Bournville 62 Dudley Kingswinford 26
Sam Grimshaw’s five-star performance got Bournville back to winning ways with a bonus point victory over plucky DK in a free-flowing local derby at Avery Fields.
Centre Grimshaw scored five of Bourns’ ten tries with a superb display of pace, nimble footwork and devastating finishing which, for once, eclipsed wing Nathan Decalmer.
The final scoreline was emphatic enough but it does not tell the whole story. Having established a 12-0 lead and looked in control, Bournville then leaked three tries in ten minutes midway through the first-half and DK led 19-12.
But Grimshaw’s second try levelled the scores and the bonus point score from scrum-half Reiss Price just before half-time settled Bournville’s nerves.
There was still plenty of work for Bourns to do in the second-half but a salvo of five tries in the third quarter quickly put the game to bed and maintained the unbeaten home record.
During that period Bourns produced some exhilarating attacking rugby, played with pace and precision, which frequently punched holes in DK’s defence.
A big win was just the tonic needed after the agonising defeat at Newent and the first-half rustiness could probably be attributed to the stop-start – mostly stop – fixture list since Christmas.
Grimshaw missed most of the first-half of the season with a knee ligament injury but since he returned to action at Stourbridge in December he has looked sharp and hungry.
His first try, after three minutes, was all about clever footwork and acceleration as he powered through on a jinking run with Jacob Fewtrell adding the extras.
Decalmer, as usual, got on the scoresheet when he finished off a lovely break from Mauro Miller but then hobbled off with a knee injury midway through the first-half.
Grimshaw almost got a second when he broke free and chipped ahead only for the ball to bounce out of his grip and it was DK who got the next three scores.
Lock Dan Marsh, flanker Conor Smith and wing Adam Dainty found gaps in Bourns’ defence with Rhys Harper converting two of the tries.
Bourns responded with a patient and sustained attack which was expertly finished by Grimshaw with Fewtrell’s conversion levelling things up at 19-19.
Price’s try from a blindside break at a driving lineout gave Bourns the lead at the break and the tries came thick and fast when the players returned.
Jonjo Fanning was driven over from a lineout followed by Harry Dawson, who was a dominant force in attack when he came off the bench.
Grimshaw completed his hat -trick, which he celebrated by raising three fingers just in case anyone in the ground did not know, but there was more to come.
Miller capped a fine performance with a long-range try of his own before Grimshaw made it four from another excellent attack.
DK secured a rare bonus point when Joe Webster went over from a close-range tap penalty but this was Grimshaw’s afternoon and he rounded it off by gliding through for his fifth try four minutes from time.
The win took Bournville back to the top of the Regional One Midlands table displacing Newport – who were beaten at home by Banbury – on superior points difference.
*Bournville Blues went down 36-15 against Bromsgrove IIs in their latest Counties Two West (East) match at Avery Fields.
Through the viewfinder
What a cracking game that was! It looked all done and dusted after taking a 12:0 lead, but fair play to Dudley K and their supporters for making a game of it.
A superb day for taking photos, even though it was getting a tad cold towards the end of the game.
A big thank you for the ref for his control of the game and carrying on despite injuring his leg.
Are we looking for a new club house Honours Board similar to to the one at Lords? For a five-for, fifer or a Michelle ( as the Aussies call it)?
I wonder how many would make that? Bournville stats man?
Photos – thank you to all those that pointed out the quality of light available. It’s nice to know I am teaching you something.
For those lucky enough not having to avoid going down the umpteen rabbit holes on Facebook, here is the link to photos from the game.
The order of the photos might be a bit off as was using a 2nd camera, as if one wasn’t heavy enough.
Please make the effort and I will see you at Drybrook on Saturday.
Sully, Bournville’s always friendly (and free) photographer
