Bournville demonstrated their resilience by bouncing back from last week’s heavy defeat at Redruth to claim a bonus point victory in a pulsating contest at Avery Fields.
It was not a game for those of a nervous disposition as Bourns saw a 24 points lead after 26 minutes reduced to three points six minutes into the second-half but a try from Sam Grimshaw three minutes from time eventually calmed the nerves and secured the win.
There were 11 tries – six from Bourns – in this 81 points thriller which was played at a frenetic pace throughout with Lymm making a full contribution to the entertainment and returning home with two bonus points, the second secured by a penalty from Tom Shard at the death.
It was by no means a perfect performance from Bourns and there will be plenty to work on – ball retention being one – in training this week. But the win and the celebrations that followed the final whistle will lift the mood in the camp ahead of another tough away assignment at Hinckley next week.
Bourns took a calculated risk when they won the toss and opted to play with a strong downfield wind at their backs in the first-half with the aim of establishing a large enough lead to allow them to defend it into the elements.
For a time it was a tactic that worked. Will Tanner, who was promoted from the bench to the left wing after Cam Smith’s arrival at the ground was delayed, got his first try for the club after four minutes when he gathered a superb crossfield kick from Jacob Fewtrell and dotted down.
Adam Shaw then went over from close-range midway through the first-half with Fewtrell adding his second conversion followed by a penalty. When centre Oscar van Deventer charged down an attempted clearance from Lymm and regathered with Fewtrell adding the extras Bourns were 24-0 up and seemingly in command.
But Lymm were quick to send reminders that there was still a long way to go. Bourns lost a little composure and some important lineout ball and Lymm capitalised with from-row pair Jamie Cope and Ben Lilley crossing for tries converted by Shard in the last five minutes of the first-half.
The wind eased a little in the second-half which assisted Bourns but the lead was almost eroded Alex Mukherjee took a quick tapped penalty and went over unopposed.
Bourns responded with the bonus point try and a second for Shaw, reward for a patient multi-phase build-up, but Fewtrell was unable to add the conversion and Lymm pulled to within a point when centre Jack Reynolds ghosted through and Shard converted.
Smith made his presence felt shortly after he came on as a replacement midway through the second-half, finishing off an excellent counter-attack in which van Deventer featured prominently.
Jonjo Fanning, on as replacement hooker, added physicality on both sides of the ball and his powerful carrying and ferocious tackling helped to see Bourns through a tense final quarter.
A second try from Reynolds and another conversion from Shard meant it was a one-point match with ten minutes to go but Lymm lost a crucial lineout from a promising attacking position and Bournville made the most of an opportunity at the other end when Grimshaw stepped and muscled his way through a thicket of tacklers.
Fewtrell’s conversion effectively sealed the victory but there was still time for Bourns to be penalised for drifting offside on the 22 which gave Shard the opportunity to secure a losing bonus point.
