Bedouins vs Blandford
Sat, 12 February 2022, KO 2pm at Chapel Gate
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Result: Bedouins 66 v 19 Blandford
Bedouins mean business against Blandford
As Blandford approached the chapel, the Bedouins conjured some desert sun to create perfect rugby conditions on a soft green pitch 3. Manager for the day, Wayne Shatwell, ably prepared the team with passing and tackling drills. Wayne and a healthy fistful of Haribo star mix set the tone for the Bedouins efforts to erase the memory of their recent closely fought defeat at Blandford.
From the kick off it was clear that Bournemouth meant business, with forwards leading the charge with some aggressive running from Bonz Bereton and Joe Phillips – two men who were engines of early phases and tip passing throughout the game. With only minutes on the clock the ball was spread right and, with Bmth forwards and backs rucking in tandem, Harrison Taylor charged through the gap that was created to place down for first blood to the reds – 5-0
The second strike came from a move straight off the training ground with typically quick ball from Matt Coxen and Carl Holdsworth setting the bmth backs loose. Yann cross field kicked to Stuart Lane on the wing, who drew his opposite number and released Mark Forsyth. Mark applied blistering pace to cross the line and jink through for a great kicking position. Welsh wizard Gareth Hicks, now adjusted to the random kicking tee he had been thrown for his first attempt, slotted home the conversion. 12-0 to the Bedouins.
Yann Maciejewski, playing 13 for the day, had arrived in the game in his own sweet time with shoulder pads in place. He maintained the momentum with another fine strike as Bournemouth kept the ball alive after the re-start. The frenchman charged through a crowd of Blandford limbs to emerge blood splattered but victorious with Bmth’s 3rdtry of the game. Hicks converted again to make the score 19-0.
Nick Hill had delivered second row and marauded throughout with a bloodthirsty enthusiasm, putting his body on the line and sadly being forced to retired from the field by the referee after a clash of heads. His mark had already been well made on the game though – packing tonnes of energy into the key opening phase of the game.
Blandford had not come just to make up the numbers, though. Their team for this game had youth in abundance from local army trainees and colts. While the Bedouins backs had been typically robust up to that point, one of Blandford’s youngsters applied the gas and stepped through to the corner to put down just ahead of the chasing Forsyth. Blandford failed to convert, making the score 19-5. After their initial shock the visitors seemed energized by their score, and just before half time one of their bigger lads showed that they had some threat in the forwards too – taking the score to 19-12 as the teams broke for half time.
Half time allowed The Bedouins to regroup and they came quickly out of the blocks in the second half. Carl Holdsworth began to work through another pre-planned Bedouins move. He spotted the chance to hit a grubber kick through for Mark Forsyth, freed to join the line by Max Taylor keeping a tidy regard as full back for a change. The kick execution was so good that it flipped up into the on-rushing Forsyth, who burst through for his second try of the game. Again Hicks converted taking the score to 26-12
Another period of strong scrummaging and line outs ensued, with Kenny Woodhead, Carl Wheeler and Simon Pell delivering consistent steer to a well oiled forwards performance that was providing the base for the Bedouins backs to express themselves. The red wall broke for just one final moment in the game, though, with Blandford once again showing they had fight left in them with a big ball-carrying blast to the line and out of hand conversion from their adventurous South African born centre. 26-17
After more great work from Max Taylor mopping up any kicks from Blandford, again the Bedouins responded quickly. The ball was fed via another move to the right side for Stuart Lane to weave through the line and face up to the big centre, offloading at the last moment to on-rushing Carl Holdsworth to put down for another converted showcase try from the backs. 33-17 and the floodgates were starting to open up. James Mills had grafted tirelessly in the front row up to this point and offered himself up for carry after carry. Carl Wheeler took up the charge and gained more yards with typically strong and incisive forward play, and Millsy grabbed the baton to charge through over the line with a Blandford player clutching at his shirt and pulling to no avail – he was not to be denied. 40-17.
Ian Moore had arrived from the sidelines to bring something different to the Bedouins attack. The try that followed was 100% pure Moore. An opportunist quickly-taken kick caused panic in the Blandford back line and Mooro capitalised by rushing on and showing more footballing skills on the loose ball to poke it through the defensive line. He put the final diving touch to his own work. Like a metronome Hicks struck again to convert. 47 played 17 and a modest crowd of valued and increasingly lubricated Bmth supporters were beginning to cheer every part of the Bedouins show with the full confidence of victory in sight.
The Bedouins forwards cooked up their own plan for a centre stage move to add to the fun. A driving mall was called and moving forward, like a powerful chained camel train baying in unison, they drove over 30 yards. The ever alert Kenny Woodhead then picked off the back of the maul to touch down. Much to the surprise of the Bedouins and disgust of Hicks, a penalty try was called for two Blandford infringements – the second being an attempt to copy Ian Moore’s level of backchat that instead backfired. 54-17.
Next came the turn of Ryan Rogers. The legend that is ‘social Ryan’ was back in his preferred spot on the Bedouin’s wing at 11 and celebrated with a massive uncatchable steam train of a run down the left to put down. 61-17
After the re-start and another decent turnover from the Bedouins forwards Matt Coxen, who at scrum half had clearly had a great day in the office already, chose to treat himself to a dummy and run through the gap to make his own mark with a well deserved try. This took the Bedouins to 66-17. Gareth Hicks, missed a Figian style out of hand kick after the whistle but was already metaphorically smoking a post match cigar with nothing left to prove at this point.
Man of the match – impossible to choose. Honourable mention to our absent illustrious leader Tim Robbins for helping the 3s to field a full set of forwards, and all the Bedouins youngsters who also stepped up to 3s for their Wimborne game. Well done to you all from the old men!
