With the season trickling to a close, today we faced the Hornets, who were sixth in the league. Away we lost by nine points, 33~24. This afternoon we were slightly better and lost by only seven points, 34~41.
Sadly it was a game we should have won, had we not lost concentration/sight of the ball at a scrum and allowed them to run off for an easy seven points we might have pulled off a draw, then one more conversion and we would have won.
However, we did collect two bonus points. We are now only three points behind Bournville who are just above us. Next week they have Clifton away and we have Camborne away, wins for either team seem unlikely but bonus points in those game could be critical, that leave us with one last game, Bournville at home, for that we need as many supporters as possible to spur on the team for a win and lift us off bottom place.
Still, that is a few weeks off on 26th April, pencil that one in to your diary.

Today, on a hot afternoon with a moderate breeze, the first try of the game went to us after fourteen minutes following pressure on our line from the Hornets. A long kick out by Richard Goldsby-West to take us close to their line, a series of scrums and attacks on their line were held out, but eventually Olli Symons managed to force his way over near the turnstile corner, the conversion missed. 5~0.
A couple of minutes later they came back at us and Joe Sheppard scored in the corner at the stand side school end. The conversion missed and it was level at five all after about sixteen minutes.

An amusing incident, Hornets put up a high clearance kick towards the stand touch line, Matt Gregory was stood on the side line arms out waiting to catch it, unfortunately it came out of the sun and he was completely blinded and the ball came down about two feet to one side and slightly behind him. “It’s behind you” shouted a spectator in a pantomime manner. Shame because he had a good game being all over the place doing what he does well.
Hornets scored again eight minutes later with Owen Griffiths going in at the scoreboard corner following a fast backs move, a good wind-assisted conversion went over. 5~12.
On Twenty-four minutes we came back at them, we had a couple of lineouts that were a little scrappy but we kept th ball and attacked their line a few time then put it to the backs with Dylan Harbour running well and slipping tackles. Eventually another attack and Dan Lilly, in his debut game for us, went over under severe pressure from two defenders to touch down in a heap.
The conversion missed at the score stood at 10~12.
Just about on the half hour Hornets scored again, we had the ball just in our half, they must have got the ball off us and their No7 Cory Baker broke free and went for the posts, Tom Davis tackled him a few feet short but he was able to reach for the try, the conversion went over. 10~19. Shortly afterwards, the Hornets' No 2 collected a yellow card.
Right on half time we infringed inside our twenty-two club side, the referee played on, playing the ball across the field but we defended it well so the referee took play back to the infringement spot, they went for a close in lineout, took the throw and mauled reasonably easily over the line with Kieran Ward the ball carrier and scorer. The conversion was missed. This left the halftime score at 10~24.
So far we have been doing just enough to keep them in sight. They have the edge in the scrums a few times turning us.

The second half had us playing towards the school end. Tom Davies went off with an injury and I later saw his walking off with his arm in a sling, hopefully not too serious.
A serious attack by Hornets looked like a try in the turnstile corner following a cross field kick, the attacker was under great pressure as he went in, according to the linesman on the club side I asked, he knocked it on trying to score.
On seven minutes they scored another try, a tap penalty on the turnstile side went for the line but Rikki Bentham and Kyle Felton both took the attacker head on and stopped him, he tried a couple more times to wrestle his way over but with Matt Gregory going in to help he stood no chance.
Eventually they took the soft option and sent it wide for the winger Charlie Carter to cross on the clubhouse side. at 10~29. The conversion was missed.
Hornets must have thought 'At last we have broken free’.
On eleven minutes, we got to their line and took a lineout, Andy Pond took the ball and with a few short steps dived over. The conversion looked like it was going to go over, but at its peak just in front of the posts the wind caught it and it stopped dead and fell straight down. 15~29.
Then the try of the game for me, Luke Stannard, up stout work with the seconds made a break, I think he chipped the ball on and had a race with the defender, near their line and half way in towards the scoreboard he tackled their defender trying to secure, the ball went free, Shaun Crawford who was in support picked the bouncing ball up one handed and continued towards the touchline and then curved round and went for the line, about six feet out it looked like he had been tackled by the defender coming across, I expected him to be put in to touch, but with his foot four inches from the side line, you have to look at my photos to see the sequence, he touched down.
The referee and his linesman then stood in front of Sam Potts sunning himself in a chair by the scoreboard and discussed the try for a short time then blew for the score.
The whole sequence from chip ahead to scoring was magic. 20~29. We had them back in sight after eighteen minutes.

On twenty-five minutes we had a scrum in their twenty-two, they pushed us back and stole the ball from us, it went to the backs then with two attackers and the ball and two defenders covering the line, the ball carrier was tackled but managed to scramble over, the conversion was pushed wide by the breeze. 20~34.

Then Richard Goldsby-West, once again found himself in a maul for the line following a lineout near their line and once again came up with the score. Dan Goldstone converted it. 27~34. The bonus point try.
I thought if we can hang on to this score line we will get an extra bonus point, but then the worst moment the game for us on thirty six minutes, a scrum to us midfield in their twenty-two, the ball came back ok but whether it popped out unexpectedly of was lost sight of but in any event Josh Sheppard took it and ran in under the cross bar for a seven pointer when the conversion went over, 27~41 and the losing bonus point looked lost.
Then nearly on time we won a penalty and went for the line, the maul did not go well and they pushed us back, so the ball went to the threes and Kyle Felton went over by the scoreboard The Dan Goldstone conversion went over to make it 34~42, and the losing bonus point returned. How Kyle Felton got to that side from the maul I have no idea; he must have hailed a taxi.
So that was how the game ended, two bonus points but it could have been so nearly a draw or a win.
Olli Symons was awarded the Nigel Chivell Memorial Man of the Match award by the Hornets Chairman.
Sadly, the result confirms that we will be relegated for next season. It was a great experience, and I am pleased that we were good enough to get there. I am sure we all enjoyed the lift to the club when we did it.

The First team.

1. Rikki Bentham.
2. Aiden Taylor.
3. Oli Symons.
4. Harri Hayman
5. Kyle Felton.
6. Liam Jarvis.
7. Bertie Fordham.
8. Matt Gregory. (C)
9. Dan Goldstone.
10. Richard Goldsby-West.
11. Dylan Harbour.
12. Shaun Crawford (C).
13. Tom Davies.
14. Billy Orchard.
15. Dan Lilley.
16. Olli Whitfield.
17. James McFarlane.
18. Tyler Busfield.
19. Luke Stannard.
20. Billy Sutton.

The Management.
Ben Russell.
Rikki Bentham.

The Second team.

1. Mike Kelly.
2. Ethan Hilland.
3. Tyler Busfield.
4. Al Thomas.
5. Cam Donkin.
6. Ryan Dunn.
7. Paul Mears-Baldwin.
8. Mark Friend.
9. Tom Richards.
10. Dan Beer.
11. Owen Kerswell.
12. Leighton Stark.
13. Elliott Lupson.
14. Jack Ryder.
15. Toby Moss.
16. Kayne Young.
17. Kieran Down.
18. Kaff Simakoloyi

The Management.
Dickie Duffield esq.
Steve Hilland.