Sun 22 Sep 2024
Bournemouth RFC Colts v Frome RFC Academy
Report by James Newbery
The Frome RFC Academy travelled to the Dorset Coast on Sunday, to face Bournemouth in the U18s National Cup.
The hosts started off with a bang, and only a minute had gone into the game, saw an early penalty to Bournemouth making the kick and going ahead early. (3-0)
Minutes later, a big carry from Frome Captain, Bryn Lewis, put Frome in a dominant position. An excellent drive from the line out offered space for Frome and Fly Half Fin Van Gorph was tackled narrowly short of the line.
After five minutes, a defensive kick from Bournemouth was gathered by Full Back Zac Sibley. He moved the ball inside to Harrie Webster, who beat three defenders. The ball was stolen by the home side and a defensive kick followed. Sibley caught and chipped over top, brilliantly gathering his own kick and was tackled into touch.
After ten minutes, a loose ball was tidied up by Kimi Endicott. The ball was moved wide and Archie Coleman sprinted in from just in side his own half, to make the early score. (3-5)
From a ruck, there was a switch of play from Alfie Newbery, he found Oscar Stickley who carried into space before Neo Davies ran a dominant line. Soon, there was a penalty against the home side, as they began to lose composure. Fly Half, Van Gorph kicked three points, for a 3-8 score line.
More loose ball was gathered on deck by Frome. Centre Toby Cassidy passed wide to Sibley, who put Webster into a little space. The winger stepped his opposing man and gazelled down the wing, to score out wide, from the half way line.
Minutes later, came a great team try. Following a great carry into the guts of opposition defence from prop Olly Andrews. This was followed by a carry from Dom Evans. Frome were now in space, Ewan Cox carried hard, before finding Coleman, who beat two defenders to again score out wide. Van Gorph added the extras for a 3-20 score line.
With half-time approaching, Frome, were down to 14 men following a yellow card. With Bournemouth on the attack, the home side made a great defensive set, before clearing deep. Lewis followed up with a dominant tackle and Endicott and Stickley attacked the breakdown, as they did all game. The whistle blew for a 3-20 half-time score.
HT: Bournemouth RFC 3-20 Frome RFC
The half began with with Cam
Vince and Archie Pearn working well as new half-back pair, Pearn kicked deep into Bournemouth territory.
With five minutes on the clock, Frome attacked from the scrum and were narrowly short of line.
Bournemouth were the ascendency for the next ten minutes, eventually scoring in the corner.
In response, following a good line out, Kieran Stacey ran through and spoiled the ball. The ball was inches from the try line - but home team defended well.
With ten minutes of the game remaining, a strike move from the Frome backs, Will
Sharpe looped around and gave the ball out wide to Will Ibbitson for a strong carry. Minutes later, quick hands in the narrow channel. Lewis stepped two defenders, to finish strongly in corner. The extra’s were slotted by Greenwood for a 8-27 score line.
Bournemouth then scored a close range try to make the final few minutes of the game tense.
Into the final five, Andrews carried in close quarters, tipped inside to Stickley who sent a no look offload to Stacey. He romped home and scored under the posts. The score was 15-34.
With Frome now gaining dominance again, Seb Smith darted between the on coming defenders, tearing up meters at will. But another try was not meant to be.
Frome moved into the next round, following a strong 15 - 34 victory.
FT: Bournemouth RFC 15 - 34 Frome RFC
Player of the Match was awarded to Prop, Ollie Andrews.
Head Coach, Will Pearn commented “It was a good day at the office, so pleased with all the lads, they worked really hard against a real tough opposition.
We can’t wait for the next round of the Cup, of course it’s going to get harder as we progress but look forward to the challenge.”
