brighton v Bournemouth

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.