KETTERING 10 - 21 NEWPORT

The outcome of this game was basically decided by a number of incidents 15 minutes from the end, when Kettering were pushing hard for the decisive score, and with Newport defending desperately.

The Blues, trailing by 14-10, and with the pressure mounting on the visitors, decided to maintain the pressure and kick a penalty to the corner, from the lineout, the Blues lost the ball, but then re-gained to mount a further assault on the Newport line. Another penalty resulted, and this time the Blues went for a scrum. After a number of phases, it appeared that the plan had worked as Rory Keir burst over the line, for what should have been the winning score. However, the referee was unsighted and gave the benefit of the doubt to the visitors, and awarded Kettering another 5-metre scrum. This time the visitors held out and as the attack became more frantic, a wayward pop pass was gathered by the Newport scrum half who ran the length of the field to score a try which was converted and gave the visitors a 9 point lead which they were not going to lose.

The game began badly for the Blues, and they found themselves under considerable pressure. This seemed to have been survived when the hosts were awarded a penalty, but the touch kick was missed and when Newport ran the kick back they found the home side defence badly organised and took full advantage to score a converted try.

Newport continued to dominate the first quarter, and it was something of a surprise when the Blues mounted their first real attack and Paul Sumner took advantage to score a try following up a kick through by Tim Jones, with the latter converting to level the scores. This seemed to kick-start the Blues and they began to dominate, with Jones adding 3 further points from a well struck penalty to give the Blues the lead.

Then, with conditions in their favour and the pitch beginning to cut up badly in the wet, the visitors struck back, when they moved the ball wide to their right wing and he took full advantage of the slack defence to weave his way under the posts for another converted score. At half-time the visitors led 14-10.

The 2nd half was much more of a stalemate as both sides began to find the deteriorating underfoot conditions very difficult and the game became something of a lottery. Unfortunately for the Blues, it wasn’t their lucky day, and they now need to pick themselves up for a real must win game at home to Hereford this coming weekend.

The 2nds game was called off by the visitors Leighton Buzzard 2nds, whilst the 3rd team game at Wellingborough was also called off. Fortunately, the 3rds were able to pick up a pool fixture and travelled to Aylesbury. They were rewarded for their efforts with a 28-7 win, with 3 tries for Alex Lyness, a single for Paul Baird, and 4 conversions for Alex Petterfor.

The 4ths hosted a Thorney 1st/2nd team, and won a really hard fought contest, 10-7, with a try from Tom Elliott and a penalty and conversion from Tom Noble.

The Colts won a real tough battle at Peterborough, 13-8, with a try from Harvey Hilson, and a conversion and 2 penalties from Shane Ling.