Bournville 55 Lutterworth 24
It says much about Bournville’s impressive progress this season that were able to score eight tries and bank another bonus point win without being at their best against a combative Lutterworth at Avery Fields.
Bourns played some superb rugby at times but combined it with a lack of patience at others when another phase or two of possession may have produced more points.
They were also tested in defence by Lutterworth who went home with a try bonus point with two of their scores coming from an effective driving lineout.
But the win meant Bourns ended a challenging run of four matches with the maximum of 20 points and extended their unbeaten home record this season to a perfect ten from ten. With three games left they still head the Regional One Midlands table by eight points and will have home advantage against second-placed Newport at the end of the month.
There were some big performances across the pitch with full-back/right wing combination of Joe Jenkins and Mauro Miller again working well, number eight Callum Nicholls playing like a man possessed and Jamie Harding, Chris Idehen and Kieran Henderson all carrying powerfully.
It was forward power that created the first try after four minutes with a driving lineout on the 22 shunting Lutterworth back to their goal-line before Sam Grimshaw nipped in for the score which Jacob Fewtrell converted.
Lutterworth hit back with a try from full-back Justin Trombas which rewarded them for a period of sustained pressure with Harry Reed’s conversion levelling the scores.
But Harding was driven over from another lineout for an unconverted try and Jenkins then finished off after scrum-half Reece Price caught Lutterworth napping with a quickly taken tap penalty.
Nicholls secured the bonus point when he went over from close range in the 28th minute but Lutterworth narrowed the deficit with a try from a driving lineout just before the break.
There was still work for Bournville to do in the second-half and Price gave them the perfect start when he finished off a superb jinking run from Mikey Ho which Fewtrell improved.
Lutterworth continued to contribute to the entertainment with their third try, again from a lineout, while Bourns were down to 14 men after Idehen was yellow carded for a high tackle.
Bournville showed a pragmatic side when they opted to kick a penalty for goal rather to touch and Fewtrell obliged with the three points which gave them a 17 points cushion.
The lead was quickly extended to 31 points after Grimshaw intercepted a Lutterworth attack on halfway and raced over under the posts, then Nicholls picked up and drove over from a five metre scrum for his second try.
Lutterworth, who gave Bourns a hard game in the mud in rural Leicestershire in November, secured their bonus point five minutes from time but Bournville saved their best for last with a superb sustained attack in which teenager Oscar Fawkes-Underwood featured prominently before Miller exploited the overlap.
*Eugene Madzima scored two tries on debut to help a youthful Bournville Blues side secure a losing bonus point from a 19-17 defeat at Upton Severn in Counties Two Midlands West (East).
Madzima was one of five Colts in the Blues side with his second try, converted by captain Alex Warner, clinching the bonus point.
Through the viewfinder
Just 40 photos this week. I had dressed for a much warmer day. It didn’t arrive.
What a cracking final try!
Pity I was watching and cheering, rather than photographing it.
Here are a few photos
Sully
