Bournemouth RFC

Season 2008/2009

Bournemouth Lions sponsored by Wood of Bournemouth, BMW Dealers.

Bournemouth Lions v Oxford Harlequins

The English Clubs Rugby Union Championship – South-West 1

Saturday 1 November 2008, KO 2.30 p.m. at Chapel Gate.

Result – Bournemouth 22 (1G, 3T) v 8 (1T, 1P) v Oxford Harlequins. Half-time – 10-3.

Attendance – 200+ approximately.

Referee – Simon Lane, Devon.

Touch Judges – Steve Buffery, Bournemouth. Matt Todd, Oxford Harlequins.

Bournemouth Team – 15: Domenick Davies; 14: James Payne; 13: Tim Gray ‘Eddy” Edwards 53); 12: Scott Chislett; 11: Mike Pope; 10: Simon McFarlane (1C); 9: Sam Hardcastle; 1: Tim Wareham; 2: Andy Spikings (1T) (Dan Cawley 54); 3: Alan Manning (1T); 4: Jayson Kenny; 5: Chris Hughes (c) (Callum Forrest 53); 6: ‘Jack’ Petelo (2T) (Chris Hughes 53); 7: Iain Crombie; 8: Matt Kiely. Substitutes: Dan Cawley, ‘Eddy’ Edwards, Callum Forrest.

Scorers – Tries (4): ‘Jack’ Petelo 2 (27, 42), Andy Spikings (14), Alan Manning (68). Cons (1): Simon McFarlane (42).

Milestones – ‘Jack’ Petelo scores on his first ‘start’ in a league match. Jayson Kenny plays lock for the 50th time for the 1st XV. Iain Crombie starts in his 25th game for the 1st XV.

1st XV Honours Tie –Iain Crombie and Tim Gray.

Oxford Harlequins Team – 15: Huw Jones; 14: Andy Noyce; 13: Nick Sevier; 12: Neil Spottiswoode; 11: Nick Spencer (1T) (Ollie Campbell 64); 10: Mark Forth (1P); 9: Anthony Cope; 1: Simon Chadbone (c); 2: David Needham; 3: Johannes Ferriers; 4: Adam Pearson; 5: Paul Delange; 6: Matthew Young; 7: Nick Goodger (Ferdie Gerber 59); 8: Ben Nicholl. Unused-substitute: Kenny Hurst-Sewell.

Scorers – Tries (1): Nick Spencer (58). Pens (1): Mark Forth (7).

Scoring Sequence – 7m: OHs pen (Forth) 0-3; 14m: Spikings try; 27m: Petelo try 10-3; 40m: Half-time 10-3; 42m: Petelo try, McFarlane con 17-3; 58m: OHs try (Spencer); 56m: Manning try 22-8; 80m: Full-time 22-8.

The weather was appalling being both wet and very cold with an unpleasant westerly/north-westerly wind blowing. Underfoot it was very wet after pretty heavy rain had been falling throughout the day.

OHs kicked off from right to left as viewed from the stand, i.e. into the aforesaid wind.

With loosehead-prop Tim Wareham securing the kick-off, blindside-flanker ‘Jack’ Petelo was quickly into action with a strong drive which enabled Hardcastle to get in a chip and chase to force a scrum on the OHs’ 22-metre line down the right. Full-back Domenick Davies fielded the clearance kick but his pass didn’t go to hand. Showing considerable enterprise in the awful conditions OHs tried to run the ball in their attempt to break out but were awarded a scrum with referee Simon Lane playing advantage they couldn’t exploit because of a knock-on. However they managed to kick the ball direct into touch and were forced to concede a Bournemouth throw-in some 25 metres out from their own line. Lock Jayson Kenny secured the ball with a great leap and catch to set up a Bournemouth drive but they lost the ball only for OHs to clear but again direct into touch for another Bournemouth line-out this time right on the 22-metre line. Handling was clearly difficult in the cold and wet conditions. However that didn’t stop OHs from making a dangerous break to the right to make great progress up field into the Bournemouth 22-metre forcing right-wing James Payne to scramble across to the opposite wing to help cut out the threat. Bournemouth secured the ball but as they went right they were penalized for ‘holding on’ as the ball carrier went to ground and fly-half Mark Forth kicked a good goal from some 30 metres and just left of the posts for his side to lead 7-0 after seven minutes. OHs cleared the kick-off straight into touch and Bournemouth had a line-out some twenty-five or so metres out down their right. From there, Hardcastle, using a tactic he was to used a number of times during the afternoon, chipped into the OHs’ 22-metre but Bournemouth were penalized and Forth was able to send them back to their 10 metre line. Bournemouth, however, kept up the pressure on the visitors when they won a scrum in mid-field when OHs were disposed and Hardcastle again chipped into the OHs’ 22-metre only to see his effort returned. Davies was in a good position to field the ball and Hardcastle was on hand to take the pass and he promptly banged it right for an OHs line-out just outside the OHs’ 22-metre line. As OHs tried to run it out Bournemouth won the ball and first went left. When that route was sealed off they broke right with a terrific three-quarter attack to feed Payne. He seemed to be through with a step inside but the defence managed to get to him and his pass back inside unfortunately didn’t go to hand. Bournemouth, nonetheless, set up another attack through a combination of backs and forwards and they got the ball to hooker Andy Spikings who forced his way over in the right-hand corner to record his second try in successive home matches. Left-wing Mike Pope’s effort was just short but the home side had taken the lead 5-3 after fourteen minutes. When Bournemouth tried to clear from the kick-off, OHs kicked the ball deep into the Bournemouth 22-metre and with Davies careful shepherding the ball it hit the post and, under pressure from the pursuing OHs players, he was very grateful to be able to get the ball away to Hardcastle who cleared with a long kick down field. The same player was promptly ‘done’ for feeding and it was only strong tackling from the mid-field defence that managed to dispossess the OHs’ attackers and Hardcastle was able to make a great break as they took advantage from a OHs knock-on. Hardcastle’s pass inside was knocked-on by OHs and No-8 Matt Kiely made a great thrust off the back of the scrum. This set up another great attacking opportunity and Payne was stooped just short of the line. As Bournemouth moved it left only some ten or so metres out they got themselves in a bit of pickle and were called for crossing as McFarlane looked to put someone into the gap. This enable Forth to clear to his left halway between the 22-metre line and the 10-metre line. Kenny did very well to nick the OHs’ ball and Petelo was again in action with a strong drive off the back of the line-out. OHs were penalized for being offside and blindside-flanker Matthew Young was asked by Lane to reflect on how cold it was in the stands for ten minutes. Bournemouth chose to take a 5-metre scrum and they drove OHs back. First Hardcastle almost twisted himself in and then as it went left McFarlane almost did the same. Retaining the ball the ball was swung left but a poor pass to Pope saw the winger grasping air and a copper-bottomed opportunity to score went a-begging. Bournemouth weren’t to be denied and when Forth cleared, Davies fed Gray who weaved his way through the defence to find Petelo on his shoulder and this time the pass went to hand and the flanker was over for his first try for Bournemouth wide out on the left. McFarlane took over the kicking duties but his effort was pushed wide of the far post but Bournemouth led 10-3 after twenty-five minutes. It was mostly Bournemouth for this period keeping OHs under constant pressure. However Payne’s clearance from the kick-off was well returned for a Bournemouth line-out down their right on their 10-metre line. With Bournemouth trying some quite adventurous handling given the conditions saw Gray make another promising run supported by Petelo. The ball was lost in the maul but the strong flanker won it back to make a break. Hardcastle was there in support but the scrum-half’s slightly ambitious pass in his attempt to keep the momentum going was almost intercepted but fortunately was knocked-on. From the scrum Hardcastle made a half break for captain Chris Hughes to keep it going. In turn Gray went on another of his typical mazy runs to feed Pope wide out on the left. However the winger just stepped in touch just short of the line. Bournemouth were awarded a scrum at the line-out but found themselves under pressure and OHs won the ball back. Forth cleared the ball way down field for it to be returned by Davies for OHs to eventually find touch on the half-way line down Bournemouth’s right. Spikings made a break off the back of the line-out but dropped it going to ground but OHs were promptly penalized for ‘holding on’ and weren’t best pleased when Lane marched them ten metres further back when they gave vent to their feelings. Pope thought that brought a kick within range but his effort was short. From the line-out resulting from OHs’ clearance kick Bournemouth knocked the ball but when play broke down after the scrum Lane blew for half-time.

Bournemouth did very well to capitalize on some hesitation by OHs at the kick-off to recover the ball and they were further rewarded when a chip into the OHs’ 22-metre resulted in a knock-on for a Bournemouth scrum. McFarlane went wide to feed Scott Chislett and when the inside-centre went to ground Petelo was on hand to force his way over under the posts for his second score. McFarlane had the easiest of tasks to put his side 17-3 up just two minutes into the second half. Another Hardcastle kick manufactured another OHs knock-on, reflecting the difficult conditions, and the same player put Chislett into a gap from the scrum but disappointingly the ball slipped out of his hand in the contact. Hardcastle stole the ball at the scrum and the elusive scrum-half had Petelo in support for the flanker again to drive at the opposition only for Bournemouth to be penalized for ‘diving in’ in their attempts to secure the ball. Forth’s god work by finding touch was undone when Bournemouth again stole the ball in the line-out. OH recovered by driving Bournemouth back but they steadied the ship and in turn drove OHs back before releasing the ball going left. However, the pass to Pope, who had some space in which to work, was adjudged to be forward and play was brought back for an OHs scrum. Bournemouth steal it again and when OHs were penalized, Hardcastle took a quick penalty to feed Pope as he went left. Bournemouth were forced to go right and in attempt to outflank the defence a long pass was thrown to Payne out on his right but he was only able to simply stand up in the tackle to be rescued by Petelo. He initially drove forward but as the ball was released going left the pass to Spikings was forward. Bournemouth demonstrated their forward dominance by driving the OHs scrum back and the visitors were penalized for McFarlane to have a kick at goal from some thirty-five metres. He pushed the ball wide of the right-hand post for an OHs 22-metre drop-out. The kick out was dropped by Bournemouth for an OHs scrum but Forth was not able to pick up a poor pass for another Bournemouth scrum. Edwards, who had just replaced Gray, came into the line at pace but dropped the ball in contact. OHs made a dangerous break from the scrum but knocked the ball. McFarlane relieved the situation with an excellent to his left for an OHs line-out on the Bournemouth 10-metre line. OHs took a quick penalty when Davies was penalized for ‘holding on’ and, with Bournemouth defence not able to recover, the ball was quickly through the hands for left-wing Nick Spencer to get over in the corner. Forth’s kick was pushed across the face of the goal but they had indicated that they remained a potent force with the lead reduced to 9 at 17-8 going into the last quarter. Bournemouth promptly responded but putting OHs under great pressure right from the kick-off and were awarded a scrum just metres out from the OHs’ try-line on the right. The drive for the line was held up but when the forwards reformed they drove tight-head prop Alan Manning over for his first score of the season. Again McFarlane was unsuccessful with the conversion as his effort was pushed past the nearside post. This proved to be the last score of the match and for the remainder of the game Bournemouth exerted great pressure but few chances were created. Kiely, who had a number of characteristic drives off the base of the scrum, went close from a 5-metre scrum. And Davies coming into the line chipped through for Pope but a promising move was stopped by OHs. Generally the Bournemouth forwards dominated but a determined OHs defence kept them out helped by a number of errors in the treacherous conditions. Replacement lock Callum Forrest, who came on for Petelo, did well in the line-out stealing OHs’ ball on a couple of occasions but generally the two sides cancelled each other out and perhaps the final whistle couldn’t come soon enough so that everyone could get out of the wet and cold.

In the cold, wet windy conditions there were any number of errors but at times both sides showed much enterprise with the ball in hand. For Bournemouth the centres made a couple of exciting runs which were unlucky not to result in a couple of scores. OHs’ full-back Huw Jones, also, on a number of occasions showed a willingness to attack with ball in hand giving a lie to the conditions and might well have made better progress in better conditions. Still a win is a win, especially against a rejuvenated side after a convincing, albeit their first of the season, the previous weekend. The result meant that we moved up one place to fourth after Barnstaple had been soundly beaten at Bracknell and Coney Hill slipped up again this time away to Redingensians. They and Clifton remain unbeaten.