Bournemouth v brixham

The weather was bright spells and warm with a gentle Westerly breeze blowing straight down the pitch. Underfoot it was very dry, and firm as might be expected from the prevailing meteorological conditions in this early September. I think I said something similar last week.

With the wind behind them, Bournemouth defended the Western end as Brixham kicked off to their right.

From the Brixham kick Bournemouth were awarded the throw-in outside their 10m. Scrum-half Connor Hutchison did well to tidy up some loose ball at the lineout and, evading a would-be tackler, made a dart up the left, tight on the touchline. In trying to stop him Brixham were penalised for their troubles and full-back Alex Sutherland found touch to his left, inside the Brixham 10m. Bournemouth went right, and inside centre Alex Peel took the ball into contact but there was a Bournemouth knock-on as each side tussled for the ball for a Brixham scrum on the Brixham 10m. Brixham set up a dangerous three-quarter move first going left then back right and, to us observers from afar, having got the ball over the line seemed to have scored but Bournemouth had managed to steal it and touched down for a drop-out. I suppose we will get use to this new law about drop-outs being taking from the in-goal area but. I further suppose, it makes sense not giving a 22m advantage as well. Keeping up the pressure on the home defence, Brixham came straight back, and Bournemouth did well to turn the ball over and kicked to clear. However, the respite was only temporary as again Brixham came back strongly first right then left but Bournemouth were penalised prompting referee Henry Lowis to have a ‘wee word’ with captain Alan Manning. He’s reason for the ‘chat’ became clearer when play was brought back to an earlier Bournemouth infringement on the Bournemouth 10m. Fly-half Mitch Pinkus found a good touch to his left inside the Bournemouth 22m for a Brixham throw-in. Again, they attacked strongly going through the hands to the right, but the redoubtable Bournemouth defence stood firm and forced the ball-carrier in to touch dangerously close to the Bournemouth try-line for a Bournemouth throw-in on the 5m. Good law that pulling play that extra couple or so metres away from the try-line. Bournemouth secured the throw-in and the forwards drove their opposite numbers back before releasing the ball to Hutchison who kicked. Brixham responded by going left and kicked to gain further ground, but Sutherland was on hand to kick right and clear the danger. From their line-out on the Bournemouth 10m, Brixham attacked right but Bournemouth defensive pressure yielded a penalty on the halfway line. Sutherland’s kick left failed to find touch and Brixham kicked the ball back. This prompted a Bournemouth response, and they ran the ball back to outside the Brixham 22m, but the ball was lost in the contact for a Brixham put-in. Despite putting the Brixham under some pressure, they managed to get the ball away, taking play up to the Brixham 10m where the home side were again penalised. Pinkus found touch to his right and from the line-out, Brixham came back left but again the Bournemouth defence were ‘up to the job’ and turned the ball over for a Bournemouth scrum. Hutchison whipped the ball left and the three-quarters took play into the Brixham 22m where the visitors managed to stem the flow. After a ‘reset’, Bournemouth went further left where stand-in No 8 Ben Kimber forced his way over for his first score for the club. Sutherland was unable to convert the try but, dare I say, somewhat against the early play Bournemouth nonetheless led 5-0 after a quarter of an hour. Brixham restarted by kicking left but an uncertain Bournemouth receivers allowed the ball to bounce and then managed to knock the ball on as they scrambled to recover for a Brixham put-in on the Bournemouth 22m. Not an encouraging restart. Brixham went right but a knock-on out wide was fly-hacked on the full but referee Lowis decided not enough advantage had been gained and he took play back to an earlier Brixham knock-on for a Bournemouth scrum inside their own 10m. Bournemouth attacked right and Brixham were penalised as they try to defend. Sutherland found touch further to his right for a Bournemouth throw-in on the halfway line. Brixham pressure at the line-out gave them the put-in at a scrum. However, Bournemouth scrummaging pressure yielded the penalty to retrieve the situation and Sutherland pressed the visitors back to just outside their own 22m by finding touch to his right. Worryingly, Bournemouth again failed to secure their own ball and Brixham drove to ‘win’ a scrum inside the Bournemouth 10m. Again, the Brixham scrum came under immense pressure, but they still managed to get the ball away right where more Bournemouth defensive pressure turned the ball over for the threes to counterattack right. Brixham were penalised in their attempts to defend in mid-field and, from some 35 metres out and to the right of the posts, Sutherland kicked the goal for his side to lead 8-0 after 23 minutes play. Bournemouth’s uncertainty at the restart was somewhat salvaged by a Brixham knock-on as they looked to take advantage but a scrum just outside your own 22m ain’t good. Tensions between the two set of forwards manifested itself in the usual way and Lowis, rather bravely I thought, ‘stepped in’ to calm the situation and quietly took the two captains aside to explain his view on the fracas. Bournemouth were adjudged the culprits and Pinkus found touch to his left inside the Bournemouth 22m to set an attacking line-out. Brixham attacked right and then swung the ball back left where a big miss pass stretched the Bournemouth defence. However, Lowis decided not enough advantage had been gained and brought play back to an earlier Bournemouth penalty where a yellow card for openside Ciaran Smyth identified the miscreant in that incident. Pinkus found touch to his right. Brixham attacked left off the line-out just a few metres out from the Bournemouth try-line and, seemingly taking full advantage of the man short, scored wide out. Pinkus, with an excellent kick from tight on the touchline, found his target and in one fell swoop Brixham were within just one point of their opponents at 7-8 after half-an-hour’s play. Sutherland restarted left but Brixham returned by kicking right and earned themselves the throw-in on the halfway line. Bournemouth ‘steal’ the throw-in and Hutchison does well to break down the left to set up a strong Bournemouth attack. Brixham were penalised in their attempts to stop it and a Brixham player needed attention as a result of his part in the defence effort. Sutherland restarted play when, from the Brixham 22m, he found touch just those five metres out from the Brixham try-line. Bournemouth secured the throw-in and inevitably I suppose drove for the line. Stout Brixham defence initially kept the marauding foe out but crabbing right, an unfortunate word but you know what I mean, Bournemouth retained possession and eventually Captain Manning was driven over to score. Sutherland was unable to convert but at least Bournemouth were able to partly nullify the earlier Brixham score and had extended their lead to 13-7 after 39 minutes play. Hutchison claimed the restart and had a ‘go’ and Brixham were penalised for ‘not rolling’ as the defence descended on the scrum-half. Sutherland found touch to his right on the Bournemouth 10m. Bournemouth again failed to secure the throw-in and Brixham attacked right. They were given the put-in at a scrum midfield and flanker Smyth was restored to the action after 42 minutes play. Despite the Bournemouth scrummaging pressure, Brixham managed to recover and get the ball right. They took play into the Bournemouth 22m they were awarded a line-out and then a scrum for a knock-on. Bournemouth seemed to have tied the ball up tight on the touchline, but Brixham managed to release it left and a strong three-quarter attack saw them over in the corner. Another excellent kick from the flawless Pinkus saw his side take the lead at 14-13 and after five minutes of extra time, Lowis blew for the half-time break and those welcome oranges.

Head coach Mike Pope made one change to the line-up at half time asking Robert Heath to make his 1st XV debut in place of lock Pete Roberts.

Facing what breeze there was, Sutherland restarted the game by kicking left. Brixham secured the restart and went left. A kick deep into the Bournemouth half saw a similar response by Ben Meaden and the fly-half found touch to his left outside the Brixham 22m. Brixham went left but knocked the ball on for a Bournemouth scrum. Bournemouth went left but a miss pass saw Sutherland pick up the pieces. Brixham were penalised for not rolling away as they tried to neutralise that initiative and the same player kicked a goal from just outside the Brixham 10m to restore his home side’s lead, albeit slender, at 16-14 three minutes into the half. Brixham restarted by kicking right to be fielded by Smyth who fed Hutchison. The scrum-half’s kick had more of an upward trajectory rather than a forward trajectory and I’m sure he was grateful that his fellow players manged to retrieve it. It rather spoiled things when the kick right went straight out, rather nullifying the earlier good work, for a Brixham line-out on the Bournemouth 10m. Brixham attacked right but Bournemouth were award the put-in at a scrum on their 10m. Going right, Meaden kicked for territory, but the Brixham return kick was knocked on just outside the Bournemouth 22m for a Brixham put-in. Brixham scrum-half Jamie Hext broke right and Brixham continued the attack as they came back left. A Bournemouth defence under some pressure, were pleased to be awarded a scrum but it was only eight or so metres out from their own line. Hutchison swung the ball left and Bournemouth worked the ball into the hand of the fleet left-wing Ollie Grainger-Williams (OGW). The winger lived up to his soubriquet coupled with some neat foot work to made good progress up that left flank before being nobbled by the opposition but still managed to lay the ball back for Bournemouth to continue the breakout. Kicking right they had the bonus of Brixham failing to field the ball cleanly. At this point, nine minutes into the half, Tom Napier was brought on to replace loosehead prop Mike Davies which, at least, would give him time to admire his picture on the front of the programme. With the play restarting, Brixham kicked and regathered the ball to attack right but a knock-on rather spoilt things. From their put-in outside their own 22m, Kimber broke right and released the ball to the threes. The attempted clearance kick, much to the horror of the home supporters, let alone the players, was charged down and Brixham scored to the left of the posts. Pinkus did his thing and Brixham were back into the lead at 21-16, 11 minutes into the half. Soon after the restart, Bournemouth were awarded a line-out on their left on the Bournemouth 10m. Secured the throw-in sure enough but promptly kicked the ball out on the full to give Brixham a chance to see what they could with their line-out. They did well going left, taking play deep into the Bournemouth 22m causing the home defence all sorts of problems but were penalised enabling Sutherland to relieve the situation by finding touch to his right outside the Brixham 22m. The line-out proved to be a disaster for Brixham when Lowis showed a red card to Joey Capaldi and a thoroughly disconsolate lock trudged off the field, quarter-an-hour into the half. Sutherland found touch to his right to set up a promising attacking line-out outside the Brixham 22m. Maintaining good possession Bournemouth first went left and then back right but the final pass didn’t go to hand, the ball going straight into touch for a Brixham line-out just ten metres out from their own try-line. From the line-out Brixham went left and kicked for a Bournemouth line-out back on their own 22m. Recovering, Bournemouth took play back deep into the Brixham half where from just inside the Brixham 22m Manning broke clear and had an unstoppable run for the line to score his 50th League try for the club and tie up the scores at 21-21. Crumbs that lifted the spirits of the home crowd. From in front of the posts, Sutherland kicked the goal to put his side back into the lead at 23-21 halfway through this second half. At the restart, OGW had another run down his left flank and Brixham were penalised for a high tackle on the flying winger. Sutherland found touch to his left on the halfway line. From the line-out, Hutchison fed Meaden going right and Sutherland, coming into the line, accelerated into the gap. Brixham forced Bournemouth into touch for a Brixham line-out which gave the opportunity to bring on Jordan Wayman in place of inside centre Alex Peel. Coming first right then back left, Brixham kicked long further left but failed to find touch. Sutherland was able to field the ball and cleared right for a Brixham line-out but still inside the Bournemouth 22m. The throw-in was not straight for a Bournemouth scrum. The Bournemouth forwards drove their opposite numbers and were rewarded with a penalty. Sutherland drove the visitors back further, finding touch to his right inside the Bournemouth 10m. It was untidy at the throw-in, but Hutchison did the necessary housework and kicked clear. His admirable efforts were rather spoilt by a Bournemouth player being in front of the kicker resulting in a penalty for Brixham. Too quick by half these youngsters. The trouble is with these things, it gives the likes of Pinkus the chance to have a crack at goal. The fly-half duly did what was required of him from the Bournemouth 10m and Brixham were back in the lead at 24-23, 27 minutes into the half. After the restart, Brixham had a line-out on their right on the Bournemouth 10m. Manning nicked the throw-in and Bournemouth went right. Newcomer right-wing Dan Boer had a promising run down the right and when the ball came back inside, Sutherland grubber-kicked the ball through. This was kicked back and Meaden, covering back, could only manage to let an awkward bouncing ball bounce off his legs into touch to his right for a Brixham throw-in on the Bournemouth 10m. Going right, Brixham kicked but knocked the ball on in trying to retrieve it for a Bournemouth scrum outside their own 22m. Attacking down the middle, Bournemouth were penalised inside their own 10m. Pinkus’s attempt at a dropped goal was only just short and Sutherland was able to clear right. Not finding touch, Brixham kicked back and two Bournemouth players going for the ball managed to knock the ball on between them for Brixham to have an attacking scrum inside the Bournemouth 22m. Going left, Brixham kicked and fielded by Sutherland. The full-back’s clearance kick was returned when Brixham attempted a drop goal but was off target. When Bournemouth countered, they were caught offside at the breakdown and Pinkus, from the halfway line, extended his side ‘s lead by three points for them to lead 27-23 right at the end of normal time. More injury-time dramas? You can be sure. Bournemouth came back strongly from this latest setback with Meaden making a delightful break into the Brixham 22m. Close to the line left of the posts, Brixham were penalised. Taking the scrum as the option, Bournemouth pushed hard, and referee Lowis reset the scrum. Again, proving too strong, Bournemouth won the ball going left and Tom Napier, having been at the front of the scrum, came from nowhere, or so it seems to your correspondent, at pace, took the pass and was over much to the obvious delight of his fellow players and Bournemouth had snatched a last-gasp win for the second successive week with the bonus of the score being the bonus-point try. Sutherland kicked the goal from wide of the left-hand post to make the score a more respectable 30-27 and referee Lowis blew for ‘no time’ as the ball sailed between the uprights.

In the end a win but I’m sure the coaches will have their own view on certain aspects of the play and will be working on them on the training park. Nonetheless, one must consider, compared to last week, there were four changes in the backs each of whom was making his first start in the League. In addition, the forwards weren’t unscathed, both locks were different from last week and there were two positional changes. The 1st XV also ‘nicked’ a couple of players from the original line-up of the twos but that didn’t stop them having a resounding win 38-7 over Swans firsts at Bestwall. So, all in all, a satisfactory weekend and an illustration of how well our valued newcomers are fitting in and contributing to the Bournemouth cause. Enjoy yourselves lads.

Record against Brixham in the League.

Overall: P13, W9, D2, L2. For 363, Ag 266.

Home: P7, W6, D1, L0. For 222, Ag 86.

Away: P6, W3, D1, L2. For 141, Ag 180.

Next week we are away to Camborne, KO 2.30pm. Please note not 3pm as you might have seen elsewhere and was assumed by your programme editor.

Doug Warren