National Three

South West

Bournemouth 10

A splendid bounce back win for Ivybridge at the Cross-in-Hand on Saturday following a disappointing defeat at Old Reds the previous week.

The day started well for Ivy, with solid possession in the Bourne­mouth half. The pressure told after 14 minutes when Billy Pinkus converted a well-won penalty.

More Ivy pressure ended with Toby Evans flying down the left wing untouched to score in the corner. Billy Pinkus stepped up confidently to add the extra two points.

With the Pinkus show now in full flow younger brother Mitch, playing just his second game for the first XV, broke free and ran half the length of the pitch to score near the posts.

Up stepped older brother Billy, who this time failed to convert the extra points.

Bournemouth made it 15-3 after converting their own penalty, which saw James Sloan yellow carded for deliberately knocking the ball on.

The lightning speed of Damen Ackerman came to the fore shortly before the break when he sprinted into the line from full-back to score a great team try, making the half-time score 22-3 to Ivybridge.

The home side wanted to start strongly in the second half, but Bournemouth came out fighting and scored a well-deserved converted try, bringing the score back to 22-10.

However, it wasn’t long before the Ivy boys stretched their legs again.

Playing with speed and power, player-coach Lewis Patterson, playing his 100th senior game, sealed the winning bonus point when he crossed the line to score.

Again Billy Pinkus, methodical in his pre­paration, got the extra two points for his team. So at 29-10 Ivy­bridge were looking dominant.

A yellow card for the Bournemouth winger did little to lift their spirits.

Clearly under im­mense pressure in the last quarter, Bourne­mouth conceded a further two penalties, which again were swiftly converted by Billy Pinkus.

And so on vice presidents day Ivybridge triumphed. The win sees them lying in fourth spot in National Three South West.

Next week this confident group of young players travel up to Brack­nell and are very much focused on bringing home maximum points.