Weymouth v bedouins

FIZZLE! – the Bedouins started the game like a dad struggling with some cheap bangers in the rain. Weymouth had brought a good mix of old and young players and were clearly up for it, in front of a small crowd of beer swilling locals. Trouble and 3 converted trys arrived through the middle and the flanks with Weymouth carrying and offloading well. In between Bournemouth were making progress and beginning to settle, but optimistic kicks and strong breaks through the gain line by both forwards and backs, failed to turn flame into a full set of sparks

BANG! – 3 trys against, some dented pride and harsh whispers together on the tryline brought the Bedouins up to full match speed. A new gear of aggression had been reached in the forwards with a hit from Millsy setting up punchy strikes from Kenny and Tom Mowlem. The Bedouin backs had been given a chance to express themselves for the first time in the game and Matt Coxon and Carl Holdsworth unleashed some flowing moves from the Thursday night training ground at HQ. Laner, still smarting from being on the wrong end of a two on one for one of the trys, channeled everything into cutting in from the wing and through a few Weymouth players. Yards gained allowed Drakey to profit at last from 20 minutes of brilliant carrying with a try to get Bournemouth on the scoresheet. No conversion was forthcoming from a difficult angle, but Bournemouth were back in the game at 21-5.

CRASH! From the first whistle Jack Hennings had torn through Weymouth players at every opportunity. Great strength and commitment was also accompanied by brilliant awareness and game experience throughout. Jack deployed this to release fellow forward Mitch for a sharp and brutal burst and crash through a flailing Weymouth player on the line – the kind of ducking and dominant driving finish that only a forward can unleash near the opponents line. Again Bournemouth were to fail to convert but the scoreboard, like the Bedouins, was really starting to tick at 21-10. The game was really starting to live up to the bursts of fireworks near and far, as Weymouth found themselves in a proper game under the dark Friday sky.

WHIZZ! Relentless commitment from Simon Pell and Kenny Woodhead epitomized the next stage of the game and Weymouth were left rocking and puffing as the Bedouins refused to let up on the pace. Yann, making a rare appearance at 12, was enjoying the chance to throw elegant passes into the path of Luke Haine, who repeatedly broke the line at pace pulling in 2-3 weymouth players at a time. Max Taylor – at left wing – deployed sparkling pace across the half way line. Mark Forsyth, venturing into the attack from the full back position, applied another spectacular blast of pace and steps to whizz over the line and set up a nice angle for the successful conversion. 21-17 and the Bedouin bonfires were burning too bright for the fishermen in blue to bear.

BOOM! While the scrum was proving to be a challenge, intense work on the training field was to pay off for the final try before half time. Bonz Brereton, always able to deliver a firecracker performance whether it by Guy Fawkes night or not, collected and burst through to touch down before half time. Gareth Hicks, having taken over kicking duties, slotted over from an awkward angle to take Bmth to 28-17 going into the break.

ROCKETS! Half time brought some changes in the backs to bring on Nathan Channon, Ryans and debutant Jimmy. With the zig zaggy lines of sparks from the first half backs still settling on the floor, Weymouth were about to be tied firmly on top of the fire in the second half. Within minutes Jimmy flew up to the ball and ignited on a run over the line, arcing up and over to be certain of a try and wheeling in glee at delivering his first strike for the 4s. Weymouth replied with a forwards push over the line and conversion. This time the 4orce were quick to reassert themselves. With great work from Si Pell and the forwards Drakey was released, carried and offloaded brilliant for Ryan to bring some blistering pace to bear with another try. Again the welsh wizard Hicks carefully tee-d up another successful conversion.

POPPER! Ryan was now in the mood and was set free by another smooth sequence of play after a restart. He took his turn to pop when brought down on the 5 metre line, with Matt Coxon adding a well deserved try atop the fountain of great passes delivered for the crowd throughout the game.

BOMB PLOT! Having orchestrated the pyrotechnics, Tim Robbins was called into action to bolster the forwards and entered the fray with a bearded Fawkes like determination and a few running bombs to deliver. Jack Hennings was withdraw with his legendary work done, to preserve this club treasure and keep him in good shape to receive his honorary Bedouin T-shirt.

THUD! The next change was marked by Paul Stout being pulled onto the pitch, trundling into place in the second row. After from some spider monkey restart intimidation of the opposition, Stout made his most solid contribution yet. Millsy exchanged some ‘to me, to you’ offloads with Drakey and left the field satisfied after having added a little extra flair to his 70 minutes of heroics in the forwards, allowing a final re-shuffle in the pack. Carl Wheeler, in keeping with the night, sported a 17th century moustache, ball carried and worked on towards the end of a mighty shift at hooker.

PLOT SPOILER! Like a constant torturer wielding a red hot poker into Weymouth throughout the 80 minutes, a grinning Drakey sealed the final try of the game to mark the spoiling of the Weymouth plot for victory. With another Hicks conversion Bournemouth closed the game as 52-28 winners.

TOP GUY! The after match ceremony celebrated Kenny Woodhead as a worthy man of the match for his explosive running and all round contribution to every aspect of the forward play. As the debutant player Jimmy was lucky enough to wear the new unicorn head and drink through a straw at the bar

CATHERINE WHEEL! The Bedouins were grateful to Weymouth for hosting a great evening game and taking a loss of 4 players to injury on the chin. Bournemouth were grateful to their travelling physio for patching us through the game. The 4orce and their excellent support began to rotate around and around at a very nicely priced bar into the night. As for Catherine – whether she made an appearance at the Weymouth B & B chosen by the younger Bedouins, will remain a closely guarded secret amongst the shifting sands of Bournemouth.