Bournemouth Lions sponsored by
Wood of Bournemouth
Bournemouth 20 v10 Swanage & W
At Dorchester RFC Sunday 6 April 2008
Click here for photographs.
After an early threat of blizzard conditions the day turned out to be perfect for a game of
rugby football. It was fine and sunny with a cool North-Westerly breeze blowing diagonally
across the pitch from right to left as viewed from the clubhouse. The pitch was in excellent
condition with a good cover of grass.
Bournemouth kicked off from the Westerly end and thus with a slight wind advantage.
Straight from the kick-off Bournemouth announced their intentions with a strong run from
Chris Hughes and Swans quickly conceded a penalty just metres out almost under the posts.
In their eagerness to press home their advantage the penalty was quickly taken but Swans
were alert to the danger and the chance was gone. Bournemouth however were awarded a
scrum some five metres out and No 8 Matt Kiely breaking off the back was held up just short
of the line. Bournemouth were given another scrum but scrum-half Jason Davies had the ball
knocked out of his hand as he looked to find his fellow half-back Scott Chislett and Swans
recovered the ball for fly-half Phil Graves to clear the danger with a 25-metres kick to the
right-hand touch. Swans did well to spoil the Bournemouth throw-in but Bournemouth were
given the put-in at a resulting scrum. Scrum-half Davies chipped the ball in behind the
defence but it was too long and it went dead. Bournemouth were then offside at the resulting
scrum and Graves was able to push them further back with a good kick to touch down his
right. Off the line-out, Swans looked to go right but were stopped mid-field by a sound
Bournemouth defence but play was held up for some three minutes while the Swans'
blindside flanker James Warren received attention for a hand injury. Veteran No 8 Richard
Harwood broke strongly from the base of the scrum but when he was stopped Graves kicked
left to find touch inside the Bournemouth half. Again Swans won the Bournemouth throw-in
and from a kick ahead, right wing 'Eddy' Edwards marked the ball. His long kick down field
was fielded by full back David Elford who returned the compliment. Jason Davies attempt to
trap a ball falling just short of the scrum-half resulted in a Swans line-out some 30 metres
out from the Bournemouth line. From the line-out, Swans attacked down the short side but
Bournemouth were awarded a penalty and relieved the situation by finding touch for a lineout. Lock Tim Seward safely won the ball and the Bournemouth threes went left for inside
centre James Payne to put in a long kick down field. He only found full back Elford but he
was closed down and the Bournemouth forwards continued the drive in mid-field. When the
ball was released a Chislett kick found touch on the Swans 5-metre line. Swans, nonetheless,
secured their own ball and scrum-half Michael McKeown put in a fine clearance kick for a
Bournemouth throw-in 30 metres out. With Seward again securing the ball, the Bournemouth threes went left supported by the charging Hughes but the ball was knocked on in the
contact. From the scrum McKeown had his clearance kick charged down but Swans managed
to secure the ball but knocked on in the process giving Bournemouth the put-in at a scrum
inside the Swans 22-metre and then were penalized in the maul as Bournemouth attempted
to break from the base of the scrum. Left wing James Flynn was asked to kick at goal and his
kick duly sailed between the posts to put Bournemouth 3-nil after seventeen minutes of
keenly contested play. Blindside flanker Iain Crombie fielded the kick-off but was soon
enveloped by the quick Swans forwards following up. They were penalized for coming in at
the side and Bournemouth were able to clear to the right-hand touch on the half-way line.
Disturbingly Swans again won Bournemouth's throw and were awarded a scrum. However
Bournemouth began to demonstrate their dominance in scrummaging and totally disrupted
the scrum to win the put-in. The ball was quickly swung left and Flynn was put in the clear
with inside centre James Payne straining every sinew to get up on the outside in support.
Flynn in the contact was not able to get the ball away cleanly and a great scoring opportunity
went a begging. The Bournemouth threes nonetheless continued to threaten and Edwards in
looking for a way through cut dangerously back inside off his wing but a knock on in the
contact enabled Swans to clear to their right. Now it was the turn of the forwards with Alan
Manning with a typical strong run found the Swans defence struggling to contain him and the
supporting Chris Ulu also continued to make progress with a strong run at the defence. When
he went to ground he was penalized for 'holding on' and Swans were able to clear to the
right-hand touch. Winning the line-out Swans kicked down the right-hand touch where it was
fielded by full back Domenick Davies who kicked back down field. Swans full back Elford
fumbled the ball but was able to recover and cleared to the left. From the line-out,
Bournemouth again attacked through their threes back into the Swans' 22-metre but were
forced to concede a scrum. The scrum wheeled for a Bournemouth put-in to an attacking
scrum just fifteen metres out. Chislett went left and fed Davies coming up at pace. he
dummied to Edwards on his right and was through the gap to dive gleefully over the line for the first try of the match. From just to the right of the posts, Flynn duly added the the two
points for Bournemouth to lead 10-0 after 26 minutes. Bournemouth returned the kick-off
with a long clearance down the wind but Graves countered by getting his threes going. Good
aggressive Bournemouth defence forced the knock-on in the contact to stop the initial
movement but were promptly penalized by referee Andy Bickle. Grave found a good touch to
his left and just ten or so metres out from the Bournemouth try line.
A classic 'catch and
drive' situation and sure enough Swans secured the throw-in and drove for the line. Despite
the best efforts of the Bournemouth forwards, the progress was inexorable but with Bickle
keeping a close eye on things he eventually raised his arm indicating a penalty and made the
dread run to under the posts to indicate he was awarding a penalty try. Graves kicked the
goal and Swans were right back in it at 10-7 after 33 minutes play. From the kick-off Swans
attempted to clear to their right but failed to find touch. Bournemouth immediately
responded through their three-quarters but drifted right rather than straightening up but
outside centre Robert Bruce knocked the ball on in any case. Winning the heel, Swans
showed much enterprise by running the ball out from deep but the Bournemouth defence
robbed them of the ball and returned it with a long kick down field. It only found Graves who
kicked left but the ping pong continued as Bournemouth kicked it back this time well chased
by Edwards as it went into touch for Bickle to blow for half-time. |
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From Swans' kick-off won a scrum and then a penalty for Flynn to find touch down the left
and just twenty or so metres out from the Swans' line. The ball was thrown to the back of
the line-out where Swans won the ball and Graves was able to clear to his right. With Swans
applying much pressure Bournemouth were relieved to be awarded a penalty and Flynn was
able to find touch on the Swans' 10-metre line. Scrum-half Davies's kick from the line-out
was charged down which set off another bout of ping pong before Swans found touch to
their right on the half-way line. Bournemouth set up a patient drive from the line-out before
eventually releasing it for Chislett to chip the defence. Full back Elford was snaffled and
Bournemouth were able to kick the ball to touch on the Swans' 22-metre line. Again Swans
showed great enterprise from deep inside their own half through their three-quarters. The
ball reached left wing Simon Andrews who chipped the ball deep into Bournemouth territory
only for Flynn coming off his wing to win the race to touch the ball down but getting hurt in
the process as the wing slid into him. With Bournemouth working hard to contain the eager
Swans they were given the put-in on their own 10-metre line. This set up a decisive moment
in this closely fought contest. With the scrum rock solid, Bournemouth won the ball and Kiely
picked up from the base of the scrum and burst through the fringe defence. He made some
twenty or thirty metres before the defence got to him but there was Man of the Match Dan
Cawley up in support. Kiely safely delivered the ball but there was much to be done as the openside flanker had some thirty or so metres to go with defence scrambling to get to him.
However he had the pace and strength to out flank the cover to dive over to score a terrific
try. Flynn, kicking into the wind pulled is effort wide of the near post but Bournemouth had
extended their lead to 15-7 after 53 minutes. This heralded a period of sustained Swans
pressure down in Bournemouth's left quarter of the filed. Swans had a number of line-outs
but a determined Bournemouth defence stopped and, at times, drove back the inevitable
Swans drives. This forced Swans to put the ball wide but they found no joy in the open
either. Bournemouth even had their own moments with Flynn making a great run down his
touch but was forced out of play twenty metres short. A long kick down field by Swans saw
Anthony Dunkerley, who had come on for Robert Bruce, field the ball but as he looked to
counter attacked he was tackled in mid-field and then penalized for holding on. Graves kick
an excellent goal from som forty metres to bring his side back to within one score at 15-10
after 67 minutes. From the kick-off, Bournemouth attacked down the lef but were repulsed
with a Swans kick back down the ground. Full back Davies fielded the ball and, tight on the
left touchline, beat a couple of players before setting of at a pace but when he seemed to
have beaten the defence there was touch judge Geoff Worrall's flag raised to indicate a foot
in touch. Bournemouth charged down the clearance kick from the line-out to keep play in the
Swans' half and set up a great passage of play as they sought the clinching score. They couldn't break through and although they had a promising scrum in front of the posts Swans
managed to wheel it and gained the put in to clear the danger to the left. From the line-out
Bournemouth set up a drive but Swans robbed them of the ball and set up tight down the
touch line only to be called back by the referee as the touch judge had indicated to him the
Swans player was offside in the maul. Flynn promptly kicked the ball to the right-hand touch
some ten metres out. The Bournemouth's drive was stopped but they were awarded a scrum.
With a massive effort they shoved the Swans pack back for Kiely to break off the back of the
scrum. When he was stopped scrum-half Davies released the ball to Chislett but the fly-half
knocked the ball on as he attempted to pick a ball as his feet. This gave the opportunity for
Swans to counter with the ball in hand before Andrews as he ran out of room down his left
booted the ball down field. Dunkerley caught the ball and immediately set off across field
looking for the gap. He kept going diagonally with a disorganized Swans defence unable to
get to him before he was tackled just short of the line tight on the left touch line but had the
momentum to carry over the line to score another terrific try for Bournemouth. James
Payne's attempt at goal missed but it didn't matter as his side had done enough as Bickle
blew for no side.
Thus Bournemouth wrested the D&W Cup from the extraordinary grip of local rivals Swanage & Wareham and brought to an end their unprecedented run of seven straight victories in the
County Cup Competition. Neither side asked for or gave any quarter in an uncompromising
physical encounter which reflected the intense rivalry between the two sides over many
years. From a Bournemouth perspective there was a certain satisfaction, that for the moment
at least, they matched and bettered a side against whom they record has been less than
flattering for longer than we would wish to think! We would also like to think it was a game
worthy of a final.
The final of the South-West group in the National U17s KO Cup due to be played on Sunday
was postponed because of the weather until next Sunday (13th). It will be played at
Newbury, KO 2.00 p.m., between our own U17s and Widden Old Boys.
Referee – Andy Bickle, RFU. Touch Judges – Glen O’Hara and Geoff Worrall, Dorset &
Wilts.
Bournemouth Team - 15: Domenick Davies (1T); 14: ‘Eddy’ Edwards; 13: Robert Bruce
(Anthony Dunkerley 61); 12: James Payne; 11: James Flynn (1C, 1P) (Mike Pope 74); 10:
Scott Chislett; 9: Jason Davies; 1: Troy Siaki (Tim Wareham 74); 2: Chris Ulu; 3: Alan
Manning; 4: Chris Hughes; 5: Tim Seward; 6: Iain Crombie (Callum Forrest 64); 7: Dan
Cawley (c) (1T); 8: Matt Kiely. Unused Substitutes – Rye Buffery, Jo Burns, Jayson Kenny.
Scorers – Tries (3): Cawley (53), D Davies (26), Dunkerley (80). Con (1): Flynn (26). Pen
Flynn (17).
Joint Man of the Match – Dan Cawley & Domenick Davies.
Milestones – Robert Bruce starts his, and James Flynn plays his, 75th game for
Bournemouth. Alan Manning starts his 50th game for Bournemouth. This is the eighth time
Bournemouth has won the cup and the first time since beating Dorchester 13-8 at Salisbury
in 1994/1995. At the fifth attempt, this is the first time we have beaten Swans in the cup
since 1991/1992 when we won 20-18 at Bestwall. Remarkably, Jayson Kenny played that day
at No 8 and scored two tries. The last, and only, time we played Swans in the final was in
1982/1983 when we won 15-8 at Wimborne.
Swanage & Wareham Team - 15: David Elford; 14: Charlie Parrish; 13: William Groves;
12: Michael Cottrell; 11: Simon Andrews; 10: Phil Graves; 9: Michael McKeown; 1: John
Sheldrake; 2: Robert Elford (c); 3: Oliver Andrews; 4: David Burgess; 5: Darren Penny; 6:
James Warren; 7: Christopher Toms; 8: Richard Harwood. Substitutes: 16: Alan Jones; 17:
Mark Rance; 18: Aaron Lewis; 19: Ryan Cottrell; 20: Gavin Steedon; 21: Phillip Beaves; 22:
Charlie Rowberry.
Scorers – Tries (1): Penalty try (33). Con (1): Graves (33). Pen (1): Graves (67).
Scoring Sequence – 17m: Flynn pen 3-0; 26m: D Davies try, Flynn con 10-0; 33m: Swans
goal (Penalty try, Graves con 10-7; 40m: Half-time 10-7; 53m: Cawley try 15-7; 67m: Graves
pen 15-10; 80m: Dunkerley try 20-10; Full Time 20-10.
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