Bournville 27 Luctonians 38
There was heartbreak for Bournville at the end of a pulsating North Midlands derby with Luctonians scoring an opportunist last minute try that robbed them of at least a point.
Bournville were pushing hard for a fourth try which would have secured only a second win since October and five valuable points but were penalised for not releasing in a ruck.
While Bournville players questioned the decision – a Luctonians player appeared to have committed the first offence with a side entry – Luctonians’ scrum-half Owen Randell took a quick tapped penalty and crossed unopposed.
So Bournville finished without the consolation of a losing bonus point which was the very least they deserved from a performance of spirit and character in adversity.
With a squad still depleted by injuries, unavailability and suspension, Bournville threw everything at Luctonians who had toppled league leaders Camborne the previous week.
Tries from Nick Murphy – his third in two home games – Will Loftus and Reiss Price against his former club had Luctonians rattled and the result eventually hinged on three bounces of the ball.
The ball twice bounced favourably for Luctonians for two of their first three tries but unkindly for Decalmer who was unable to hold on after he had sliced open the visitors’ defence with another superb run followed by a clever kick ahead.
Had the ball sat up for Decalmer and Jacob Fewtrell converted, Bournville would have gone ahead but momentum swung Luctonians’ way when wing Rob Aikman scored next after a period of sustained pressure.
Luctonians were generally more clinical in attack but they were severely tested in defence with Murphy, Adam Shaw, Kieran Henderson, Jonjo Fanning, Ben Meakin and James Weaver all carrying hard and Sam Grimshaw regular making important yardage.
There was also a huge performance from Scott Rudge at loosehead prop. Rudge joined Stourbridge last summer but returned to Avery Fields in January having played mostly second team rugby at Stourton Park.
He made his Bourns’ comeback at Old Redcliffians last week and put in a huge shift, particularly in the set pieces here.
But – and not for the first time this season – Bournville were left to reflect on what might have been and there are now just 15 points to play for this season with a home game against Clifton sandwiched between trips to Cinderford and Devonport Services.
A week off will give some of the walking wounded the chance to rest and recover and all is not lost if Bourns can repeat the spirit of this performance.
Jacob Fewtrell’s penalty gave Bournville a fifth minute lead but Luctonians went ahead after number eight Jack Goodwin snaffled a kick from Randell that stood up nicely for him.
Goodwin scored a second soon after from a driving lineout and Luctonians went 16 points clear when Owien Harriott-Davies latched on to a stray pass on the halfway line and hacked ahead with the ball bobbling kindly for George Bennett to dot down.
A second Fewtrell penalty kept Bournville in touch and he then landed a difficult conversion when Murphy rumbled over in first-half injury time.
Loftus’s try – his first for the club – after patient approach work, and Fewtrell’s conversion gave Bournville the lead again but Luctonians cancelled it out when flanker Seb Robinson was driven over and Randell converted.
It was a six-point game when the unlucky bounce of the ball denied Decalmer which proved to be a key turning point in such a finely-balanced contest.
*Bournville Blues stayed on course for promotion at the first attempt from Counties Three Midlands West (South) with a 37-31 win at leaders Upton on Severn.
Director of Rugby Paul Sumner made a crucial contribution on the pitch by coming off the bench in the second-half to score two tries.
The Blues were 17-0 in front at one point but Upton hit back to go 19-17 up before an Alex Warner penalty restored the lead and Liam Turner’s try, sandwiched between Sumner’s brace, sealed the win.
Upton were displaced as leaders by Woodrush but the Blues are now just four points behind that pair with a game in hand on Woodrush.
The Blues host Dudley Kingswinford IIs at Avery Fields next Saturday followed by a potential title decider against Woodrush, also at home, on April 5.
