Powergen Midlands 2 East

Hinckley 14  Kettering 12

‘Blues effort is too little too late!’

After last weeks disappointing defeat in the Intermediate Cup, the Blues once again came off second best this weekend, but this time in the league against Hinckley and the defeat puts a huge dent in the clubs pursuit of promotion.  The league table shows that the side have dropped to fourth behind the three sides that have beaten them this season and it probably now means that to have any chance of promotion the side will have to win all their remaining games, which is not an easy feat in this division.

Kettering were dealt a pre-match blow when Steve Freeman became unavailable, his place being taken in the back row by youngster Nick Forscutt and then the game started in the worst playing conditions of the season so far with the Blues defending against the windy elements.  Hinckley with the wind at their backs started strongly and the Blues defence did well to hold out until the fourteenth minutes when their hosts were awarded a dubious converted try as their forwards drove over the line, the referee having no real knowledge whether the ball had been grounded.

Defending well and making a few inroads themselves into the Hinckley twenty two, it seemed that the Blues would hold out until half time, but somehow the referee found nearly six minutes of injury time and it allowed the home side to score another converted try as Kettering gave the ball away with a wild pass and somehow the home sides wing managed to run half the length of the pitch running nearly from one wing to the other for the score.

Half Time:     Hinckley 14  Kettering 0

Kettering had to up the tempo of the game if they were to turn it around, but they found it hard to do for some reason and Hinckley easily held them at bay until the game entered the final quarter, and then at last the Blues showed their class, with two cracking scores.  The first coming as they turned over Hinckley ball on half way and worked the ball wide to young wing Steve Duncan, he made good progress before finding Tom Bridgeman in support who outpaced the defence to score, and within five minutes the Blues had scored again, the Hinckley scrum half was sin binned, and he was lucky not to concede a penalty try, but from the resulting scrum the ball was quickly moved wide to Nathan Satala for the try which Tim Jones converted.  Although the Blues tried their hardest to get the winning try the home side seemingly held out quite easily for the final minutes and even looked at times like increasing their lead as the Kettering side ran out of ideas and seemingly purpose.

The Blues are at home to Nottinghamshire side Paviors next Saturday and know that only a win will do now if their season is to stay on track, Kettering now really have to win all their remaining inckley

scrum half was sinbinned HhnhhhHHHgames and win them big, points wise, so you can expect some fireworks at Waverley Road one way or another for the rest of the season.

Final Score:  Hinckley 14  Kettering 12

Other Scores:

Kettering 2nd XV 66 Olney 2nd XV 0

Andy Boath had a field day running in five tries as the second XV were much too good for their visitors from across the county border.

Scorers:  Andy Boath (5) plus 5 conversions; Martin Cheatham; Lester Williams; Chris Davis; Simon Bartley; Tom Noble who also kicked 3 conversions.

Kettering Colts 20   Market Harborough Colts 10

A good win for the Colts in a game that was marred by a serious neck injury to one of the Market Harborough side, everyone at Kettering wishes the player well and for a speedy recovery.

Scorers: Carl Mabbutt; Jason Smith; Jack Chennel plus 1 drop goal and 1 conversion from Bruce Keir.

Kettering 3rd XV 18  Huntingdon 2nd XV 10

East Midlands League          

Another good league win with Andrew Jackson the sides hero as he kicks six out of seven penalty attempts at goal.

Scorers: Andrew Jackson with 6 penalties.

Bugbrooke 3rd XV 20  Kettering 4th XV 5

Scorers:  George Turner           

 

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