Powergen Midlands 2 East

Derby 3  Kettering 35

‘Blues power to great win at Derby!’

Kettering made it three wins in a row with this very impressive win at Derby and at times the rugby was of the highest standard and a credit to the players and the coaching staff who have worked very hard to achieve this sort of performance.  The Blues squad showed two enforced changes and one tactical switch from the side selected, Nathan Satala stepping up from the bench in exchange for Tom Coles on the wing and also on the bench Phil York replaced the injured Martin Cheetham while young back rower Nick Forscutt was given his league debut in place of the unavailable Tom Spencer.

Derby kicked off in great rugby conditions and in front of a decent crowd, but were quickly defending as the Blues set a cracking pace with forwards and backs looking to get involved and it was no surprise that a penalty was conceded and Tim Jones kick was on target to give them the lead after three minutes.  It was really a surprise that it took nearly another twenty minutes before the Blues scored again but it was worth waiting for, as after some terrific rugby which started in their own half eventually led to a lineout on the Derby line and the ball was caught and driven with Kevin Osborne getting the touchdown, immediately though Derby got on the scoreboard with a penalty.

Kettering were playing all the rugby and at times it seemed that the only thing keeping down the score was the over officious referee who seemed to have it in for the Blues side, and they were also denied by some excellent defence from the home side as  Kettering went for the killer blow as half time approached.

Half Time:     Derby 3  Kettering 8

Kettering started the second half looking to continue their assault on the Derby line, but the home side had other ideas and took the game to their visitors, and then in the space  of five minutes the Blues were reduced to thirteen players as the referee sent two of their backs to the sin bin for what seemed totally innocuous offences.  But if Derby thought their prayers had been answered they were in for a huge shock as even being two players short Kettering started to control the game again and they even increased their lead when, after a great run from Steve Freeman he offloaded to Tom Bridgeman who was just one of the players in support, to score the try which was converted by Tim Jones.

Then with Kettering back to full strength they upped the tempo of the game and Derby were quite simply blown away in the final quarter of the game as skipper Ryan James leading by example, galvanised his side into playing some of the best rugby played by the side so far this season, and the scoreboard started to show the results.  First Tom Coles cut through and drove through a number of defenders for a fine try, this was quickly followed by another as some excellent handling by both forwards and backs saw Tim Jones scoring the try which he duly converted, and he also kicked a penalty as the Derby defence tried anything to stem the tide.  Then right on time young scrum half Tom McGoldrick who had an excellent game, picked up the ball at a scrum where the forwards had turned over Derby ball inside his own half and seeing a gap raced in to score the final score of the game.

So the Blues have set themselves on a run and with bottom of the table Melton Mowbray due at Waverley Road next week they will be looking to keep up the pressure on the sides above them in the league table.  Kettering have also been given a great draw in the second round of the Intermediate Cup as last years beaten finalists and Midlands 1 side and East Midlands rivals Dunstablians will travel to Waverley Road on Saturday 17th November.

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

Final Score:  Derby 3 Kettering 35

Other Scores:

Derby 2nd XV 59  Kettering 2nd XV 3

With many players unavailable to travel, a very young and under strength side were no match for the Derby Wildebeests and they only had a George Chudley penalty to show for their terrific defensive efforts.

Scorers: George Chudley with a penalty.

Kettering 3rd XV  24  Bugbrooke 2nd XV  17

Scorers:  Richard Jell; Gerry Slater; Ady North; Andy Wright plus 2 conversions from Andrew Jackson

 

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