from the restart but a knock-on halted their progress. However, Bournemouth couldn’t cope with their drive in the resulting scrum and were penalized. Camberley found touch to their left on the Bournemouth 5m. Driving off the line-out, the Camberley forwards were almost in but, regathering themselves, eventually forced their way over wide out on the left.

75m: Camberley 53-27 Bournemouth

Bournemouth struck back almost immediately when the turned the ball over as Camberley attacked from the restart and Warr was over under the posts for Fitch to score his sixth goal of the afternoon.

79m: Camberley 53-34 Bournemouth

Despite some spirited play in those final few minutes, a mix of passes not going to hand and a determined Camberley defence, Bournemouth couldn’t find a way through and had to settle for the way things as they were.

80+6m: Camberley 53-34 Bournemouth – Full Time

Camberley proved too strong for Bournemouth and their robust play proved too much of a handful in the end but at least they came away with try-scoring bonus point.

Bournemouth’s next match is this Saturday (November 5) home to Brighton, KO 2.00PM. However, you are advised to check the KO time before travelling. Ed

Doug Warren

Scribe, Bournemouth RFC.