Bournville back to winning ways after second-half burst

Bournville 27 Hinckley 19

Bournville got back to winning ways with a burst of 24 unanswered points in a 20-minute period in the second-half of this ferocious Midlands derby at Avery Fields.

Converted tries from Joe Jenkins, Nathan Decalmer and Owen Williams rewarded Bournville for their persistence and patience after they had gone nine points down at the break.

But the deficit was kept to manageable proportions and, for the third week running, Bourns saved their best rugby for the second 40 minutes.

The one slight disappointment was that late pressure failed to secure a try bonus point but, having surrendered a long unbeaten home record against Camborne last week, the win was everything.

It was Bournville’s second home victory against Hinckley in six months and this one was much more comfortable than the one-point, last-gasp thriller in April.

Hinckley arrived having won two of their previous three matches and with a side reinforced with some dual registration signing from the Premiership. But they went home without a point and still seeking their first away win of the season.

Hinckley’s big pack – and a hefty front-row in particular – ensured they had a solid set piece but they were let down by poor handling at crucial stages of the game.

Bournville were much sharper in attack and it appeared to be only a matter of when, not if, they would score the first try.

Instead it was Hinckley who broke the deadlock when a Jenkins pass was intercepted, Hinckley hoofed on, Ben O’Sullivan was unable to gather the loose ball and wing Sam Read followed up to score.

Freddie Morgan pulled back three points with a penalty midway through the first-half and a gold opportunity went begging when Ben Meakin knocked on as he crossed the line.

That looked as though it could have been a costly lapse as Hinckley responded with a penalty kick to the corner, a driving maul from the lineout and a try from scrum-half Evan Carey.

But Bourns retained their composure and took control of the match in the third quarter.

Jenkins rounded off a superb counter-attack, started by neat interplay between Decalmer and Williams before Decalmer pounced to snaffle a pass when Hinckley looked certain to score and he went the length of the field.

That score was a 14 points swing in Bournville’s favour and was followed by another Morgan penalty and a well-taken individual try from Williams after Hinckley coughed up possession in their own half.

Bourns went in search of the bonus point but it was Hinckley who rounded off the scoring when replacement prop Sonny Tongahuia went over from a driving lineout two minutes from time.

*Bournville Blues maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought 28-14 victory over Silhillians Seconds in a club match at Avery Fields.

At one stage it looked like the Blues would be left without a match for the second week running after Kings Norton conceded the scheduled Counties Three Midlands West (South) match.

But Silhillians, who also had opponents concede on them, stepped in and played a full part in an entertaining and keenly-contested match.

Thank you to Silhillians for ensuring the Blues did not have another blank Saturday and good luck for the rest of your season.