No sweet start for league new boys
Bournville……………40 Devonport S…………22
DEVONPORT Services were given a tough introduction to national league rugby by a Bournville side who eased to a bonus point win despite hitting top form only in patches.
Services, last season’s Regional South West One champions, salvaged a try bonus point as reward for their persistence but Bournville lost their way and their discipline after Sam Grimshaw had run in their sixth try.
When Bournville played with pace and power, Services struggled to cope. Nathan De-calmer continued where he left off last season by scoring a quick brace in the first-half – the first from a standing start followed by dazzling side-steps that wrong-footed three tacklers – and experienced centre Rob Knox, one of seven newcomers, was a constant menace in attack.
But Bournville fell foul of referee Callum Watson in a disappointing final 30 minutes with Nick Murphy and Ben Meakin both sin-binned for technical offences.
Bournville were also frustrated by the referee’s interpretation of the scrum laws, which de-powered the normally fearsome Stef Thorp, and allowed Services plenty of possession from which James Hocking and Yianni Costas-Davenport scored.
TEAMS
BOURNVILLE: O Williams, Evans, Knox, Grimshaw, Decalmer, Mann, Morgan, Burgoyne, Weaver, Thorne, Meakin, O’Sullivan, Fanning, Shaw, Smith Replacements: Thorp, Bailey, Murphy, Fewtrell, Jenkins DEVONPORT: Davies, Knowles, Pooley, Crawford, Coonick, Goldsby-West, Hutchings, Bentham, McFarlane, Symons, Pond, Gregory, Jarvis, Hocking, Stansfield Replacements: Costas-Davenport, Taylor, Felton, Down, Evans
REFEREE: Callum Watson ATTENDANCE: 150
Star man Nathan Decalmer -Bournville
