Saturday 13 September 2008, KO 3.00 p.m. at Chapel Gate.

Result –Bournemouth 26 (1G, 2T, 3P) v Bracknell 19 (2G, 2T). Half-time – 8-12.

Attendance – 250 approximately.

Referee – Tom Davis, Oxfordshire. Referee’s Assessor – Jim Frith, Hampshire.

Touch Judges – Steve Buffery, Bournemouth. Mark Chapman, Bracknell.

Bournemouth Team - 15: Domenick Davies (1T); 14: Mike Pope (1C, 1P); 13: 'Eddy' Edwards (1T); 12: Tim Gray; 11: Scott Chislett, 10: Jon Sanchez (2P) (James Payne); 9: Sam Hardcastle (1T); 1: Jo Burns (Andy Spikings); 2: Dan Cawley; 3: Alan Manning; 4: Tomas Ford; 5: Tim Seward; 6: Chris Hughes (c); 7: Iain Crombie; 8: Michael Richards (Matt Morris).

Bracknell Team - 15: Dave Budge; 14: Stu Mackay; 13: Oliver Jones; 12: Ben Nowak (1T, 2C); 11: Nick Shears; 10: Jervis Manupennu; 9: Dan Ap Dafydd; 1: Jonny D Mirza; 2: Joe Shelton; 3: Andy Van Zyl (1T); 4: Kenny Barry; 5: Jason Borchards; 6: Nico Maybury (1T); 7: Carl Cimpoias; 8: Chris Sheasby. Substitutes: 16: Tom Muggeridge; 17: Graham Sparks; 18:Andrew Cox.

Yellow Card – Kenny Barry, Andy Van Zyl.

This enthralling match was distilled into eleven minutes of frantic action and fluctuating fortunes at the very end of the game, including three scores in injury time which made the result uncertain until the final whistle, but Bournemouth famously prevailed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Having conceded what can only be described as a ‘soft’ try in the first few minutes, a try from full back Davies and a penalty from the returning Sanchez saw Bournemouth take the lead at 8-5 halfway through that first period and was just reward for almost total dominance. This was trumped by a Bracknell goal right on half-time to complete a period at the end of the half when they began to get back into the match. They kept up that momentum and that lead of 12-8 until half-way through the second half when Sanchez reduced it to one point with a penalty. The minutes began to tick away and the crowd became increasingly agitated at the failure of the home side to reestablish their first half superiority. Then with just four minutes of actual playing time left, there was scrum-half Hardcastle, in typical fashion, breaking away from the base of a 22-metre scrum to score what was hoped by everyone of the Bournemouth supporters the settling score at 16-12. It wasn’t to be. Instead it was simply the opening scene of that dramatic finale. Straight from the restart, Bracknell were awarded a penalty and fly-half Manupennu found touch on the left on the Bournemouth 5-metre line. The initial drive for the line was well contained and scrum-half Dafydd was forced to swing the ball wide. He found his captain Nowak who, to the despair of the Bournemouth supporters, forced his way over close to the posts. That he converted his own try didn’t seem to matter as it was ‘all over’ in any case. Oh ye of little faith! Straight from the kick-off, Bournemouth win a penalty on the Bracknell 22-metre line. Three points! Go for the line-out and a possible try or kick to draw the match? Up steps the youngster Mike Pope in place of the substituted Sanchez and coolly slots the goal from wide of the posts.19-19 all. And still referee Davis doesn’t blow for full time. Bracknell restart with a kick deep into the Bournemouth 22-metre line. Bournemouth, through Seward, secure the ball and he gets it to substitute fly-half Chislett who cleverly puts inside-centre Gray into the gap. The strong running centre is away and makes some 40 metres with the Bracknell defence scrambling back and across to cut off the threat. But there was Hardcastle and Pope in support to continue the move for the latter to have the presence of mind to look back inside to find Edwards clear enabling the centre to blast for home to score a remarkable try. Pope again added the points with a well-struck conversion from wide out. However there was still more time for further scores but Bournemouth were not going to yield this hard-won and dramatic advantage and seven minutes into injury time referee Davis ended the Bournemouth supporters agony and blew for no side.