National League 2 West: Bournville 46 Hornets 38

Hornets were invoked in a National League 2 West thriller at Bournville, with both teams scoring six tries, but ultimately were defeated 46-38 last Saturday.

Rob Dempsey led the team out on the occasion of his 160th and final game for Hornets ahead of moving to a new career in Cornwall.

Bournville got off to a superb start as they showed their intentions early on and got the first try by Rhys Williams, converted by Mitch McGahan.

Shortly after that were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and McGahan duly scored to make it 10-0. 

From the restart however, Hornets won a turnover and when the ball was on the floor in a ruck it was the alert Kieran Ward who picked it up and set off to go over under the posts to make an easy conversion for Charlie Carter.

With everything to play for Bournville again managed a couple of converted scores through  Ethan Walker and Mikey Ho and Hornets were 24-7 down.

Hornets needed to be next to score and following quality ball shipped down the line Ozzy James went over in the corner and again Carter converted to make it 24-14.

A dropped ball at the restart allowed Bournville more possession and a soft try scored by Jamie Harding to extend their lead.

However, following a scrum Matt Parker broke and found Chris Francis who was able to crash over, Carter again converted to get back in the game.

Alas McGahan scored another penalty to make it 32-21 at half-time.

In the second half Hornets needed to score first to keep the pressure on and following a penalty it was Ayden Chenoweth who got the bonus point try but Carter’s conversion hit the post.

With the game flowing from end to end it was Bournville who scored through Owen Williams to extend their lead once again.

Hornets looked like scoring on their line after a penalty for deliberate offside was awarded but no penalty try but a yellow to the Harding.

With the extra player, Hornets now had their chance to attack, and they did as Ward got his second before Connor Vickery got a well worked try and a conversion by Carter and Hornets were within a point.

Hornets, however, came close in the last few minutes but Bournville’s Harding dived over to secure their win.

This next Saturday will be the final League game against the League Champions Leicester Lions who will be playing National 1 rugby next season at 3pm.