Bourne Rugby Club beat Bugbooke in Counties 1 Midlands East (South)

Bourne bounced back from their opening day defeat at home to Spalding to claim their first win of the Counties 1 Midlands East (South) season after a 32-17 victory over Bugbrooke in Saturday's searing heat at Milking Nook Drove.

With temperatures exceeding 32 degrees, both sides were set to have their stamina tested, and it was Bourne who flew out of the blocks to register the first score of the afternoon.

After a barrage of carrying by the pack, hooker Harry Thornburn spotted a gap around the fringe of the breakdown and had plenty of pace to exploit it and dive over for the try. Captain Sam Evison added the extras from the tee and Bourne had a 7-0 lead.

Bugbrooke fired back shortly afterwards, however, scoring a try of their own as a result of an overlap. The try was converted to level the scores at 7-7.

Neither team was willing to let the heat hinder them, but Bourne were dominant at the breakdown and this led to a long-range penalty from Evison to put them in front, 10-7.

This was the score that took the sides to half-time, with both teams exchanging blows and making good progress up the field but unable to convert pressure into points.

As they did in the first half, Bourne started the brightest in the second period, with Lynch capitalising on quick ball speed at the breakdown to crash over from short range. Evison converted once more to give his side a 10-point cushion at 17-7.

Bugbrooke replied with a penalty of their own, before Evison answered back with his second penalty of the day to regain Bourne's double-digit lead at 20-10.

Bugbrooke were then rewarded for their own work at the breakdown and began to gain some momentum as they progressed into Bourne’s 22.

The home side held firm but constant pressure led to another Bugbrooke try, again converted to narrow the gap to just three points at 20-17.

It was clear that Bourne had learned from their mistakes in their previous game defeat against Spalding having been in a similar position and were able to go through the gears and regain some dominance, especially in the pack.

This led to Ben Thornburn, having been shifted from flanker to wing just minutes earlier due to a number of injuries, diving over to give Bourne their 10-point cushion back once Evison converted.

Harry Cole added the icing on the cake in the final seconds of the match, taking advantage of a gap down the blindside to swan-dive in the corner- a score that awarded Bourne their fourth and bonus point try.

Evison hit the post with his conversion so the score finished 32-17 after an impressive performance to give Bourne their first win of the season.

Flanker Charlie Short was voted man of the match for a number of dynamic carries, excellence at the breakdown and relentless work rate in defence.

He said: "It was essential that we bounced back after losing last week and we were satisfied with the way we performed.

"There is plenty to work on still and we are yet to play to our potential, but we will look to build on this result and take some momentum into the weekend."

Bourne are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Daventry.