Wells Bombardier, Senior Knock-out Cup
BLUES CRUSH O.N.'s
Old Northamptonians 0 Kettering 41
Kettering stormed into the semi-finals of the Wells Bombardier, Senior Knock-out Cup with a comprehensive victory over Old Northamptonians, at Billing Road, on Saturday, to set up a probable re-match with Midlands 1 side Dunstablians.
The game began at a furious pace with Kettering trying to force the game and consequently making too many unforced errors. This led to O.N.'s being given a penalty opportunity, after 9 minutes, which they missed. Then after 11 minutes a poor kick out of defence by the erratic O.N.'s fly half, was returned with great effect by Tim Jones who swapped passes with Nathan Satala before feeding Tom Coles who scored under the posts, with Jones adding the extra points.
4 minutes later, some great handling stretched the home defence wide to the left, and then when the ball was re-cycled, a pin-point crossfield kick from Tom Bridgeman, was collected by Coles, who passed inside for Satala to score. Jones again adding the extra points.
On 30 minutes, good interplay between backs and forwards, saw Chris Davis make the decisive break and feed Rory Keir, who dived over in the right hand corner, for an unconverted try.
As half-time approached O.N.'s appeared to have scored a try, only for the touch judge to intervene following foul play, which not only resulted in the score being disallowed, but the offender being yellow carded and Jones kicking the penalty.
Then, in the dying seconds of the half, some driving play by the Kettering front row, made huge holes in the O.N.'s defence before the ball was moved wide to Paul Sumner, who then beat 3 would be tacklers to score his first try for the senior side. Jones' conversion made the score 29-0 at half-time.
Playing down the considerable slope, in the 2nd half, O.N.'s began strongly, but the visitors were not to be denied and after 10 minutes Keir bagged his 2nd try of the afternoon after another fine piece of handling involving a number of players. Jones' conversion attempt from wide out on the left, unluckily, hit the crossbar and bounced out.
The rest of the 2nd half belonged to Kettering, but they were unable to add to their total until the final minutes, when after another O.N.'s player was sin-binned for a high tackle on scrum-half Tom McGoldrick, the Kettering pack destroyed the O.N.'s scrummage and from the resultant pick and drive over the line, Steve Freeman came up with the ball for the final try which Jones again converted, to send the visiting supporters home with a great Christmas present!
KETTERING 2nds 36 DAVENTRY 1sts 7
With excellent performances by many of the Kettering side, which included a fine debut by Colt Lewis Hackett, and are storming first appearance for No.8 Stuart Coles, the home side put together a great display to secure a comfortable win over Daventry 1st team. The impressive Will Newman led the way with 2 tries, with singles from captain Chris Chapman, who also impressed, Hackett and fellow Colt Aiden Chapman, whilst another Colt, Bruce Keir, showed his considerable kicking skills, with 4 conversions and a penalty.
DAVENTRY 2nds 37 KETTERING 3rds 27
A high scoring and enjoyable game for both sides, saw Daventry end up winning despite Kettering try's from Jack Hawkes, Luca Rodger, Ady North, Ben Watts and Alex Ayling with a conversion by Kyle Hawkes.
MKT HARBOROUGH VETS 24 KETTERING 5ths 0
Kettering 5ths travelled to Mkt Harborough, and despite a great deal of effort cam away empty handed, losing to a very experienced home side.
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