Bournville Forwards Coach Tom Manise was disappointed to return from Old Redcliffians with only a try bonus point from what he described as a “phenomenal” effort.
Bourns had that bonus point in the bag by half-time but were unable to add to it in the second-half as Old Reds expertly used the postage stamp and sloping pitch at Scotland Lane to their advantage.
Bourns did not help themselves with three yellow cards after the break but the overall performance was a significant improvement on the defeat at Hinckley two weeks earlier and won praise from Manise.
“I think the lads will be really disappointed that they didn’t win that game. They were phenomenal for long periods, but we just came up on the other side of it,” he said.
“It was tighter than the scoreline suggests. There is a lot we can work on in the week, as there is every week but the lads will be disappointed not to win.
“We started well, which is a bit of picture with us at the moment, and then we lost a bit of focus in certain areas which is something we can talk about in the week. But overall it’s a big improvement which is what we are looking for.
“It’s a tough place to come to – quite a hostile environment which I quite like. The pitch was quite hard so we will probably be a bit sore this week but it suits us better than the opposite.
“No excuses, it was a game that we could have won and I think everyone will feel a little bit disappointed that we didn’t win.”
Bourns lost Kieran Henderson with concussion before the break and Harry Dawson with an elbow injury after it but Henderson’s replacement Paddy Smallman was one of those who took the chance to impress.
“There were some massive performances. Callum Nicholls was just phenomenal, Paddy Smallman came on and made a massive impact, he did excalty what was needed and Will Tanner played well until his yellow,” Manise said.
“Jamie Harding has been outstanding the last two games with his carrying. We took him off and brought him back on and he brought real energy when he came back on. It’s really hard coming back on but I thought he was brilliant.
“Sam Peppitt looked really dangerous as did Mikey Ho every time he got the ball and Harry Sigley was excellent in loads of different areas.”
Wing Cam Smith scored two of Bourns’ five tries despite suffering a hamstring injury shortly after he had dotted down for his first. He played most of the game with his right leg heavily strapped but insisted on playing on despite Manise giving him the chance to be replaced moments before he scored his second try.
“Cam looked a little bit ropey so I asked him if he wanted to come off,” Manise said. “That’s what you want from a player, you want them not to want to come off the pitch. He kept on looking at his hamstring and then he told me ‘no’ so he stayed on which is fine because I thought it was worse than he made it look.”
