Queens 41- Bourne 9

7 tries- best performance for a while!

Queens made amends for the dire performance against Bourne back in November with an impressive 41-9 victory against the Lincolnshire outfit.

Straight from the off Queens showed their intent within minutes of the kick off. Winger Steve Hoath decided to take the long route to the try line running the width of the pitch before arcing round to touch down. Morrish would miss the conversion, 5-0 to the hosts.

Bourne would then have their best period of the game with their powerful runners, aided by some poor Queens tackling, making ground and coming close to getting a score. They were, however, rewarded for the efforts with a 1 successful penalty kick from 2 during this period. 5-3.

The remaining 20 minutes of the first half saw Queens get two scores from well worked line out moves. The first was from second row Will Simpson. The second from Hooker Alex Wright. Fly Half, Dave Morrish, sponsored by Taylor & Co Property Consultants, would convert one to make the scores 17-3 at half time.

Bonus points, or more specifically the lack of, has been an issue this season. Whilst Queens can boast the best points difference and currently having won the most games in the league they sit 5th in order of bonus points achieved. This has left Sileby out in front at the top and Deepings within 6 points in 3rd place. The coaches at half time reminded the players of that and to keep trying to add to the score even if the bonus point was achieved and produce a full 80 minutes that hadn't really been seen since the first few months of the season.

4 second half tries saw the coaches goals for the second half achieved. Chris Faalau scored the try to claim the bonus point following some superb offloading rugby and strong running from Winger Del Starling. Stacey Yates, capped off a fine performance with a try following a powerful line off the scrum half to make it 29-9.

The next score began with a jubilant Bourne pack winning a scrum against the head and one of their front row claiming 'you're not scoring this time,' only for someone in their back line to spill the ball which Zac Faumui pounced on to grab Queens 6th of the afternoon. Something the forwards of every team must know about, all that hard work up front only for the backs to mess it up!

The best was left till last with player coach Ashley Tapper claiming a rare score. Following good support play from Will Simpson, Second Row Tom Clarke, sponsored by Merit Garden Products, gathered the offload and his switch pass put Ashley Tapper clean through to wind back the years touching down to make the scores 41-9.

In between the tries there was one moment of controversy where the referee didn't see an off the ball incident but claimed that seeing the aftermath meant 'someone had to get a yellow.' So quite predictably, having already admitted to not seeing the incident managed to give the wrong bloke a yellow card. Cheers to Steve Hoath (or was it Wellsy, I can never tell those two apart!) for taking one for the team and spending 10 minutes on the sideline.

Overall a really good performance from Queens. Perhaps its the fact the ground is getting firmer underfoot and the conditions were better but some of the hands and offloading rugby was superb. It was also great to see Queens really looking to add to the scoreboard rather than seeing the bonus point as job done.

Post Game discussions threw up a number of players in contention for MOTM. Stacey Yates, Simon Brading & Tom Clarke were all lauded for their efforts but there was one stand out with Chris Faalau now showing the sort of form we expected with his second MOTM in a row. His tackling has been immense from the get go but it's his ball carrying and contributions ball in hand which is becoming more and more impressive week on week.

Full credit to Bourne who look to be a side on the up, much improved from last year. Their big ball carriers caused Queens problems in the first half and we wish them all the best for their remaining two fixtures. They might even be able to do us a favour against Sileby so another performance like you had against us please lads!

No league fixture next weekend but their will be at least 1 friendly fixture before the last away game of the season on the 25th March against Brackley. Tough place to go and another very physical side but victory would see Queens on the cusp of promotion with a bonus point seeing promotion secured. Huge game for the club so please all players make yourself available and any support coming over to Brackley would be hugely appreciated.