Andover 39 Bournemouth Lions 41

In a thriller of a game, Saxon Safety sponsored Andover fell just short of pulling off an amazing comeback, despite outscoring Bournemouth seven tries to six at a sunny Goodship ground last Saturday.

For the second week in a row, Andover faced a side who’s first team did not have a fixture and as a result this Bournemouth side was a very different proposition to the one they had beaten on the road before Christmas.

Both clubs fielded young, hard running, clever players and the outcome was a try fest, in a wonderful game of rugby that was a credit to this level, enjoyed by a large home crowd.

Playing up the slope, Andover began slowly, with once again several changes to the lineup creating disorganisation in defence.

Bournemouth took full advantage scoring a converted try and a penalty to go ten nil up before Andover had really got going.

The excellent Alex Kane went close with a superb individual effort to breathe life into his side, before a spell of Andover pressure saw the brilliant Callum Hollinshead play a fine miss pass to Callum Barber Starkey, who fed the ever dangerous Bryn Waite to open the ‘All Blacks’ account.

Andover dominated the scrums and lineouts throughout and had lots of good possession but didn’t always exploit it and that, combined with several defensive lapses, allowed the lively Bournemouth counter attacks to bear fruit.

They soon stretched their lead again with a converted second try.

From the kick off however the returning Charlie Deavall stole the ball and made great ground to set up Andover for a set of phases. Kane, Kieran Bush and man of the match George Watson were all prominent in attack, as Sean Higgins eventually went over, with Evan Roll unlucky to hit the post with the conversion.

All looked good, but Andover again slept in defence as the visitors again stretched their lead just before half time.

 After the break Andover introduced youngsters Matt Gates and Joey Yates to the fray as Waite was forced off with a knock, and almost immediately Yates made an unbelievable contribution which also sadly, turned out to be his last.

Catching the ball deep in his own twenty two the talented winger set off on a mazy run, ending with an incredible chip and chase, despite clearly straining a hamstring in the process with Roll converting well.

Waite returned to the pitch despite carrying a couple of knocks, as Andover reorganised again, but Bournemouth once more added to their lead, before enjoying their best spell.

Two more away tries followed and Andover looked dead and buried, but this team are nothing if not resilient.

With skipper CJ Feirn willing his team on with a personal display of power and belligerence, Andover gained field position. From a catch and drive a ruck formed and this time prop Samson Earle smashed through Bournemouth to give Andover hope.

Andover sensed a change as Bournemouth tired under the physical pressure. From a short scrum Andover were awarded a penalty as Bournemouth picked up a yellow and when the lively Higgins went quickly, Ryan McGealy fed Gates who finished superbly in the corner.

Andover smelled blood and when another penalty sailed to the corner, a ruck formed from the lineout and this time Mcgealy himself scampered over with Roll converting excellently.

Could it be? With moments left and deep in their own twenty two it didn’t look likely

But Waite had other ideas and when he received the ball deep in his twenty two, roared on by the home support, he set off on a fifty meter dash, beating several defenders which was only ended with a high tackle.

Once again Andover went to the corner, rose to take the ball and from a ruck, a wonderful pass from Earle found Deavall who dived in in the corner to give Andover a chance of a draw. Unfortunately Roll couldn’t make the extras from very wide out and Andover had to settle for two bonus points.

Afterwards Director of Rugby Andy Waite said, ‘To get two points from where we were and secure a hard earned fourth place in the league was incredible stuff. The sheer drive of the likes of Harry Dookeran and Wayne Jones at scrum time and Jake Dixon around the park epitomised the spirit CJ instills into this team. Above all it was a fantastic contest.’