OLD REDCLIFFIANS v Bournemouth

Team Selection: The forwards remain unchanged from last week against Old Centralians but a number of changes in the backs due to player unavailability. At full-back Josh Wickens comes off the bench to start his sixth game of the season all at full-back. Grant Hancox replaces Ben Meaden at fly-half and Grant’s place at inside centre is taken by Zach Godfrey, making his 1st XV debut. On the left wing, Jack Young returns to replace the unavailable Ryan Morrell. On the bench Bailey Andrews replaces Josh Wickens and Henry Turner replaces Luca Firetto.

The weather was bright and sunny with a gentle breeze, that blew straight down the pitch. Underfoot, the pitch looked in good ‘nick’ with a good covering of grass.

Bournemouth outgunned by hard-running backs (and forwards)

Bournemouth kicked off into the aforesaid wind from right to left as viewed from the clubhouse and to their left.

Old Reds secured the kick-off, went left and Ezra Caven, coming off his right wing. scored wideout. 30 seconds? Possibly? What was obvious, Bournemouth were facing a hard-running, aggressive even, back line who were going to be hard to contain. What was also ominous was that missing the kick at goal wouldn’t appear to matter in the scheme of things.

1m: Old Redcliffians 5-0 Bournemouth

After that initial shock, Bournemouth got themselves into the game, but promising moves seemed to end up being penalized. Nonetheless, Old Reds constantly showed what a threat they were and it was from a penalty under their own posts they found touch to their right on the half-way line. Driving off the line-out initially they released the ball left and Bournemouth were penalized defending the strongly mounted attack. Putting Bournemouth on the back foot, they found touch to their left inside the Bournemouth 22m. Driving off the line-out, they ‘crabbed’ right before releasing right. Coming back left, Bournemouth were again penalized in defence, but Old Reds chose to scrum the penalty. Releasing to the right initially but when they came back left, a wide overthrown pass saw them over in the left-hand corner. Fly-half Ash Groves, judging the wind nicely, curled his kick in to extend his side’s lead to 12-nil.

15m: Old Redcliffians 12-0 Bournemouth

Although the Bournemouth chase of the restart saw them turn the ball over their attack right didn’t gain enough advantage and referee Joe Binfield pulled play back to a Bournemouth scrum outside the Old Reds 22m. As Bournemouth attacked Old Reds turned the ball over and countered left. Bournemouth were penalized in defending the threat outside their own 22m and Groves pushed back inside the 22m, finding touch to his right. Bournemouth were again penalized under their own posts as they defended a strong-running attack first to the right then back left. From some 17 metres out, Groves kicked the goal.

21m: Old Redcliffians 15-0 Bournemouth

However, Bournemouth struck back almost immediately after the restart when Old Reds were penalized for ‘crossing’ as they tried to run the ball out of defence. Fly-half Hancox kicked the goal to reduce the deficit.

23m: Old Redcliffians 15-3 Bournemouth

With encouraging signs that the forwards were holding their own in the scrums and the defence working hard to stop the Old Reds’s aggressive attacks, it was disappointing at the ‘death’ of the half that Old Reds won one ‘against the head’ inside the Bournemouth 22m. Releasing right Old Reds scored wideout. Groves kicked the goal and Binfield blew for half-time.

40+1m: Old Redcliffians 22-3 Bournemouth – Half-time.

The second half got off to a disastrous start, reminiscent of the start of the game, when Bournemouth knocked on the restart kick. From a scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m, Old Reds went right, and they were over in the corner. Groves failed to convert but Old Reds had their bonus-point try.

41m: Old Redcliffians 27-3 Bournemouth

Bournemouth were penalized when they chased down the restart and found themselves defending a line-out on their left back on their own 22m. Old Reds attacked left and their strong running backs were too much for the Bournemouth defence and they were over for their fifth try.

45m: Old Redcliffians 32-3 Bournemouth

Outside centre Jordan Wayman got hurt after the restart, needing attention from the physio Andy Curtis, and had to retire to be replaced by right wing Jack Young, Bailey Andrews coming off the bench to replace Young. Bournemouth showed some promise in their attacking play but found it hard to break down the Old Reds’s defence and indeed had to be at their best to keep out the Old Reds when they countered. It was from the unlikely position of defending a line-out on their own 22m that led to Bournemouth’s first try. Winning a turnover at the line-out, don’t know exactly what happened, I can’t read my notes, but I do know Bournemouth broke left and Old Reds got penalized for their efforts in defending the breakout. Pope found a good touch further to his left on the half-way line. Driving off the line-out, the ball was released to Pope and the scrumhalf broke down the short side. A dummy saw him over (no the dummy is not me) in the corner for his second in successive matches. The reliable Hancox did his bit and at least Bournemouth had broken their try drought. At this point loosehead ‘Baz’ Magda and lock Joe Desmond were replaced by Henry Turner and Jack Hennings respectively.

60m: Old Redcliffians 32-10 Bournemouth

This small gain was quickly nullified when Old Reds recovered the restart, went left and were over in a trice. Groves gave the nail another little tap and Bournemouth were back where they were. Disappointing.

60m: Old Redcliffians 39-10 Bournemouth

Despite this setback Bournemouth recovered the ball as Old Reds attacked first right then back left from the restart and countered right. Awarded a penalty, Pope found touch to his right and Bournemouth attacked left but were bundled into touch for an Old Reds line-out. The Bournemouth did well against the Old Reds and were awarded a penalty when Old Reds were guilty ‘holding on’. Pope found touch to his left. Bournemouth drove off the line-out, crabbing right as Old Reds tried stop the drive. From just left of the posts, flanker Ben Russell broke off the back of the maul and was over. With an easier task than his earlier effort, Hancox kicked the goal.

69m: Old Redcliffians 39-17 Bournemouth

Disappointingly, much as happened after the earlier Bournemouth try, Old Reds promptly scored from the restart but this time there was a sting in the tail. Pope was ‘yellow carded’ for a deliberate knock-on under the posts and Old Reds were awarded a penalty try. A double whammy I’m afraid. Hancox took over as scrumhalf and Andrews came into his preferred position as fly-half. Jordan Wayman came back on to replace Jack Young.

71m: Old Redcliffians 46-17 Bournemouth

However, there was a spirited response from the Bournemouth 14. From a line-out on the half-way line to where Old Reds had cleared the restart. Bournemouth attacked strongly and under their own posts, Old Reds were penalized on the 5m line. The penalty was quickly taken, and the indefatigable Alan Manning was driven over for his third of the season. Hancox kept up his 100% kicking record to reduce deficit by a further two points. ‘Baz’ came back on to replace lock Jake Guildford.

76m: Old Redcliffians 46-24 Bournemouth

Old Reds were awarded a scrum at the restart and attacked right. The Bournemouth defence were awarded, in turn, a scrum but tight on their own line. Joe Rees broke off the back but Old Reds were awarded a penalty. Groves found touch to his right, but the throw-in was not straight for a Bournemouth scrum. Again, Rees broke off the back but this time Bournemouth kicked only to see it run back and Old Reds scoring. With Groves kicking the goal referee Binfield decided he had seen enough and blew for no side.

80+2m: Old Redcliffians 53-24 Bournemouth

Bournemouth dropped one place to nineth remaining on 55 points: P24 W8 D0 L15; 586-607 and Old Redcliffians remain 2nd on 104 points: P24 W21 D0 L3; 878-470.

Bournemouth’s next match is next week (April 9) at home to Royal Wootton Bassett, KO 3.00PM.

Doug Warren

Scribe, Bournemouth RFC.