Team Selection: Three changes in the backs; the returning Ryan Morrell, missing since the end of October and recently returned from the Dubai 7s, replaced Ash Taylor on the right- wing. Dan Boer, on the bench last week, replaced the injured Jack Young at outside centre and Grant Hancox, also back from the Dubai 7s, replaced Ben Meaden at fly-half. In the pack a number of changes; Riad Lynch makes his 1st XV start of the season in place of Mike Davies at loosehead prop. In the second row, Robbie Heath and Pete Roberts replace Jake Guildford and Matt Warwick respectfully. The back row is unchanged for the fifth successive match. Don’t ask me if that’s a record, I don’t know but significant enough to mention, especially this season. On the bench, Richard West returns as the back replacement instead of Dan Boer who starts as outside centre and Lewis Nicholls, making his first 1st XV appearance of the season, comes in as the forward replacement instead of Joe Desmond.

A thoroughly miserable, grey, overcast, gloomy day, often with rain and a cold south- easterly wind that blew diagonally across the pitch from left to right as viewed from the clubhouse. Not pleasant. Played under lights.

Royal Wootton Bassett (RWB) kicked off, into the wind, from right to left as viewed from the clubhouse, and to their left. In the early exchanges, both defences made it hard for their tormentors but Bournemouth effected a couple of turnovers, from the second of which, a judicious kick right saw right-wing Ryan Morrell, too quick for the defence, first to the ball wide out on the right to touch down for the first score. The left-footed fly-half Grant Hancox pulled his effort, helped by the wind to right of the near post but Bournemouth had an early lead.

4m: 5/t-0; Morrell/14/t, Hancox/10/c miss.

RWB restarted left and scrum-half Sammy Veneroso kicked right, the ball, fortuitously, bouncing off an RWB player for a Bournemouth line-out on their own 10m. The Bournemouth forwards dove off the line-out before releasing the ball to the backs. With referee Jack Tompkins apparently playing advantage and judging not enough had been gained he brought play back to an earlier RWB infringement. Hancox found an excellent

touch to his right just 10 metres out from the RWB try-line. Again the forwards drove for the line with RWB resistance forcing them to ‘crab’ infield but they prevailed and the forwards were over with hooker Ben Kimber scoring his fifth try of the season. From right of the posts, Hancox kicked the goal to extend Bournemouth’s lead.

8m: 12/2tc v 0; Kimber/2/t, Hancox/10/c.

With defences largely nullifying the best efforts of would be attackers there were alarms for Bournemouth. A dangerous break out by the RWB full-back Tom Fieldsend was typical of the threat the home side presented but Bournemouth managed to turn the ball over. A kick right undid all their good work when they could only kick and find touch to their left on their own 22m. A promising move left off the line-out saw Bournemouth penalised enabling RWB to clear the danger to their left. Attacking right off the line-out a knock-on in the contact yielded a scrum to Bournemouth on the half-way line. Going right, a clever chip from

scrum-half Sammy Veneroso pressed RWB yet again back inside their own 22m for a line- out. Bournemouth successfully resisted the RWB forwards’ drive forcing then kick. Going left, left-wing Oli Grainger-Williams was unlucky to slip as he ‘took off’ after receiving the ball but still managed to get over the gain line back inside the RWB 22m where RWB were awarded a scrum. Bournemouth disrupted the scrum but at the expense of free kick for RWB. Grainger-Williams fielded the kick and Bournemouth went right but again Tomkins brought play back to an earlier RWB infringement for Hancox to find touch to his left on the RWB 5m. RWB were penalised at the line-out and Hancox kicked the goal to extend Bournemouth’s lead into ‘three-score’ territory.

20m: 15/2tcp v 0; Hancox/10/p.

Bournemouth continued to dominate with RWB not able to make any significant progress. Kicking ‘straight out’ didn’t help but Bournemouth not throwing in straight didn’t help either. From the resulting scrum on the Bournemouth 10m, RWB went left but the Bournemouth defence pushed them back forcing them to kick. An exchange of kicks saw full-back Josh Wickens badly slice his clearance kick straight out for a RWB line-out on the Bournemouth 10m. When RWB went right off the line-out, Bournemouth were penalised and RWB found touch to their right inside the Bournemouth 22m. However, Bournemouth were awarded a scrum from where they took play to just outside the RWB 22m and were awarded a penalty for Hancox to kick the goal.

30m: 18/2tc2p v 0; Hancox/10/p.

RWB restarted left and Bournemouth responded by going left and Hancox choosing to kick where the ball was fielded just outside the RWB 22m. The chasers charged down the RWB clearance kick but the defenders managed to recover the ball. Nonetheless, Bournemouth turned the ball over and went right but suffered the same fate only were penalised in their attempts to retrieve the situation. RWB found an excellent touch to their right on the Bournemouth 5m. Bournemouth managed to win a scrum at the line-out but were then penalised at the scrum for RWB to again find touch back where they were before a few moments ago. This time their forwards drove for the line and were over to register their first score of the afternoon. Fieldsend kicked the goal to further reduce the deficit.

37m: 18/2tc2p v 7/tc; RWB/n/t, Fieldsend/15/c.

Bournemouth restarted left and were awarded a scrum on the RWB 22m as a result of a knock-on. The Bournemouth shove was too much for their opposite numbers but when Bournemouth did release the ball right not enough advantage had been gained and Tompkins brought play back for a Bournemouth penalty outside the RWB 22m. Hancox found touch to his left on the RWB 22m. RWB managed to ‘steal’ the throw-in and kicked. Bournemouth countered back left but lost the ball and Tompkins blew the half-time whistle.

40+4m – Half-time: 18/2tc2p v 7/tc.

RWB kicked the Bournemouth restart to their right but straight out for a Bournemouth throw-in just outside the RWB 22m. RWB recovered the situation by securing the throw-in for the their forwards to initially drive the ball before releasing it left. A kick right was fielded by Grainger-Williams who kicked. The Bournemouth chasers turned the ball over and went right but were penalised for ‘holding on’. RWB went left, a strong run taking play inside the Bournemouth 22m where they were awarded the throw-in at a line-out.

Bournemouth recovered the ball and kicked for RWB to counter going right. A clever chip through and, with good support, saw RWB over right of the posts. The conversion attempt fell short but an apparently revitalised RWB had got the second half off to a great start and had pulled back another five points.

44m: 18/2tc2p v 12/2tc; RWB/n/t, Fieldsend/15/c.

Bournemouth restarted left and got themselves penalised for RWB to find touch to their right inside the Bournemouth 10m. Attacking first left then back right RWB knocked on in the contact for a Bournemouth scrum still inside their own 10m. Going right, Bournemouth kicked and an exchange of kicks saw RWB with the throw-in on the Bournemouth 22m.

Going left off the line-out, RWB were penalised for ‘holding on’ and Hancox found a good touch into the wind to his left for a line-out outside the Bournemouth 22m. Veneroso’s kick went straight out for an RWB line-out. The RWB forwards drove off the line-out and, perhaps reflecting the pressure they had been under early in this second half, blindside flanker Ben Russell was ‘yellow carded’ for his efforts in defending the drive.

50m: 18/2tc2p v 12/2tc; Russell/6 yellow card.

RWB found touch to their right for a line-out just 10 metres out from the Bournemouth line. The throw-in was untidy but the RWB forwards recovered the situation and released the ball left where RWB were awarded a scrum midfield. Bournemouth manage to break up the RWB and, recovering the ball, kicked. In chasing the ball down they were awarded a penalty on the half-way line. Hancox found touch to his right for a Bournemouth line-out outside the RWB 22m. Securing the ball at the front of the line-out, the Bournemouth forwards drove. Maintaining good possession the forwards were awarded a penalty when an RWB forward was ‘yellow card’ for his part in the defence. From the RWB 22m and to the left of the posts, Hancox did his party trick of managing to hit a 4” post for the ball to bounce clear enabling RWB to clear right.

57m: 18/2tc2p v 12/2tc; RWB/n yellow card, Hancox/10/p miss.

RWB managed to ‘steal’ the ball at the back of the Bournemouth line-out inside their own 10m and went left. Then they kicked right deep into the corner where they ‘won’ a line-out. Driving off the line-out the RWB forwards ‘crabbed’ infield in face of the Bournemouth resistance which clearly had an element of illegality in it as lock Robbie Heath was shown a yellow card.

61m: 18/2tc2p v 12/2tc; Heath/4 yellow card.

RWB, sensing an advantage in the forwards, opted for a 5m scrum. The Bournemouth forwards resisted stoutly enough for the RWB to release the ball left but when they came back right got themselves penalized. Hancox got Bournemouth further out of jail by finding touch to his left only for RWB to spoil things by being awarded a scrum at the line-out.

However they managed to ‘mess things up’ at the base of the scrum and Bournemouth were given the put-in instead. Bournemouth kicked only for RWB to run it back down their right flank but Bournemouth managed to turn the ball over courtesy of a brave tackle on his opposite number by Grainger-Williams who stopped the flying winger in his tracks. Kicking right Bournemouth somehow got themselves the throw-in at line-out just 10 metres out

from the RWB try-line. However, RWB won the throw-in and kicked left for Bournemouth to have another go but now on the RWB 10m. This time they secured the ball and the Bournemouth forwards initially drove the ball before releasing it. Going left, a clever chip through further left saw RWB fail to secure the ball and the chasing outside centre Dan Boer took full advantage to score his first try for Bournemouth. Hancox, from much wider out than his previous penalty attempt, put the ball between the posts with a fine kick into a difficult wind to put the icing on Boer’s cake to reestablish a crucial ‘three-score’ lead.

67m: 25/3t2c2p v 12/2tc; Boer/13/t, Hancox/10/c.

RWB restarted left but the ball failed to go the requisite 10 metres for a scrum back and a Bournemouth put-in. Bournemouth struggled to contain the RWB shove and an exchange of kicks saw RWB having the throw-in at a line-out outside the Bournemouth 22m on their left. Attacking first right then back left a little chip over the Bournemouth defence didn’t work and Bournemouth had the put-in at a scrum on their own 22m. To add to RWB’s woes, Bournemouth were awarded a free kick and Hancox found touch to his left for an RWB line- out on the half-way line. They attacked off the line-out first left then back right before kicking further right for a Bournemouth line-out just 10 metres out from their own line.

Bournemouth secured the ball and kicked left but only to their 22m where RWB had the throw-in. The RWB forwards drove off the line-out but good Bournemouth defence meant they could only crab sideways rather than go forwards. Play was halted by Tompkins to enable a Bournemouth player to be attended to for an injury. When play was restarted with an RWB scrum, Bournemouth were penalised and RWB went left from the penalty and were almost in but for the Bournemouth defence and Bournemouth had a 5m scrum.

Bournemouth’s kick failed to find touch giving RWB the opportunity to run the ball back going left. An exchange of kicks saw RWB still with the forward momentum and when they threatened down the right Boer found himself in trouble in defending the threat and was asked by Tompkins to reflect on his defensive misdemeanour for ten minutes.

80m: 25/3t2c2p v 12/2tc; Boer/13 yellow card.

From the penalty, RWB found touch to their right on the Bournemouth 5m. Good Bournemouth defence thwarted RWB’s efforts to score as play move infield. A Bournemouth knock-on in the contact gave RWB the put-in at a scrum on the 5m line. From the back of the scrum, RWB broke right and outflanked the Bournemouth defence to score their third try. Fieldsend failed to convert from wide out.

80+3m: 25/3t2c2p v 17/3tc; RWB/n/t, Fieldsend/15/c miss.

In the last few minutes of the play remaining, Bournemouth had a chance of scoring a fourth try when they had a line-out on their right on the RWB 5m. However, the line-out was very untidy and RWB were awarded a penalty for them to clear. Bournemouth also couldn’t do anything with a penalty on the half-way line in the last minute of play before Tompkins blew for no time.

80+11m: 25/3t2c2p v 17/3tc; Full Time.

RWB proved to be very tough opponents especially in that second half which they ‘won’ two tries to one and Bournemouth were pleased come away with an ‘away’ win. In a gesture that reflected the spirit in which the game was played, the RWB players presented each of their opposite numbers with a can of beer after their respective huddles after the game out there on the pitch.

Bournemouth remain sixth on 38 points and Royal Wootton Bassett drop one place to 12th on 19 points.

Bournemouth’s next match is next week (18 Dec) away to 8th placed Brixham KO 2.30PM. The KO time has been confirmed with Brixham.

Doug Warren

Team Selection: Two changes in the backs; Ben Meaden replaced Richard West at fly-half
and Sammy Veneroso replaced the unavailable (Dubai 7s with the Police) Grant Hancox at
scrum-half. In the pack Jake Guildford came in for the unavailable Robbie Heath. On the bench, Dan
Boer replaced Sammy Veneroso as the back replacement and Luca Firetto returned, after a three-match
absence, to replace the injured Henry Turner as the front row replacement.
Bright overhead with a north-westerley breeze that had abated during the day. Underfoot it
‘took a stud’ – although cold, pretty good playing conditions.

Considering that it had been agreed between the two clubs earlier in the week that, as the
visitors, Old Redcliffians would wear their ‘clash’ colours of white, it was something of a
surprise to us lookers-on that the two sides lined up in their given style of red and black.
After the Old Reds had scored wide out on the right in the first three minutes, it was
decided that the similar colours was causing confusion and Old Reds turned their shirts
inside out to present a suitably contrasting white.
3m: 0 v 7/tc; OR/n/t, OR/10/c.
Bournemouth, however, soon struck back when Old Reds conceded a penalty. Full-back Josh
Wickens found touch to his right on the Old Reds 5m. From the line-out, the Bournemouth
forwards drove for the line and were almost over when referee Darren Hopkins pulled play
back to an earlier Old Reds infringement and Wickens repeated his earlier effort. Crabbing
left infield, as they drove off the line-out, patient ball retention saw Bournemouth drive lock
Jake Guildford over for him to score for the first time. Wickens kicked the goal and
Bournemouth were level.
6m: 7/tc v 7/tc; Guildford/4/t, Wickens/15/t.
With the two defences making life difficult for the attackers, little progress was made by
either side as the probed for a way through. Bournemouth did finally have an attacking
line-out on their left on the Old Reds 5m. Disastrously they knocked the ball on which lead
to the most remarkable passage play seen at Chapel Gate, or at least, in the opinion of
your correspondent. Enterprisingly, Old Reds ‘ran’ the ball from this deep defensive position
and almost effected a breakout beyond their own 22m. Quite remarkably, Wickens, as the
last line of defence, wrenched the ball out of the arms of the ball carrier and made off with
quick footwork to bounce off the despairing attempts to grab him and then he was in the
clear. He then had enough ‘gas’ to out sprint what defence was left to score left of the
posts. To rub it in, the same player picked himself up and kicked the goal to take his side in
to the lead. Watch the video – mere words of mine are totally inadequate to do the passage
of play justice. Save it for posterity Dave. Quite remarkable. Thrilling.
28m: 14/2t2c v 7/tc; Wickens/15/tc.
Old Reds weren’t taking any of this lying down and they put the Bournemouth defence
under enormous pressure. When Bournemouth kicked to relieve the pressure they found
themselves having to defend a hard-running thrust by the backs which saw them almost in
the lefthand corner but at the cost of a penalty and referee Hopkins having a wee word with
captain Alan Manning. From a scrum on their own 5m, the Bournemouth forwards struggled
to contain the Old Reds shove when Old Reds opted for a scrum and did the same when
Bournemouth had seemed to have saved the situation by nicking the ball at the base of the
scrum but apparently illegally. This time, Old Reds maintained their driving momentum and
they were over under the posts. The Old Reds fly-half’s conversion levelled the scores.
37m: 14/2t2c v 14/2t2c; OR/8/t, OR/10/c.
Old Reds attacked strongly right from the restart, stretching the Bournemouth defence.
When Bournemouth did kick it deep they found the dangerous Old Reds almost capitalizing
on the possession conceded only for a knock-on to thwart their ambitious play. Outside
centre Jack Young got hurt in defending one such foray and was forced to retire.
40+3m: 14/2t2c v 14/2t2c; Jack Young/13 head injury replaced by Dan Boer/
bench.
From the restart scrum, Bournemouth went right with a promising attack and when Old
Reds were penalised for a high tackle, Wickens pushed them even further back when he
found touch to right for a line-out on the Old Reds 22m. The attempt to catch the ball was a
bit untidy but the forwards did well to tidy it up and retain possession. The forwards
‘crabbed’ infield but the ball was lost forward and an Old Reds player unceremoniously flyhacked the ball off the field of play for Hopkins to blow his whistle to end the half.
40+5m – Half-time: 14/2t2c v 14/2t2c. Bournemouth reshuffled their front row by
moving Manning to hooker and brought Luca Firetto off the bench to replace him at
tighthead. Hooker Kimber moved to blindside flanker in place of Ben Russell who was
moved to the bench.
Bournemouth started the second half promisingly when, with the referee playing
advantage. they went right from what appeared to be an Old Reds knock-on but when they
made no further progress wide out, play was brought back to the Old Reds 10m for a
Bournemouth penalty. Wickens found touch to his right back where Bournemouth had been
held up. Knocking the ball back from the line-out resulted in Old Reds recovering it and
setting up an attack through their threes. A kick was fielded by Wickens and the full-back
‘dinked’ the ball through. Old Reds recovered and attacked left before kicking. Again the
ball was fielded by Wickens but his attempts to run the ball were quickly swamped by the
Old Reds chasers. He was inevitably dispossessed, Old Reds went right and were under the
posts in a trice. The goal was kicked and Old Reds were back in the lead.
48m: 14/2t2c v 21/3t3c; OR/n/t, OR/10/c.
Bournemouth knocked on the restart and then conceded a free kick at the scrum. Scrumhalf Sammy Veneroso fielded the kick and sent the ball right. A chip through did not gain
enough advantage and Hopkins brought play back to a Bournemouth penalty on the halfway line. Wickens found touch to his right beyond the Old Reds 10m. Bournemouth drove
off the line-out and were awarded the put-in at a scrum when Old Reds knocked on in the
contact. Old Reds found it difficult to contain the Bournemouth shove before it was
eventually released and Veneroso went right. The enterprising Wickens joined the line
before the the attack switched left and left-wing Oli Grainer-Williams was almost in at the
corner, having being bundled, rather unceremoniously, into touch. However, Hopkins
brought play back for an earlier Old Reds knock-on and Bournemouth had the put-in at a
scrum just ten metres out from the Old Red try-line. Going left, a determined Old Reds
defence forced play into touch for an Old Reds line-out on their own 5m. Bournemouth
countered the drive and Old Reds were forced to kick right for a Bournemouth line-out but
still inside the Old Reds 22m. Bournemouth secured the ball at the back of the line-out but
Hopkins stopped play and showed a yellow card to the Old Reds openside flanker.
59m: 14/2t2c v 21/3t3c; OR/7 yellow card.
Bournemouth opted for a scrum and drove it only to lose the ball but Hopkins penalised Old
Reds and the scrum was reset. This time Bournemouth’s drive was inexorable and with the
ball at his feet, No8 Joe Rees spotted the ball at the appropriate moment just left of the
posts. Disappointingly, Wickens dragged the ball wide of the near post but Bournemouth
had almost levelled the scores.
61m: 19/3t2c v 21/3t3c; Rees/8/t, Wickens/15/c miss.
Old Reds restarted left and Bournemouth ran the ball back but a knock-on conceded the
put-in to Old Reds at a scrum beyond the Bournemouth 22m. The Old Reds No8 had a
strong run off the back of the scrum and Bournemouth were penalised in their efforts to
stop the rampaging back-row man. From just outside the 22m, the Old Reds fly-half kicked
the goal to stretch the Old Reds lead.
66m: 19/3t2c v 24/3t3cp; OR/10/p.
Bournemouth restarted left and when Old Reds kicked the ball back it was fielded by
Meaden. The fly-half fed Rees to his right and the No8 took the ball into contact where Old
Reds were penalised. Wickens failed to find touch to his left and Old Reds kicked it back to
be fielded by Ciaran Smyth. The openside flanker was tackled high and, from the penalty,
Meaden found touch to his left for a Bournemouth throw-in outside the Old Reds 22m.
Bournemouth drove off the line-out but Old Reds turned the ball over and kicked. The ball
was fielded by Grainger-Williams and the winger went in field looking for a way through the
defensive wall. Veneroso, in support, almost got through before being swallowed up but still
managed to release the ball left. In the face of the Old Reds resistance, the focus of the
attack went right and Veneroso was there again (as any good scrum-half should be of
course it should be said) doing very well to get over in the corner through a melee of
players to score that vital fourth try. Wickens pulled his kick across the face of the goal but
at least Bournemouth had tied up the scores.
74m: 24/4t2c v 24/3t3cp; Veneroso/9/t, Wickens/15/c miss.
This minor advance was soon nullified however. Wickens ran the Old Reds restart back and
linked with Veneroso. The scrum-half kicked but Old Reds recovered the ball, ran it back
and scored through their strong running backs well supported by the forwards.
78m: 24/4t2c v 31/4t4cp; OR/n/t, OR/10/c. Meaden replaced by Russell.
Bournemouth’s restart didn’t go to ‘ten’ for a scrum back. The Old Reds No8 caused more
alarms with another strong run off the back taking play to the Bournemouth 22m. They
released the ball left but when they came back right, they were penalised allowing
Bournemouth to lift the siege, however temporarily. Nonetheless, the penalty gave the
opportunity for a last Bournemouth hurrah. Bournemouth found touch to their tight on the
half-way line. Driving off the line-out, Old Reds were penalised and Wickens found touch to
his left just ten metres out from the Old Reds try-line. No happy ending however. Old Reds
‘stole’ the throw-in and the ball kicked off the park for Hopkins to blow for ‘no time’.
80+8m – Full Time: 24/4t2c v 31/4t4cp.
Realistically, Bournemouth cannot have any complaints about the score but at least they
matched the opposition’s try-scoring. They might have even tied the scores up at the end,
but they didn’t Being a little philosophical, a try-bonus points plus a losing bonus point is
only one point less than a draw plus a try-scoring bonus point. Look on the bright side
folks.
Congratulations to Jake Guildford on winning the Bournemouth Man of the Match Award and
scoring for the first time. Jake is one of 16 new players who have played for the 1st XV this
season. We hope they are all enjoying their football with us.
Bournemouth remain sixth on 34 points and Old Redcliffians remain third on 49 points.

Team Selection: Two changes in the backs; Jack Young came in for Jordan Wayman at outside centre while Richard West, making his debut, replaced Ben Meaden at fly-half. The pack is unchanged. On the bench, Connor Hutchison replaced Sammy Veneroso as the back replacement.

Overcast, brightening later but with a strong, bitterly cold Northerly wind – the remnants of Storm Arwen. Underfoot it ‘took a stud’ – challenging playing conditions.

Bournemouth kicked-off from left to right as viewed from the clubhouse down the slope but into the aforesaid strong wing. Result? Didn’t go ten metres and a scrum back at the centre. Despite winning the ball, full-back Tom Broady ‘over cooked’ his kick right and the ball went ‘dead’ for a scrum back. This time Bournemouth were awarded a penalty at the scrum and scrum-half Grant Hancox managed to find touch to his left beyond the OCs’s 10m would you believe. Attacking right, they were penalised in turn and Broady pushed Bournemouth back for a line-out outside the Bournemouth 22m. Bournemouth ‘stole’ the throw-in and attacked right. Good hands saw the ball delivered to right-wing Ashley Taylor. However, when the winger was stopped after a strong run, referee Dan Evans brought play back for a Bournemouth penalty and Hancox found touch to his right outside the OCs’s 10m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out but when checked released the ball left. When the ball came back right, fly-half Richard West couldn’t hold onto the ball and OCs had a scrum outside their own 22m. Going left, OCs broke out but when they came back right, Bournemouth managed to ‘turn the ball over’ and countered right. Coming back left, a clever grubber kick through saw the ball in the OCs’s 22m. Fielded by Harry Preece, the fly-half taking full advantage of the wind kicked right and Bournemouth found themselves with a throw-in on their own 10m.

Securing the throw-in, the Bournemouth forwards initially drove the ball before releasing it right. The ball was kicked deep into the OCs’s half where they recovered it and ran it left. With good possession they tested the Bournemouth defence which was rewarded for their efforts with a penalty. Taken quickly, full-back Josh Wickens was in the line and Bournemouth were back on the OCs’s 22m but, in turn, were penalized. OCs cleared right for a line-out on the half-way line.

OCs attacked first left with their strong running backs testing the Bournemouth defensive resolve. Maintaining good possession they came back right before switching back left where the Bournemouth defence eventually prevailed and earned themselves a penalty. Hancox found a safe touch to his left inside the OCs’s 10m. Securing the ball, Bournemouth released right and outside centre Jack Young had a strong run but referee Evans brought play back to an earlier OCs infringement and Hancox was called on once again to find touch. From a line-out inside the OCs’s 22m, Bournemouth secured the throw-in and the forwards drove the ball before releasing right. Inside centre Adam Higgins made a ‘dent’ and Wickens was again in the line for that extra man to put the home side defence under some pressure. The pressure told and they yielded another penalty. Hancox found touch to his left but this time the line out didn’t ‘work’ and OCs had a free kick instead. Finding touch to their right Bournemouth had another line-out but this time on the half-way line. Securing the throw-in, the ball was released right and right wing Ash Taylor had a strong run down his flank before the winger kicked infield. The PCs defender took the ball over his own line and ‘grounded’ it for a Bournemouth 5m scrum. With the ball secured at the back of the scrum at Joe Rees’s feet, Hancox broke to his right to receive the No8’s pass and the scrum-half was too strong to be denied at that range and was over to register the first score of the afternoon and his first try of the season. His kick at goal was less successful, the wind treating the ball like some leaf in the Autumn gale for the score to remain at 5-nil with a quarter of the game gone.

22m: 5/t v 0; Hancox/9/t, Hancox/9/c miss.

OCs restarted right and the ball was fielded by loosehead prop Mike Davies who resisted strongly the opposition’s attempts to dispossess him. Releasing the balls to the backs, the ball was kicked, well chased down by left wing Oli Grainger-Williams who tackled the ball receiver to sop him getting away. There was a further bonus when OCs were penalised under the Bournemouth pressure outside their own 22m. Hancox found touch to his left inside the 22m for another promising attacking line-out.

Bournemouth’s drive off the line-out was stoutly resisted by their opposite numbers and the defenders earned the respite of a scrum. They attacked left for Bournemouth to be penalised. Broady found touch to his right on the half-way line. The ball is thrown long and hooker Ben Kimber secures it at the back and it’s released left. OCs recover the ball but are penalised. Wickens is in the line as the ball goes right where Bournemouth are awarded a scrum on the half-way line. Bournemouth first went right finding it difficult to make any progress against a well-organised committed defence and, when they came back left a forward pass bringing the attack to a halt, Bournemouth found themselves defending a scrum on their 10m.

With good ball retention, OCs, through their threes, attacked left and right and back again testing the Bournemouth defence which induced the penalty and worse prop Davies was yellow carded for his part in the misdemeanour.

32m: 5/t v 0; Loosehead prop Mike Davies ‘yellow carded’.

Broady found touch to his right on the Bournemouth 5m. Their forwards drove for the line but a strong Bournemouth defence kept them out forcing the maul to crab left into midfield. The Bournemouth defenders turned the ball over but apparently illegally. Sensing a weakness with a man short, OCs opted for a scrum just five metres out. Sure enough they were able to walk their opposite numbers back despite Bournemouth’s best efforts and, with a certain air of inevitability, eventually one of the OCs’s forwards ‘spotted’ the ball as they drove over the line. Fly-half Harry Preece had, what I would describe as the unenviable task, especially in the light of this closely fought contest, of kicking for goal and for putting his side into the lead. Cruelly, it toppled over in the wind as he attempted to kick it, resulting in a perfectly good goal in soccer terms but this is rugby unfortunately and the scores remained level at 5-all much to Bournemouth’s relief. At least, however, OCs had taken advantage, if not full, of their one-man advantage. It will not be lost on anybody what a cruel miss that was in the context of this game.

37m: 5/t v 5/t; OCs/t, Harry Preece/10/c miss.

Wickens restarted left again well chased down by Grainger-Williams and Bournemouth won the ball. Going right fly-half Richard West was caught in possession and OCs turned the ball over only for Bournemouth to do it in return and go right. A Bournemouth player got hurt in the process and referee Evans stopped play so that he could receive attention. The game was restarted with a Bournemouth scrum on their own 22m. Hancox kicked from the base of the scrum but the ball went nowhere and OCs claimed it. They went right and Bournemouth were penalised inside their own 22m. OCs again opted for the scrum but when play next stopped, Evans blew his whistle to end the half.

40+4m – HT: 5/t v 5/t; West replaced at fly-half by Hancox and Connor Hutchison replaced Hancox at scrum-half.

More or less straight from the restart, Bournemouth went right from a scrum. Hancox now at fly-half in place of West kicked, well chased down but a Bournemouth player was hurt and Evans stopped play. The game restarted with a Bournemouth scrummed the y attacked strongly first to the left then back right then left again as they tried to tried to find a way through a vigorous, determined OCs’s defence before kicking left for an OCs line-out. From the line-out, OCs kicked right for a Bournemouth line-out on the OCs’s 22m. Going right, Taylor had another run before kicking for an OCs line-out inside their own 22m. OCs kicked from the line-outfielder by Taylor but he knocked the ball on for an OCs scrum but still on the OCs 22m. From the scrum, OCs again kicked but another Bournemouth knock-on gave OCs the put-in at another scrum.

They went left from the scrum and left-wing George Bvuma, who proved to be a handful every time he had the ball in hand, had a strong run before the ball came back inside and was kicked further right for a Bournemouth line-out on their own 22m. Replacement scrum-half Hutchison kicked and OCs knocked the ball on for a Bournemouth scrum on their own 10m.

The Bournemouth scrum struggled to contain the OCs shove but managed to scramble the ball away left. Hancox kicked right well chased down by Taylor and Bournemouth got themselves a line-out on the 10m. Attacking left another forward pass gave OCs a scrum. From the scrum, OCs kicked fielded by Wickens but a good OCs chase earned themselves a scrum outside their own 10m. Going left they had a touch of the knock-ons themselves for a Bournemouth scrum. From the scrum Bournemouth went right in the face of the aforesaid stiff OCs resistance. Coming back left, OCs were penalised for being offside. Hancox found touch to his left some ten or so metres out from the PCs line. The Bournemouth forwards drove for the line. With Evans indicating a Bournemouth penalty, flanker Ciaran Smyth was bundled over to score his first try for the club and restore his side’s lead at 10-5. Hancox, with Hutchison making sure the ball stayed upright, kicked what proved to be the difference between the two sides.

62m: 12/2tc v 5/t; Ciaran Smyth/t, Hancox/9/c. Ciaran’s first score for the Club.

OCs struck back almost immediately. They went right at the restart and promptly won a penalty. Preece found touch further to his right on the Bournemouth 5m. The forwards drove off the line-out and scored. Preece had the forlorn task of kicking into the wind and, sure enough, the ball floated across the face of the goal and got no where its target to leave the score at 12-10.

65m: 12/2tc v 10/2t; OCs/t, Preece/10/c miss.

Bournemouth restarted left and knocked on the kick return for an OCs scrum on the half-way line. From the line-out OCs went right and were forced into touch for a Bournemouth line-out still on the half-way line. Here, Bournemouth knocked the ball on for an OCs scrum. From the line-out, OCs went left but lost the ball forward for Hancox to kick to kick to his left. OCs recovered and kicked back right for a Bournemouth line-out on the OCs 10m.

From the line-out, the ball was worked right and Taylor dinked the ball forward but Bournemouth were penalised to some obvious frustration and OCs were able to clear left. From the line-out they took play into the Bournemouth 22m where Bournemouth were awarded a scrum on their left-hand side. That did them no good as they were penalised giving OCs the chance to win the match with a penalty goal. Preece had the unenviable task of kick for goal and was presented a similar problem as he had for his conversion attempt only for it to end up with a heartbreaking similar result. This time Bournemouth had a drop out. With time fast running out, the still dangerous OCs attacked strongly but the Bournemouth defence prevailed and when they won the penalty the ball was promptly dispatched to the touch from the resulting line out for Evans to blow for no time.

The game illustrated just how competitive this division is. The programme suggested that there were 20 first-team squad players unavailable so if that was their ’second’ team would we have won for the first time at their ground? From a Bournemouth perspective a win away from home is always welcome how ever fortuitous it might have been.

Bournemouth remain 6th on 32 points and Old Centralians drop one place to 10th on 21 points after Brixham having leapt three places to 8th.

80+4m – FT: 12/2tc v 10/2t.

The next match is next week (4 Dec) at home to third placed Old Redcliffians, KO 3PM. The twos are entertaining the Richmond Normans in the Zoo League, KO 2pm.

Doug Warren

Team Selection: Josh Wickens, having missed on making his 1st XV debut a fortnight ago, gets his chance at full-back, replacing Chris Jeffes who is with the twos. Two other changes in the backs sees the return, after injury in both cases, of Adam Higgins replacing the unavailable Markus Burcham at inside centre and Oli Grainger-Williams replacing Robbie Johnson on the left wing, Robbie being with the twos. The front row is unchanged but, in the second row, Matt Warwick is preferred to Connor Scott who is also with the twos. The back row is also unchanged. On the bench joining Joe Desmond, Henry Turner comes in as front row replacement instead of Riad Lynch who is with the twos and Sammy Veneroso is the back replacement instead of Connor Hutchison who is also with the twos.

Mild and overcast with no wind. Underfoot it ‘took a stud’ – ideal playing conditions.

Launceston kicked-off from right to left as viewed from the stand and to their right.

An uncertain Bournemouth defence allowed the ball to bounce, twice, and Launceston took full advantage. Recovering the ball, they ‘worked’ it left but early match enthusiasm rather spoilt things for them as they were penalized for ‘being off their feet’ in the contact. From just outside his own 22m, the left-footed scrum-half Grant Hancox found touch to his right for a Bournemouth line-out on Launceston’s 10m. Good defensive work by the visitors, a feature of their effort all afternoon, ‘turned the ball over, and they kicked right. The ball was fielded by left-wing Oli Grainger-Williams who cut back infield looking for a defensive weakness. He linked with Adam Higgins and the inside centre made a ‘dent’ but the ball was ‘lost’. Launceston attacked left but they, in turn, lost the ball and Bournemouth countered left. Again, the ball was turned over and Launceston kicked right. With his first touch of the ball in a Bournemouth shirt, full-back Josh Wickens fielded the ball and, with ‘quick’ feet, beat a couple of players to link with captain Alan Manning. The tighthead, in a much more forward-like manner, made a good break. He linked with the supporting Higgins who chipped the ball right. However, the chasing players were penalized for ‘diving in’ and the advantage was lost. Fly-half James Tucker found touch to his left for a Launceston throw-in outside their own 22m.

A long throw to the back of the line-out saw them set up a strong attacking movement going right. When they came back left Bournemouth were penalized in the tackle. Tucker failed to find touch to his right, the ball fielded by Grainger-Williams. The winger came infield where he linked with Ben Meaden and the fly-half kicked into the Launceston 22m. A good chase by the backs induced the Launceston defence to ‘hold on’ and were penalized by referee Ben Simpson. To add to their woes, a Launceston player was forced to retire with an apparent shoulder injury suffered in the contact. After a couple minutes wait, Hancox kicked the goal from some ten metres, which is, perhaps, a foot or more longer than ten yards, and Bournemouth led 3-nil after some 10 minutes.

10m: 3–0 Hancox/9/p.

Tucker restarted left and the ball was fielded by Joe Rees. Characteristically, the No8 took the ball into contact from where Hancox kicked. Launceston returned the compliment but Wickens’s like effort went ‘straight out’ for a Launceston line-out outside the Bournemouth 10m. Launceston spurned the offer made by not throwing the ball in straight and Bournemouth had the put-in at a scrum instead. Under some Launceston pressure, it was all very untidy when the ball emerged at the back of the scrum and Hancox did well to tidy the mess up and managed a good kick down field. Blindside flanker Ben Russell following up helped ‘win’ a scrum for Bournemouth outside the Launceston 22m down the Bournemouth righthand side. This good work was undone however, when Bournemouth were penalized at the scrum and Tucker was able clear down field. Not finding touch, Hancox fielded the ball and kicked back but Tucker found a good touch to his right for a Bournemouth line-out inside their 22m. Initially Bournemouth drove off the line-out before releasing the ball to Hancox and the scrum-half found touch to his left in the somewhat safer territory inside the Bournemouth 10m. Russell was quickly on the Launceston scrum-half at the line-out but Launceston still managed to get the ball away left. They kicked back right fielded by Meaden who ran infield. When the ball was worked back left, Wickens came into the line as a vital extra man. When Launceston defence prevented any further progress, Bournemouth again resorted to Hancox’s boot. Launceston kicked the ball back fielded by Wickens and the full-back went left looking for a gap in the defence but found the defence secure. Nonetheless, Bournemouth retained the ball, and it gave Hancox another chance to kick. However, Simpson had been ‘playing advantage’ and when he judged none had been gained, he came back to the point of an earlier Launceston infringement on their 10m line. Hancox duly banged the ball over and Bournemouth had doubled their lead at 6-nil with a quarter of the match gone.

20m: 6-0 Hancox/9/p.

Tucker restarted right fielded by Hancox. The scrum-half kicked and a good chase almost manged to recover the ball but Launceston retained possession and worked the ball left. When they came back right, they kicked and the ball went off a Bournemouth player into touch for a Launceston line-out on the half-way line. Launceston looked dangerous as they attacked first left then right through their threes with some good possession rugby. The Bournemouth defence prevented the breakthrough but when Launceston came back left once again, they were awarded a line-out on the Bournemouth 22m. As they drove off the line-out, Launceston ‘crabbed’ right before releasing the ball back left where Bournemouth managed to ‘steal’ the ball, but Simpson penalized them for being ‘off their feet’. Tucker found a good touch to his left on the Bournemouth 5m but I’m sure the fly-half was not best pleased when Bournemouth ‘nicked’ the ball at the line-out. Bournemouth went left but promptly got themselves penalised which must have helped Tucker’s humour. It was further improved when he found touch where they were a few moments ago and this time his forwards did what they should have done in the first place and secured the ball. They drove off the line-out, fiercely resisted by their opposite numbers as one would expect. However, Launceston retained possession and their shove ultimately proved irresistible and they were over. Tucker couldn’t put the icing on that particular cake but at least the visitors were on the scoreboard if still behind at 5-6 with nearly half-an-hour gone.

27m: 6-5 Launceston/t, James Tucker/10/c miss.

Hancox restarted left and a good chase by Grainger-Williams put Launceston under some pressure but the Launceston scrum-half, Adam Collings, did well to get his clearance kick away. The ball was fielded by Grainger-Williams who linked with his fellow threes going right in a promising attack but, when play came back left, the ball was knocked on in the contact and Launceston had a scrum on their 22m. Their scrum struggled to contain the Bournemouth shove, but Collings managed to get the ball away right for Launceston to kick back left for a Bournemouth line-out on the Launceston 10m. Play was held up for a while as a Launceston player received some TLC but he was able to continue. Bournemouth went left and a whizzing pass wide by outside centre Jordan Wayman was well taken by Grainger-Williams, but Launceston turned the ball over when the winger went into contact. Launceston kicked right for a Bournemouth line-out outside the Launceston 10m. Hancox made a great break from the line-out, taking play into the Launceston 22m where he linked with Adam Higgins. The Launceston defence was unable to prevent the inside centre from having the easiest of tasks to run the ball in under the posts for his first score of the season having just returned from injury. It is not for me to say it is easy, but Hancox made the conversion look so and Bournemouth had scored their first try and increased their lead to leave the score at 13-5 after 34 minutes play.

34m: 13-5 Higgins/12/t, Hancox/9/c. Adam Higgins scores on return from injury.

Tucker restarted left to be fielded by Hancox who kicked. Enterprisingly, Launceston ran the ball back up to the half-way line but got themselves penalized. From two metres inside the Launceston half and in the middle of the pitch, Hancox thumped the ball over for his fourth goal of the afternoon and increase his side’s lead to 16-5 after 36 minutes.

36m: 16-5 Hancox/9/p.

Tucker restarted left field by lock Matt Warwick to feed Hancox who kicked. Launceston countered left by running the ball back to the half-way line where Bournemouth were penalized in trying to thwart the threat. Tucker kicked to his left and Launceston had the throw-in on the Bournemouth 22m. Bournemouth recouped the situation by nicking the throw-in through hooker Ben Kimber and Hancox kicked clear. Right-wing Ashley Taylor chased the ball down to tackle the receiver, but Launceston managed to get the ball going right. Bournemouth managed to win the ball back, but Simpson had again been playing advantage and brought to play back to where Launceston had earlier knocked the ball on outside their own 10m. From the scrum Bournemouth attacked first left but when the ball came back right into Taylor’s hands, he outsprinted the defence to score Bournemouth’s second try in the corner. Hancox struck the ball sweetly to register his fifth goal and Bournemouth were 23-5 to the good after 42 minutes.

40+2m: 23-5 Taylor/14/t, Hancox/9/c.

Tucker had barely time to restart before Simpson blew his whistle to indicate the end of the half.

40+3m – HT: 23/2t2c3p v 5/t.

From Bournemouth’s restart, Launceston attacked left and a strong run by Launceston’s left-wing Dan Pearce took play into the Bournemouth 22m where the home side were penalized trying to neutralise the threat. From some 15 metres out and in front of the posts, Tucker reduced the arrears by three to leave the score at 8-23 just a couple or so minutes into the half.

42m: 23-8 Tucker/10/p.

Bournemouth restarted left and Launceston kicked the ball back to be fielded by Meaden. The fly-half did well in running the ball back and Launceston got themselves penalized just three or so metres short of their own 10m. From left of the posts, Hancox scuffed his kick and, although he hoped he might have fluked it, the ball faded right and hit the right upright to bounce clear for Launceston to complete the clearance by kicking right for a Bournemouth line-out.

44m: 23-8 Hancox/9/p miss.

The Bournemouth forwards drove off the line-out before releasing the ball right, but a forward pass gave Launceston the put-in at a scrum in front of the posts on the 5m. Bournemouth were penalized at the scrum, but scrum-half Collings was ‘yellow carded’ and the penalty reversed.

46m: 23-8 Adam Collings/9 ‘yellow carded’.

Bournemouth opted for another scrum. This time they scrummaged without mishap and the ball was released left for outside centre Jordan Wayman to go over for his first score for the 1st XV. Hancox kicked the goal and Bournemouth had a ‘four-score’ lead at 30-8 with less than ten minutes of the half gone.

49m: 30-8 Wayman/13/t, Hancox/9/c. Jordan Wayman scores for his first time on his second start.

Tucker restarted left fielded by Hancox who kicked. Launceston ran the ball left back to the half-way line, but a determined Bournemouth defence forced them into touch for a Bournemouth throw-in on their own 10m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out splintering the Launceston counter but got themselves penalized. Launceston took the penalty quickly running right and into the Bournemouth 22m. With Simpson indicating a penalty to Launceston, and playing advantage, Launceston came back left and weren’t to be denied eventually scoring their second try. Tucker’s conversion made Bournemouth’s lead decidedly less secure at 15-30 after 15 minutes of the half. Plenty of time to win and lose what was becoming an ever-closer encounter.

55m: 30-15 Launceston/t, Tucker/10/c.

The chase by Bournemouth saw them recover the restart but when they went right Launceston turned the ball over and they had a the put-in at a scrum on their own 22m. The Bournemouth shove was rewarded with a penalty and with some of us on the touchline wishing for Hancox to ‘take the points’, Bournemouth went for broke with a quick penalty and promptly lost it left for Launceston to clear the danger and Bournemouth line-out outside the Bournemouth 10m. Bournemouth secured the throw-in and released to Hancox who kicked. The upshot was Bournemouth got themselves another line-out but this time on the half-way line. Bournemouth threatened first left then back right but contrived to lose the ball for Launceston to counter right. Good tackling saw the situation saved and Bournemouth had another line-out but were now back on their own 22m. Hancox’s clearance kick was well chased down, but Bournemouth were penalized, and Tucker made sure they paid for it by finding touch to his right on the Bournemouth 5m. Danger clearly threatened. The ball was secured at the back of the line and the Launceston forwards drove for the line, but their opposite numbers were up to the challenge and in fact won themselves the put-in at a scrum. Hancox cleared left and the ball was again enthusiastically chased down by the willing Grainger-Williams. Launceston, however, managed to get the ball away left but Bournemouth turned the ball over midfield at the expense of a Launceston scrum. Nonetheless they were then awarded the put-in at a scrum and went right. Taylor had a strong run down his flank. A Hancox kick was recovered, and the ball was delivered left into Grainger-Williams’s hands who had another typical mazy run down his flank deep into enemy territory. Wickens was there in support and the full-back was through to score on his debut. From in front of the posts, Hancox kicked his seventh goal of the afternoon and surely Bournemouth were safe at 37-15 with 32 minutes of the half gone.

72m: 37-15 Wickens/15/t, Hancox/9/c. Josh Wickens scores on debut.

Tucker restarted left but as Bournemouth countered coming left the ball went forward for a Launceston scrum in midfield on the Bournemouth 10m. Bournemouth were penalized at the scrum and Launceston took a quick penalty and went left. Bournemouth managed to recover the ball but apparently illegally and Tucker kicked left to find touch on the Bournemouth 22m. Launceston attacked first left then back right. A clever little Tucker chip had the Bournemouth defence scrambling deep in their own half, but they held firm and earned themselves a penalty. Hancox found touch to his right outside the Bournemouth 22m. The Launceston counter drive at the line-out took them into the Bournemouth 22m. Retaining good possession, they weren’t to be denied and eventually drove over with 39 minutes of the half gone. Tucker’s conversion made the score 22-37.

79m: 37-22 Launceston/t, Tucker/10/c.

Simpson played a couple or more minutes but there were no further alarums from a Bournemouth perspective, and they had, at last, brought a disappointing losing streak to an end.

80+2m – FT: 37/4t4c3p v 22/3t2cp

The visitors ‘won’ the second half 17-14 (two tries each) but it was insufficient to overcome that first half deficit. The win means Bournemouth move up one place to sixth in the table on 28 points and Launceston remain 8th with 20 points. The next match is next week away to 9th placed Old Centralians, KO 2.30PM.