Drybrook 0 Bournville 29
Bournville produced a performance that was as much about character as skill to secure a bonus point win on the road to move clear at the top of Regional One Midlands.
The first visit to Drybrook’s hilltop ground at The Mannings was postponed three times and only went ahead after the pitch passed a morning inspection. But Bourns made sure the wait was worthwhile by digging deep to deny their hosts a score of any kind while running in five tries themselves.
Conditions were testing with a sloping and tight pitch made heavier by rain throughout the match with a downfield wind adding to the challenge which Bournville proved equal to with a superb defensive shift, particularly in the last ten minutes when Harry Dawson was in the sin bin and Drybrook, fresh from a home win over near neighbours Newent last week, threw the kitchen sink at them.
Lock Kieran Henderson produced a standout performance as a lineout winner and disrupter, a possession winner in the loose and as a ball carrier but special mention must be made of props Scott Rudge and Kuba Kijak who played all but the last minute between them.
Injuries and unavailability meant Bourns travelled without a specialist prop on the bench and Jonjo Fanning had to switch from number eight to loosehead for the final scrum of the match after Rudge went off injured.
Poland Under-20s international Kijak has spent most of the season on loan at Old Halesonians and this was his first start of the campaign. He made up for lost time by playing the full 80 minutes and made a significant contribution to the win with an industrious display in the set pieces and loose.
Despite the filthy conditions Bournville were committed to playing an attacking game and the margin of victory should have been even more emphatic. But they were repeatedly frustrated by Drybrook’s disruption of the driving lineout and a 12 points lead at the break was a poor return for possession and pressure.
The first half tries came from Mauro Miller after Adam Collingwood had harried Drybrook into conceding a five metre scrum. Bourns won the scrum and shipped the ball left where Miller used Mikey Ho as a decoy runner to nip in for a try which Jacob Fewtrell converted from the touchline.
Fewtrell then scuffed a kickable penalty and Bourns became frustrated when they were unable to convert Drybrook indiscipline into more points. Half-time was looming when Bourns got a lineout wrong but Kijak tidied up the loose ball and Henderson powered over for a try that was definitely not one conceived on the training paddock.
Drybrook, with the wind at their backs, tested Bourns in defence for the first time in the opening ten minutes of the second-half but were repeatedly knocked back and Bourns then made territory count with a penalty to the corner and a try from hooker Ben Rhodes from the lineout.
The bonus point came with a penalty try, awarded after Sam Grimshaw was taken out off the ball as he was set to dot down his own grubber kick through the advancing defence.
Henderson then stripped Drybrook of possession in attack and Bourns were swift to counter with Joe Jenkins finishing off in style.
Through the viewfinder
I know it’s an old cliché about the ‘fine rain that really soaks’ (Peter Kay made a career out of it) but lets be honest, none stop drizzle that penetrates zips is an utter pain.
At least the players had the benefit of a running about to keep warm.
The conditions were miserable and it was obvious that Drybrook fancied their chances after gaining a result against Newent the week earlier. I got talking to Andy, the photographer for Drybrook and explained the Newent debacle. He later spent most of his time with me at the end we were attacking and took some great photos with a lens I now know I need!
Here is the link to the photos for those not welded to their phones on Facebook.
Has anyone got an indoors tiddly winks competition they want photographing, as the recovery time for my shoulder appears to be getting longer.
Sully, Bournville’s always friendly (and free) photographer.
