East Midlands Senior Knock Out Cup

FINAL

Kettering Blues 28 Bedford Athletic 13

'Stunning performance wins the cup!

Kettering Blues won the inaugural Wells Bombardier East Midlands Senior Knock Out Cup at Bedford Blues Goldington Road ground with a stunning performance particularly in the first quarter of the match when they rattled up twenty one unanswered points and put Midlands 1 side Bedford Athletic to the sword. Although the game balanced up in the second half Kettering were good value for their win and showed that they will fair well in the higher division if they get the one point they require for the Midlands 2 championship. The club will also look forward to playing in next seasons EDF Energy Trophy where the prospect of playing some of the countries better known clubs will be another challenge for the team from Waverley Road.

The Blues had to make a substitution as they prepared to start the game as Martin Cheatham injured his calf and so Terry Pell came on to take his place in the front row. Kettering then kicked off in beautiful rugby conditions on a perfect playing surface and were rewarded immediately as the Athletic forwards contrived to knock on, from the scrum the Blues brilliantly and quickly moved the ball wide and Nathan Satala not for the first time this season left the defence for dead as he scampered over for the try, Tim Jones adding the conversion. It was all Kettering and the poor Ath. Were struggling to get their hands on any decent ball and even when they did manage it they were straight away knocked down by some ferocious tackling particularly from the Blues back row and it was really no surprise when the Blues scored again on the ten minute mark.

A huge Kettering tackle on half way put the ball on the ground and Tom Bridgeman hacked the ball on, he skilfully picked up and quick hands put Satala away, although he was stopped by the cover defence on the Athletic line the support was there from his back row and a good off load saw Steve Freeman over for the try, Tim Jones again converting with a great kick from wide out. The game was nearly all over from Bedford Athletics point of view as Kettering scored again straight from the kick off, the Bedford kick off was tapped back and their scrum half went to put up a kick, this was charged down and wing Paul Sumner was onto the ball like lightening and with a great pick up on the run was much too quick for the Bedford defenders and scored under the posts to give Tim Jones a comfortable kick, and so with fifteen minutes on the clock Kettering were unbelievably leading 21 – 0.

Bedford Athletic had to get back into the game quickly and too their credit they started to gain some ground, and were rewarded after twenty minutes with an unconverted try as the Blues could not defend a catch and drive rolling maul from a lineout.

Half Time: Kettering Blues 21 Bedford Athletic 5

Kettering's defence came into its own on the restart as the Athletic knew they had to score quickly and it was all hands to the pumps for a time as the Kettering line came under pressure and things weren't helped as Phil York was sin binned after fourteen minutes as the veteran prop was guilty of not rolling away at a tackle situation, and the Athletic reduced Kettering's lead with a successful kick at goal. The Blues though survived the ten minutes without York and then increased their lead as soon as he returned to action with a typical Blues try, Nathan Satala made a brilliant break on the half way line and as he was about to be tackled released skipper Ryan James who was as usual in support and he joyfully scored under the posts to give Tim Jones a simple conversion.

With next weeks crucial league game against Paviors in mind Kettering ran their bench bringing on a number of youngsters like Danny Noble, David Haig and TYom McGoldrick and they confidently dealt with any of Bedford Athletics attacks until in the last minute of the game they did make a breakthrough for an unconverted try, but it was too little too late and as the referee blew the final whistle it was a scene of joy as the players and supporters of the Kettering Blues celebrated a great win, and those celebrations continued well into the night believe me!!

So its on to Paviors next Saturday for the second part of a League and Cup double, with players like Martin Roberts, Joey Hamilton and Kevin Osborne all expected to be fit after missing the cup final, selection will be interesting for next weeks game and surely nothing can stop Blues stretching their unbeaten run that goes back to late November as they look for that one point that will give them the league championship.

Final Score: Kettering Blues 28 Bedford Athletic 13

The Raj Restaurant ‘Man of the Match' – Ryan James

Other Scores:

Olney Colts 0 Kettering Colts 34

Scorers: James Taylor (2); Tom Binns; Jack Owens; Joshua Cox; Daniel West plus 2 conversation from Carl Mabutt.

Kettering 3 rd XV 31 Stewarts & Lloyds 2 nd XV 0

Scorers: Simon Bartley; Gerry Slater; Andrew Slack; Ben Watts; Harvey Smith plus 3 conversions from Tom Noble.

Kettering 4 th XV 41 Market Harborough Vets 33

Scorers: Matt Gray (2); Matt Pelesok (2); Matt Brown; Ryan Daisley; Nathan Toseland plus 3 conversions from Matt Winspear.

Wellingborough O.G.'s 3 rd XV 7 Kettering 5 th XV 51

Scorers: John Fletcher Senior (2); Vince Simpson (2); Rob Jackson; Pip Ling; Steve Fordham; Andrew Jackson plus 2 conversions and Sean Jackson plus 1 conversion.

Sent by:

Peter May – Club Secretary - Kettering Rugby Football Club.

Tel: 01536 415804

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