Powergen Midlands 2 East

Kettering 38 Matlock 12

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‘Jones does his bit in Blues excellent performance!’

For twenty five minutes Kettering played some of their best rugby of the season as they completely dominated a Matlock side who like themselves have started the new term suffering from injuries and inconsistent form.  Kettering once again were forced into a late change as Danny Noble dropped out, so Rory Keir stepped into the back row, with Patrick Brown coming into the squad to make up the bench, and Keir returning after injury was to justify his selection with a solid performance. 

Kettering got off to the perfect start, and from the Matlock kick off the Blues worked the ball back to the visitors twenty two and from the resulting scrum Tom Bridgeman spotted a gap and was through it for the first try, Tim Jones converting.  Just five minutes later and after continuous pressure, Steve Freeman picked up from a five metre scrum, (taken rather than the easy penalty) and Paul Gibson was on his shoulder to go in for the try, giving Jones an easy conversion.

The Blues were playing some great rugby and Matlock were struggling to get hold of any ball and it was no surprise when the hosts doubled there lead in the space of a few minutes on the twenty minute mark.  First a missed kick to touch was fielded by Tom Coles who passed inside to Tim Jones who quickly spotted Nathan Satala wide open on his wing and his beautifully flighted kick was gleefully accepted by Satala to run in for the try, Jones converting with a great kick from the touchline.  Two minutes later and the game was all over as after some great handling and support play from forwards and backs the ball was worked back down the line and Chris Davis was able to stroll over for the try which Tim Jones again converted

The rest of the half was a bit of an anticlimax as Matlock tried to get back into the game and the Blues looked to score more points.

Half Time:     Kettering  28            Matlock  0

Kettering started the second half as they started the first by scoring straight away as a poor Matlock kick was returned to their half with a great run from Nathan Satala who was stopped just short of the try line, support was there though and the ball was quickly moved wide the other way and Tim Jones was in the line to score the try.  The unfortunate Satala though was injured in the move as once again the injury hoodoo struck for an overseas three-quarter and he may be out for some time.

Matlock were looking a better side and they scored an unconverted try to get a slight foothold into the game, but just a few minutes later the game was held up for a good twenty minutes after a serious ankle injury to a Matlock player who was taken to hospital.  Following the long interruption the visitors scored a converted try to keep the game interesting, but it was to be Kettering to have the final say as the forwards did their work before the backs were released once again and that man Jones was once again on hand to go over for the try.

So the Blues after four games have a split record, two wins and two defeats, they now need to win away from Waverley Road and have their chance next week when they travel to Oxfordshire to take on the Banbury Bulls who have yet to pick up a win since their promotion through the play offs last season. 

Final Score:  Kettering 38  Matlock 12

Other Scores:

Kettering 2nd XV 23   Dunstablians 2nd XV 30

East Midlands League.

Simon Bartley’s two tries not quite enough as a weakened 2nd team just went down at home to Dunstablians.

Scorers: Simon Bartley (2); Nick Freear; Nick Cleere plus 1 penalty from George Chudley.

Towcester 3rd XV  17          Kettering 3rd XV  19

East Midlands League

Excellent win for Kenny Rogers side at Towcester – keeps their unbeaten league record intact.

Scorers:  Gerry Slater; Jack Hawkes and Andrew Slack plus 2 conversions from Andrew Jackson.

Market Harborough Vets XV  8                    Kettering 5th XV  15      

Scorers: Will Bowater; Steve Wakefield plus 1 penalty from Roy Bowater and 1 conversion from Craig Savage.

Peterborough Colts  0          Kettering Colts  39

East Midlands Colts League

Great win from the very young Colts outfit as they outplayed Peterborough for the second win in the Colts league.

Scorers:  James Taylor (2); Carl Mabbutt (2); Tom Binns; Phil Burn; Lewis Hackett plus 2 conversions from Joe Monahan.

 

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