Dings Crusaders 59 Bournville 10
Bournville were given a hard lesson in finishing at Shaftesbury Park by a side that could be playing National One rugby next season.
There was no lack of ambition or commitment from Bournville but their patient approach work produced just a consolation try for Owen Williams from around a dozen visits to Dings’ 22.
In contrast, Dings were utterly ruthless in attack, running in nine tries to demonstrate why they are pushing Luctonians hard for the National Two West title.
There was certainly no disgrace in losing heavily to a side that have not lost since September 30 and only once at home this season with Dings showing pace and power in attack with their outstanding support play the main difference between the sides.
It meant that what was always going to be a tough away assignment became even harder for Bourns who returned empty-handed while Dudley Kingswinford gained a valuable try bonus point from their defeat at Chester.
Bournville’s heaviest defeat of the season did not appear likely after they dominated the first ten minutes but were unable to convert the pressure into points with two missed lineouts and an off-target penalty kick from Jacob Fewtrell letting Dings off the hook.
Within the next 30 minutes Dings had scored five unanswered tried, secured a bonus point and wrapped up another win as they scored each time they got into the 22 with wing Tom Hargan, scrum-half Oscar Lennon, number eight Jake Holcombe, hooker Joe Hawkesby and centre Harry Tarling all crossing and fly-half Sam Worsley adding four conversions.
Alex Evans almost got over for Bournville but his try was ruled out for a knock-on just before the line and it was left to Fewtrell to get them on the scoreboard with a penalty in first half injury time.
Bournville’s main aim in the second period was to try to score four tries and earn at least one bonus point. Instead Dings stretched their lead to 47-3 with wing Sol Taufa and Jacob Perry powering over for converted tries.
Bournville’s try was a well-worked one with Joe Nellany, who impressed off the bench, sparking the attack with a well-timed pass and Williams and Will Aylen combining well before Williams finished the move and his brother Rhys added the conversion from the touchline.
With 16 minutes left to play there was still time for Bournville to add further scores, instead Dings closed the game out with Worsley scoring and Perry capitalising on a handling error when Bourns tries to attack from their own 22.
“We had opportunities in the first ten minutes to execute and when you don’t you get punished. They executed, we didn’t which is why they are second and chasing the title and we are eleventh,” said Head Coach Matt Price.
“Dings are a decent outfit, they have powerful runners and they broke our defence with ease at times. It took us a lot longer to break them down.
“I said to the boys at half-time: ‘we have two options here. We can either dig in at times and fight or it becomes a bit of an embarrassment’.
“Nobody wants that and I don’t think it became that. We made a lot of changes and protected a few boys with some big games coming up which meant there were some new combinations which didn’t help.
“Ultimately they put it on us, we couldn’t cope with some of their running which is why the scoreline is what it is.”
Through the Viewfinder
Lee Sullivan
