Powergen Midlands 2 East

Kettering 17  Market Bosworth 11

 ‘Blues claim the spoils in hard fought victory!’

(see match day pix)

Kettering were made to work very hard for this victory by a young Market Bosworth side who will most probably upset some of the top sides before the end of the season, and the Blues can be thankful that they have played them twice and taken all four points.  The hard fought victory was deemed to be even more important when news came through that league leaders Syston had been beaten at home by Paviors meaning the top four clubs are separated by just 2 points and the Blues have to play all three of their promotion rivals at Waverley Road, so it certainly all to play for over the next few months.

The squad showed two enforced changes from the side selected, with young Stephen Duncan being forced out through injury, Andy Boath taking his place on the wing, and Graham Wilson played in the second row as ‘Jono’ Barton’s back and knee problems forced him out – young colt James Taylor replaced Boath on the bench.

Kettering kicked off in bitterly cold conditions but on a decent surface and immediately took the game to Bosworth and were rewarded after seven minutes with a penalty from Tim Jones, but Bosworth were not at Waverley Road to make up the numbers and soon started to get their all round game going with both defences having to work hard until Kettering gave away a penalty under pressure and the score was all square on the twenty minute mark.

With five minutes to go before the break the Blues seemingly won the game as they scored two converted tries, the first was from a lineout on the Bosworth twenty two and a catch and drive by both forwards and backs saw Steve Freeman driven over for the try and just minutes later a great break by Paul Gibson was rewarded as Tim Jones took the final pass to score the try, both tries converted by Jones.  To their credit though Bosworth responded to this double blow by pulling back three points with a penalty before the referee blew for half time.

Half Time:     Kettering 17            Market Bosworth  6

Market Bosworth started the second half well and within seven minutes had pulled back a try as they used their backs once again and the wing was rewarded with a good run.

So it was all to play for with just a converted try between the two sides and although both sides made some good yards, especially David Styles at fly half with his prodigious kicked off both feet, the game tended to be played around the half way line and really neither side looked as though they were going to breach the other sides defences.

Stuart Coles was brought on for his debut and made some good runs with the ball in hand but he is very short of full match fitness and the only other issue of the half was when the Blues were reduced to fourteen men when skipper Ryan James was yellow carded, which put the Blues defence under increased pressure for the last five minutes, but they coped well with it and quite easily saw out the rest of the match to secure a crucial win and the two points.

Next Saturday the Blues have a rest from the bread and butter of league rugby before they travel to bottom of the table Melton Mowbray on the 19th, and they will be hoping that their injured key players such as Tom Bridgeman, Tom Coles, Paul Baird, Kevin Stafford and Jono Barton will all be fit to take their places in the side, although with the bigger squad that the side now has, cover is available for most positions.

Final Score:  Kettering 17          Market Bosworth 11

The Raj Restaurant ‘Man of the Match’ – Graham Wilson

Other Scores:

Kettering 2nd XV 10   Market Bosworth 2nd XV  28

Scorers: Martin Cheatham and Jack Walther.

Oundle Colts  7  Kettering Colts  30

East Midlands Colts League

Kettering Colts consolidated their position at the top of the table with this emphatic win at one of their title rivals.

Scorers: Lewis Hackett; Josh Cox; Karl Mabbutt and Joe Monaghan who also kicked a conversion, plus 2 penalties and 1 conversion from Bruce Keir. 

Heathens 1st XV         5          Kettering 3rd XV 12

East Midlands League

A great win keeps Kettering at the top of their league.

Scorers:  Harvey Smith; Gerry Slater plus 1 conversion from Andrew Jackson.

Market Harborough XV  29            Kettering 4th XV 7

Scorers: Matt Hockeridge plus 1 conversion from Will Bowater.       

Kettering 5th XV 19          Huntingdon 2nd XV  27

Scorers: Ollie Goldsworthy: Nick Beckett; Dave Goodjohn plus 2 conversions from Rob Vyles.

 

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