brixham v Bournemouth

Team Selection: Three changes in the backs; one of personnel and two positional. Dan Boer moved to right-wing in place of the unavailable Ryan Morrell, Grant Hancox replaced Dan Boer at outside centre and Richard West came off last week’s bench to replace Hancox at fly-half. In the forwards a number of changes. The front row was totally reformed from that that started against Royal Wootton Bassett last week: Riad Lynch gave way to the returning Mike Davies at loosehead prop and was on the bench; Hooker Ben Kimber was replaced by tighthead Alan Manning and Manning was replaced by Luca Firetto, making his first start since the game against Ivybridge at the end of October. The second row of Robbie Heath and Pete Roberts was totally replaced by Connor Scott and Joe Desmond. Even there there was a late change, when Scott was replaced by Michael Treloar making his first 1st XV appearance since breaking his thumb in the warm up down at Ivybridge in March 2019.In the back row there was a change for the first time in five matches with Kimber replacing the injured Ciaran Smyth at open side flanker. On the bench besides the aforementioned Lynch, Lewis Nicholls was a late call up in place of Smyth when it was realised Smyth’s injury was not worth risking him having to play and thus retained his place on the bench. Ashley Taylor returned after missing the game against Royal Wootton Bassett as the third member of the bench.

Overcast with a stiffish Easterly breeze blowing from right to left as viewed from the stand. Before kick-off, there was a minute’s silence for ‘Rusty’ Hext, grandfather to Jamie Hext, Brixham’s scrum-half.

I know the headline above is a nonsense, two halves of the same can’t be unequal, but in scoring terms it was. What was equal though was that each scored two tries but it was not the same with penalties. Penalty goals may not attract the same tariff but they sure do take their toll.

Brixham kicked off from right to left and, thus, with the aforementioned wind and to their left.

Bournemouth secured the kick-off and released left for fly-half Richard West to clear back right for a Brixham line-out on the hallway line. They attacked strongly going right but a pass didn’t going to hand causing a hiccup. However, they recovered from that and switched left. Coming back right they made a half-break midfield taking play into the Bournemouth 22m which had the Bournemouth defence at full stretch. However, when that same defence prevented any further progress, referee Groves brought play back to an earlier misdemeanour for Mitch Pinkus/ the Brixham full-back to find touch to his left just 10 metres out from the Bournemouth line. The Bournemouth forwards stopped the Brixham drive off the line-out and they were forced to crab sideways where a knock -on under the posts gave Bournemouth the relief of the put-in at a 5m scrum. West cleared right but Brixham had a line-out still inside the Bournemouth 22m. Good news though, Bournemouth managed to ‘nick’ the throw-in and the forwards drove off the line-out before scrum-half Sammy Veneroso released left to West who kicked right. He failed to find touch and Brixham ran the ball back at Bournemouth going right. The Bournemouth defence was ‘rewarded’ with the put-in at a scrum midfield but inside their own 22m. West’s clearance right was ‘sliced’ and the wind didn’t help but the ball was safely in touch if only just outside the 22m. Maintaining this early pressure, the Bournemouth defence finally yielded when the Brixham full-back got over in the right-hand corner. With an excellent kick, the same player added the two points.

8m: 0-7/tc; Mitch Pinkus/15/tc.

West restarted left and fielded the Brixham kick return. The fly-half swung the ball wide where full-back Josh Wickens came into the line to, in turn, feed left-winger Oli Grainger- Williams. He couldn’t find a way through and Bournemouth switched back right as they probed the Brixham defence. A West kick was charged down but went into touch for a Bournemouth line-out. Brixham knocked on at the line-out and from the scrum, right-wing Dan Boer came off his wing to provide the extra man as Bournemouth went left taking play into the Brixham 22m. Finding no way through, Bournemouth switched back right where Wickens came into the line but was promptly tackled. He laided the ball off but when Bournemouth went left they knocked on in midfield but Brixham had forced play back and they had a scrum on the Brixham 10m.

The Bournemouth scrum drove their opposite numbers back but, under some pressure, Brixham managed to get their kick away only for the ball to go ‘dead’ for a Bournemouth 22m drop-out. They almost recovered the restart but Brixham managed to retain possession and set up another dangerous attack going left. Coming back right they almost broke through midfield but were penalised for ‘holding on’ and West was able to find the sanctuary of the touch to his left on the Bournemouth 22m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out before releasing to Veneroso who made some 20 metres down the ‘short side’ but knocked on in the contact for a Brixham scrum on the Bournemouth 10m. The dominant Bournemouth scrum drove Brixham back in some disarray and Groves penalized them for

‘standing up’ and West found touch to his left beyond the Brixham 10m. Bournemouth were not able to take advantage of this promising attacking line-out because the throw-in was ‘not straight’ and Brixham had a scrum instead. Again, however, the Bournemouth scrum retrieved the situation as, again, Brixham were penalized as they were being driven backwards. West again found touch to his left inside the Brixham 22m. The throw went to the back of the line where Bournemouth managed to hold on to the ball after a little juggling and released it right. In the face of a determined and well organised Brixham defence they made no progress and came back left looking for that vital way through. This constant ‘sniping’ had its reward when Brixham were penalized and Bournemouth opted for a scrum on the Brixham 5m, rather than, say, for a kick at goal. Although, as before, Bournemouth drove Brixham back they managed to disrupt the scrum and recovered the ball but Bournemouth managed to turn the ball over. and went left. Even at this short range they still could find no way through in the face of the determined Brixham defence. It was the same coming back right only this time Bournemouth were penalized for ‘holding on’ and Pinkus found a good touch to his left and Bournemouth found themselves defending a line- out on the half-way line.

Going right off the line-out, a pretty fierce pass wide out rather spoilt things for Brixham and they had to concede a scrum to Bournemouth inside their own 10m. However, Bournemouth found themselves on the back foot in the scrum but they managed to get the ball away to their left only to get themselves penalized midfield. Pinkus duly punished them by finding touch to his left outside the Bournemouth 22m. A dangerous attack right was stopped short of the line but when Brixham worked the ball back left Pinkus was over in the corner for his second try. The full-back then kicked for goal and, despite some initial disappointment by some of the home supporters as to where the ball was going, Pinkus had judged the wind perfectly as he saw the ball curl in inside the far post for another excellent goal and to double his side’s lead.

29m: 0-14/2t2c; Mitch Pinkus/15/tc.

West’s restart left didn’t ‘go ten’ for a scrum back. The forwards retrieved that situation by winning the ball and Bournemouth made a half break going right before coming back left where they got themselves penalized. Pinkus went for touch to his left but failed to find touch and the ball was recovered by his opposite number, Wickens. Bournemouth worked the ball left and West found Grainger-Williams but the ball was knocked on for a Brixham scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m. Despite the pressure the Brixham scrum was under from the Bournemouth shove, they managed to get the ball away left. A knock on by Bournemouth in the contact gave Brixham the put-in at a scrum on the Bournemouth 10m. Bournemouth got themselves penalized and Pinkus kicked another fine goal from range and to increase his side’s lead.

34m: 0-17/2t2cp; Mitch Pinkus/15/p.

West restarted left and Bournemouth did well to recover the ball to set up another attack first down the left then back right all in the face of this determined Brixham defence. It was this defensive pressure that yielded another penalty for Brixham and, from inside the Bournemouth 10m, Pinkus kicked the goal for Groves to blow his whistle for half-time.

40+2m Half-time: 0-20/2t2c2p; Mitch Pinkus/15/p.

Bournemouth had an early scare in the second half when having ‘lost’ a line-out on their left, Brixham went left from a scrum and kicked. Winning the ball back on the Bournemouth, Brixham were awarded a score. They went right from the scrum. Right-wing Matt Crosscombe had a strong run and Brixham were almost in at the corner but were forced to come left. A Brixham knock-on gave Bournemouth the put-in at a scrum on their own 5m. Veneroso released the ball to West and the fly-half found a good touch to his left on the half-way line. The line-out was a bit untidy but they got the ball away left where the Brixham defence was penalized on the half-way line. West kicked left but failed to find touch and Brixham’s kick right found touch for a Bournemouth line-out outside the Brixham 22m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out and Brixham were penalized in their efforts to stem the tide.West found touch to his left inside the Brixham 22m and was replaced by Ashley Taylor.

47m: 0 v 20/2t2c2p; Richard West replaced by Ashley Taylor.

Brixham knocked on in the line-out but when Bournemouth attacked right off the scrum they also knocked on for a Brixham scrum. Despite the Bournemouth shove, Brixham managed to hold on to the ball enabling them to kick right. The ball went ‘no where’ in the stiffish breeze and Bournemouth had a line-out on the Brixham 22m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out before releasing the ball wide to the right before switching back in field but again a knock on in the contact yielded a scrum to Brixham but at least they had advanced inside the Brixham 22m. Brixham broke off the back of the scrum but were penalized for

‘going off their feet’ as they supported the ball carrier. From just ten metres, Hancox at last got Bournemouth on the scoreboard.

55m: 3/p v 20/2t2c2p.

An exchange of kicks at the restart saw Bournemouth knock on midfield. Nonetheless, the Bournemouth forwards recovered the situation with their pressure in the scrum being rewarded with a penalty. Hancox, now at fly-half, found touch to his left outside the Brixham 22m. Bournemouth secured the throw-in and the forwards drove, splintering the Brixham attempts to stem the flow before releasing the ball left. The Brixham defence forced Bournemouth into touch for a line-out just ten metres out from their own line.

Bournemouth, however, were penalized at the line-out and Pinkus found touch to his right on the half-way line. Brixham went left off the line-out and Bournemouth were penalized for their defensive efforts and Pinkus was able to press them even further back finding touch on the Bournemouth 22m. Crosscombe came off his wing to provide the extra man as Brixham went left. A little chip over the top almost saw them in but Bournemouth were penalized anyway and Pinkus banged the ball over to nullify Bournemouth’s small gain earlier.

61m: 3/p v 23/2t2c3p; Pinkus/15/p.

Bournemouth restarted left but, having taken the ball back inside their 22m kicked the ball straight out for a Bournemouth line-out inside the Brixham 22m. Bournemouth attacked right off the line-out and Brixham were penalised for a high tackle, Bournemouth opting for a scrum. Typically, Wickens came into the line as Bournemouth went right and the full-back was over. Hancox kicked the conversion and Bournemouth had a glimmer.

65m: 10/tcp v 23/2t2c3p; Wickens/15/t, Hancox/R10/c..

Almost immediately after the restart, were penalized for being offside in midfield. Pinkus, from inside the Bournemouth 10m had a ‘go’ for goal but pulled his effort to the left of the far post for a Bournemouth 22m drop-out. Recovering the ball tighthead prop Luca Firetto broke away on a charge. The ball went right and there was Wickens in the line again but was forced into touch for a Brixham line-out on their own 22m. Brixham kicked off the line out but their chasers were penalized and Hancox kicked left, pressing them back to their 22m again. Bournemouth lose the throw-in but when they recovered the ball Hancox kicked back left for the ball to go over the Brixham try-line for a try-line drop-out. When Brixham recovered the ball, Crosscombe kicked fielded by Wickens who set up a promising attack going right but, when the ball came back left, a forward pass brought progress to a shuddering halt and Brixham had a scrum outside their own 22m. Inside centre Adam Higgins was injured in the process and was replaced by West.

76m: 10/tcp v 23/2t2c3p; Higgins/12 injured, West on.

When they went right off the scrum, Brixham were penalized and Hancox found touch to his left outside the Brixham 22m. Bournemouth secured the throw-in and the forwards drove the ball with Groves playing advantage. When insufficient had been gained the referee came back to the original infringement. Hancox found touch to his left, just ten metres out from the Brixham line. Bournemouth attacked right and replacement Ashley Taylor was over in the corner. Hancox failed to convert but at least Bournemouth had a matching second try.

79m: 15/2tcp v 23/2t2c3p; Taylor/R14/t, Hancox/R10/c miss.

Brixham restarted left and Bournemouth fielding the ball went left but the ball was kicked straight out for a Brixham line-out on the Bournemouth 10m. Brixham attacked left but the Bournemouth defence held firm but, nonetheless, they got themselves penalized for being offside. Maintaining the momentum, Brixham took a quick penalty and Bournemouth were immediately penalized again. This time, from inside the Bournemouth 10m, Pinkus rounded

off a very fine personal performance by kicking an excellent goal into that fresh wind, that had blown throughout the match, for Groves to blow for no time.

80+5m – Full Time: 15/2tcp v 26/2t2c4p; Pinkus/15/p.

For Mitch Pinkus to score all his side’s 26 points was quite remarkable, his goals alone outscoring Bournemouth’s efforts. Bournemouth was a little more democratic in the sense they shared the points scoring. Disappointing but Brixham’s defence proved very hard to breach.

Bournemouth remain sixth on 38 points while Brixham moved up one place to 7th on 33 points.

Bournemouth’s next match is next year (8 Jan) home to 11th placed Camborne KO 3PM. With current situation, viz a viz Covid, check the game is on before travelling.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers.

Doug Warren