Bournemouth v ivybridge

Team Selection: In the back line, Chris Jeffes continues at full-back for Alex Sutherland who is ill with Covid. Ashley Taylor moves to outside centre, in the absence of the unavailable Freddie Gleadowe, while Markus Burcham returns to take Taylor’s place at inside centre. On the left-wing, Robbie Johnson makes his first start for the 1st XV this season, in place of Oli Grainger Williams, injured in the game against Hornets last week and missing his first game of the season. Connor Hutchison comes in for scrum-half Grant Hancox who is on his honeymoon. In the second row, the returning Robbie Heath replaces the unavailable Jake Guildford. Heath is partnered by Connor Scott, with the twos last week, who replaces Joe Desmond who moves to his more familiar place of No8, replacing Joe Rees. Rees replaces Ben Russell at blindside flanker, with Russell moving to the bench. On the bench also, Riad Lynch returns to 1st XV duty after an absence of six seasons while Sammy Veneroso makes his first appearance for the 1st XV this season.

Weather was bright and sunny throughout with a south-westerly breeze, a real break after the overnight rubbish. Underfoot, the pitch was soft after much overnight rain which continued into the morning.

Bournemouth got off to a lively start, showing considerable enterprise and ambition against an Ivybridge defence that was determined not to be breached. Breached it was however, when outside centre Ashley Taylor, capitalizing on turnover over ball as Ivybridge countered, burst through the disorganized defence to score under the posts. Right wing Ryan Morrell in the absence of the honeymooning Grant Hancox and the ill Alex Sutherland kicked the goal and Bournemouth had just reward for their lively early play of a 7-nil lead after eight minutes play.

The Bournemouth defence struggled to contain Ivybridge as they ran the ball out of their 22m and into the Bournemouth 22m at the restart. However, as seemed to happen to both sides overmuch throughout the match, a promising move ended in the opposition being awarded a penalty and the threat nullified. Mind you, Bournemouth contrived to give the advantage back to Ivybridge when they kicked the ball straight out having secured the ball from the line-out resulting from the penalty clearance to find themselves defending a line-out just outside their own 22m instead. Again, Ivybridge were frustrated as they attacked left only to be penalized, and Bournemouth were able to clear right to the safety of touch close to the half-way line but, in these early exchanges, Ivybridge were clearly demonstrating what a threat they were. Bournemouth kicking errors, such as not finding touch from a penalty on this occasion, saw Ivybridge mount another lively attack and Morrell, miraculously it seemed to this observer, managed to recover a ball chipped through very tight on the touchline and almost broke away for Bournemouth to be given the put-in at a scrum. The same player was on hand as play went left and a chip through found touch for an Ivybridge line-out just 10 metres out from their own line. A perhaps over ambitious throw, given the defensive nature of the situation, to the back of the line-out saw the Bournemouth No8, Joe Desmond, secure the ball. When it was released right a well-judged kick further right saw Morrell win the chase to touch the ball down wide out on the right. The same player picked himself up and kicked an excellent goal from just a foot or so in from that right-hand touchline and Bournemouth had extended their lead to 14-nil, with a quarter of the match gone. What could go wrong?

Well, it did with the very next move. As Bournemouth went left from the restart, with a confident passing movement, the Ivybridge inside centre Cam Setter intercepted a pass wide out and was under the posts in a trice. Defend that! Fly-half Matt Grieveson kicked the goal and Bournemouth’s lead was halved at 14-7. This set back was compounded by the Bournemouth restart being kicked straight out and Ivybridge had the put-in at a scrum on the half-way line. Ivybridge went left and Grieveson kicked for full-back Chris Jeffes to clear to his right for an Ivybridge line-out outside the Bournemouth 22m. Scrum-half Ben Watts broke right from the line-out and Ivybridge were in just right of the posts. Grieveson kicked the goal, and, at 14-all, Ivybridge had wiped out Bournemouth’s lead in just four minutes play.

Even when Grieveson had been ‘yellow carded’ soon after the restart, a ‘flat’ Bournemouth seemingly couldn’t take advantage and, when they did show promise, the ubiquitous penalty thwarted their best intentions. Despite being a man short, after just over half-an-hour, Ivybridge increased their lead to 19-14 when Setter scored his second try. Strong play by blindside flanker Joe Rees carried on by tighthead prop Luca Firetto made a dent in the defensive line but, when Ivybridge were penalized for ‘handling’ in a scrum, Morrell kicked the penalty to peg Ivybridge back to 17-19 with two minutes of normal time in the half left. That peg was promptly pulled out when the restored Grieveson kicked a penalty from outside the Bournemouth 22m, Bournemouth having been penalized for ’handling on the ground’ at the restart. Penalized again soon after the restart saw Bournemouth under more Ivybridge pressure. From a line-out on the Bournemouth 22m, Ivybridge first attacked left but when they came back right Rees ‘came up’ with the ball and supported by hooker Alan Manning almost broke out. Mind you it was a daunting half of the pitch to run for the front rower. Bournemouth chose to kick instead, and Ivybridge promptly kicked the ball off for referee Oli Carey to blow for half-time having played a couple of minutes ‘injury’ time.

From the restart, playing good possessive rugby, Ivybridge threatened the Bournemouth line and after just five minutes play in this second half got their reward with an unconverted try. With their tails up, a lively Ivybridge came straight back down the right and a poor tackle allowed full-back Tom Scoles in to score wide out. Grieveson failed to convert but two scores in as many minutes ain’t good and Ivybridge were stretching away at 32-17 just seven minutes into the half. It was going to be a long afternoon.

Left wing Damian Ackerman who had been a threat all game, had another strong run down his flank taking play into the Bournemouth half. However, when they attacked first right then back left, Ivybridge conceded the put-in at a scrum and Bournemouth took the opportunity to replace lock Connor Scott with Rees and Ben Russell came on to replace Rees at blindside flanker. Desmond broke off the back but in the ensuing play Hutchison got hurt to be replaced by Sammy Veneroso. Bournemouth again had the put-in at another scrum but when Desmond was penalized for ‘holding on’, Grieveson kicked the penalty from outside the Bournemouth 10m and Ivybridge lead 35-17 quarter-of-an-hour into the half.

Jeffes restarted right but when Bournemouth challenged for the ball Morrell got hurt and Carey stopped play for the winger to get some TLC but at least Bournemouth had themselves a scrum. When they attacked left, Ivybridge turned the ball over but were promptly penalized. Taking a ‘quick’ penalty Bournemouth took play deep into the Ivybridge 22m and eventually lock Robbie Heath, helped by his fellow forwards, forced his way over to score his first try for the Club. Morrell kicked his third goal of the afternoon and Bournemouth had made some sort of dent in the deficit at 24-35 just a couple of minutes after the previous setback.

Again, that dent was beaten out very soon after, when, after an exchange of penalties, Bournemouth were penalized a second time in that little flutter at a line-out and Grieveson restored the 14-point advantage at 38-24 with three-quarters of the game gone.

Jeffes did well at the back fielding the restart by beating his man to set up a Bournemouth counter and they threatened for a short while but were again penalized for ‘diving in’. To make matters worse, when Ivybridge went left at the line-out after Grieveson had found touch to his right on the half-way line with his penalty, Taylor was ‘yellow carded’ for an illegal tackle after 25 minutes in the half. Ivybridge chose to run the penalty with some untidy handling but still managed to be awarded a scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m. Coming left, Ackerman had another strong run and Bournemouth were again penalized in defending the threat. Grieveson duly kicked the goal from inside the Bournemouth 22m for Ivybridge, which as it happened, completed their scoring for day which was of little comfort from a Bournemouth perspective to leave the score at 41-24 after 70 minutes play.

Jeffes went right at the restart and Bournemouth almost recovered the ball, but Ivybridge were penalized for ‘diving in’ in trying to recover the situation. Jeffes found touch to his right inside the Ivybridge 22m only to lose the ball at the line-out. Morrell fielded the Ivybridge clearance and set off in field looking for a way through. The ball was worked to left-wing Robbie Johnson who had a run taking play into the Ivybridge 22m. The ball was ‘lost’ however, and Ivybridge hacked the ball up field only to knock it on in attempting to pick it up. From a scrum inside the Bournemouth 10m, the home side ‘lost’ the ball against the head, but they did remarkably well from stopping the dangerous Ackerman from scoring when he seemed to be in for all money. On top of that Bournemouth set up an enterprising counter of their own going left. An Ivybridge player was yellow carded, but Bournemouth continued to press taking play into the Ivybridge 22m where, despite some spirited resistance, commendably retained possession and eventually Russell was over for his first score of the season. Morrell kicked the goal to make the score 29-41 with two minutes of normal time left.

Two minutes into injury time Riad Lynch came off the bench to replace Luca Firetto and three minutes later Taylor was ‘restored’ having served his yellow card suspension. Bournemouth had a final flourish but when that was terminated by yet another penalty, Ivybridge had no hesitation in booting the ball off the park for Carey to blow for no time having played seven minutes of injury time.

As mere observers, it was perplexing to see such early promise turn into ashes, appearing to go ‘pear shaped’ after conceding that interception try. The other factor was the number of penalties conceded by either side. Must count them up but I’m not sure I’ve got enough fingers.

The loss means Bournemouth remain sixth in the table on 22 points. Next week Bournemouth are away to Okehampton, KO 2.30PM.

The return match against Ivybridge is at Cross-in-Hand on February 19th, KO 2.30PM. As always, check KO time before travelling.

Doug Warren