Powergen Midlands 2 East

Syston 18  Kettering 14

‘Blues suffer another setback on the road!’

Kettering Blues season is already being threatened by a crop of injuries with just three league games played, already without Paul Baird, Paul Gibson and a number of other influential backs the sides plans for this game were hit severely as Tom Bridgemans injury sustained in training failed a last minute test and youngster Bruce Keir was thrown in at fly half for his first team debut.  With another youngster Cory Rainbow alongside Paul Percival in the centre and Nathan Satala making his debut on the wing it was a matter of getting to know each other during the warm up, rather than get ready for the game, which was not the ideal preparation for taking on unbeaten Syston.

Saying all this though the Blues got away the stronger but right from the start their was an obvious lack of cohesion in the back line which Syston started to exploit and they started to look dangerous with Kettering having to defend, and it was no surprise when the hosts took the lead after 32 minutes with a long range penalty.  Five minutes later they increased their lead with a try as they at last gained some good ball from a line out, an area Kettering had been dominating, to run the ball wide for an unconverted score.

Half Time:     Syston  8            Kettering   0

Kettering started the second half looking to take the ball to their hosts as the game was there for the taking but it was the home side who increased their lead as the Blues defence was checked and Syston went over for an easy try which they converted.

The Blues desperately needed a score and they turned to their forwards for help, and with 13 minutes on the clock they were rewarded as from a catch and drive from a line out and then a number of pick up and drives close to the Syston line Joey Hamilton eventually forced his way over, and Tim Jones added the conversion.  Kettering though now became their own worst enemies as straight from the kick off they gave a way a penalty right in front of their post and Syston took the three point.

Kettering though were continuing to work hard against a good side who will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season and they nwere rewarded for their efforts as again the forwards were involved, secure ball was won a t a scrum twenty five metres out and a Ryan James pass put Darren Etheridge through a gap for a typical scrum half’s try which again Tim Jones converted.

Both sides had opportunities to score more points as the game went on but it was the home side that always held the upper edge and they deserved to win a thoroughly entertaining and hard fought game.  Kettering now look to next weeks home game against Matlock hoping that some of their injury problems ease up but with a number of players leaving Syston carrying knocks and pulls there will be more players on the treatment table this week than there will be on the training paddock.

Final Score:  Syston  18          Kettering 14

Other Scores:

Syston 2nd XV  15                  Kettering 2nd XV 12

Scorers: Kevin Osborne; Jack Walther plus 1 conversion from Tom Noble.

This game was lost at the death as Syston kicked a drop goal with the last play of the match, much to the disappointment of the second team who thought they had done enough to at least earn a share of the spoils.   

Kettering 3rd XV  5              Peterborough 3rd XV  36

Scorers:  Matt Brown

First defeat of the season but from a side playing a league higher in the East Midlands league structure.

Peterborough 4th XV  65               Kettering 5th XV      

Tom Elliotts side were well beaten by a well drilled and enthusiastic Peterborough 4th.

Kettering Vets 14          Peterborough Vets 7

The only Kettering side to taste victory was Neil Prices Vets side!

Scorers:  Lee Robinson; Simon Handy plus 2 conversions from Sam Bosworth.

 

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