Bournville 35 Bridgnorth 22
Bournville helped Jono Fanning celebrate his 100th appearance with a hard-earned bonus point victory over a dangerous Bridgnorth side at Avery Fields.
Fanning’s landmark was marked with a special presentation in the changing rooms before kick-off although his game was cut short by a knock to the head early in the second-half.
Before he departed Fanning contributed some typical hard carries to a match that was fast, furious and very physical.
Bridgnorth, who beat Bourns on their home patch in September, contributed fully to the entertainment and had Bourns at full stretch in defence for long periods of the second-half. Referee Greg Biddle also helped things along with some emphatic, light-touch officiating.
In the end a try from Adam Shaw, who was outstanding at the breakdown after he came on at half-time, midway through the second-half calmed Bourns’ nerves but it still needed a well-struck penalty from Jacob Fewtrell five minutes from time to make sure of the win.
The key period came in the ten minutes before Fewtrell struck as Bourns went down to 14 men after Joe Jenkins was sin-binned for a high tackle but they managed to deny Bridgnorth a score during that period.
At times Bourns were hanging on by their fingertips but Oscar Fawkes-Underwood produced a brave try-saving tackle to deny Benji Ritson when the Bridgnorth scrum-half appeared certain to score.
Bournville also made life difficult for themselves by forcing passes in attack which helped to gift Bridgnorth two of their three tries. But Bourns managed to regroup on each occasion and successfully extended their unbeaten run to seven.
There were two tries for Nathan Decalmer in the first-half with the left wing again showing superb footwork and explosive pace to find gaps in Bridgnorth’s defence that did not appear to be there.
But Bridgnorth led three times during the first period with lock Morgan French scoring the opening try after five minutes, Ritson capitalising on some missed tackles to get the second and left wing Dan Brough following up after a clearance kick from Mauro Miller was charged down.
It was not until hooker Jamie Harding, who carried powerfully all afternoon, went over from close-range on the stroke of half-time that Bourns took the lead for the first time.
A penalty from Bridgnorth fly-half Reece Boughton four minutes into the second-half levelled things at 22-22 but that score was quickly cancelled out by one from Fewtrell.
Shaw’s try, after sustained pressure close to the line, and Fewtrell’s conversion secured the try bonus and also gave Bourns some much-needed breathing space.
But Bridgnorth would not lie down and tested the division’s meanest defence to the full before Fewtrell nudged Bourns further clear.
*Sam Grimshaw made a successful comeback from a knee injury with a hat-trick of tries for Bournville Blues in their 52-31 victory over Birmingham & Solihull at Portway in Counties Two Midlands West (East).
Graimshaw had not played since suffered the injury against Nuneaton in the opening Regional One Midlands match of the season back in September.
He was not originally scheduled to play against Birmingham & Solihull but stepped in at fly-half at the last minute after Alex Warner went down with flu.
Grimshaw played the first 50 minutes and returned for a further ten minutes later in the match to stake his claim for a recall to the first team at Stourbridge next week.
