Kesteven club round up
Kesteven travelled to Southwell with a team showing 10 changes from the previous outing. Not surprisingly the team took a little tie to settle but were able to withstand early pressure from the home side. The forwards were holding their own well while the backs tackled strongly so it was disappointing to concede a try after 20 minutes when the Southwell number 8 broke out from a maul to run in for a try. The conversion was good. K's responded well and charged down a clearing kick. The pack swooped on the ball and it was spun out through the threequarters for Rupert Jordan to scoop up a pass off his toes to go in at the corner. Justin Dingley landed a great conversion from out wide to tie the scores. The lead was to change hands again five minutes later. Aaron Whittaker was having a great game at fullback and set off on a fine run deep into the Southwell half. The ball ran loose however and Southwell realising that the full back was upfield hacked through to score.
Once again K's rose to the challenge and again put the home defence in trouble with fine first time tackling. Again the ball was won and again Rupert Jordan was able to finish the move with a try in the corner to tie the scores at the break at 12 all.
In the 2nd half Kesteven started well and were again pressing, looking likely to score but again were undone when the Southwell number 8 intercepted a pass and ran in from 70 metres to score. The conversion was good and Southwell added a penalty to take them into a 10 point lead. K's now took the game to Southwell through some direct running by Midgely and Hughes but they were unable to score. Southwell had one final chance for a bonus point try but they lost the ball in the act of scoring at the end. Final score was Southwell 22 Kesteven 12.
Although the result was disappointing there were still some good performances. In the backs Rupert Jordan took his two tries well while Aaron Whittaker gave a very assured performance at full back. Jordan Hughes gave his all in the unacustomed position on the wing while Gallacher and Midgely formed a useful partnership at centre. Phil Jordan came onto a good game at flyhalf while Justin Dingley continues to develop at scrum half.
In the pack Odams Hayward and Etherington did well while Pert won some good lineout ball. Cowley continues to display some great strength while Brown and Peabody also tackled well. Mile uses his strength well at number 8. Matryn Parker came on at fly half when Brown retired, causing a reshuffle which broght Midgely back into the pack and Richard Dolan replaced Whittaker near the end.
Team was A Whittaker; J Hughes, K Gallacher, R Midgely, R Jordan; P Jordan, J Dingley; S Odams, D Hayward, P Etherington, W Pert, J Cowley, A Brown, A Peabody, T Miles. Replacements M Parker, R Dolan M Sayle
Sothwell 2nds 0 Kesteven 2nds 13
A number of first team call ups and unavailabilities meant a much changed side took on the challengs away at Southwell, however stand in skipper Andy Pearsey lead a strong team onto the pitch nevertheless.
Kesteven started strongly driving at the Southwell defence and were able to pressure the home side into infinging and soon took the lead from a well taken penalty struck by Michael Coghill. This was just the spur the away side were looking for and continued to try to press. It was Southwell however, who seemed to be winning the territorial battle as much of the play seemed to take place between the half way and the Kesteven 22. Midway through the first period captain Pearsey took an enforced 10 minute break as he was sin binned along with the Southwell 12 for over vigourous on the floor cuddling!!
This created a stale mate between the sides and when the players returned fly half Parker timed a great pass to the returning James Goodrich who split Southwell wide open and set off on a lung bursting 50metre run to the Southwell 5metre line where with his father supporting on one side and Tony Burton on the other he naturally chose Burton for the offload to score what would prove to be the desisive score of the game. Coghill converted the try to give Kesteven a well deserved 10-0 lead at half time.
The second team lost the influencial Parker to first team duties at half time leading to a reshuffle in the backline with Goodrich Junior moving to Fly half and Richard Dolan coming on at centre. Now playing up the slope the second team knew they would have to defend hard to earn the victory. With forward dominance in set piece now secure the back line looked to open the game with the adventurous Goodrich utilising each of his outside men to good effect. All to often good moves would be spoiled with a refereeing decision or a dropped pass. Coghill had 2 attempts at penalty goals one monster from over half way which just dropped short and a second easier chance which he slotted through the uprights to give the away side a 2 score cushion.
Southwell then had their best period of the match and managed to get over the Kesteven line only for Frankie Davies to disrupt the would be scorer into losing control of the ball. Richard Dolan was also called up to first team duties and with all the Kesteven subs now on the pitch they looked to play out the remaining minutes which was managed without looking in too much danger for a hard fought but very well deserved victory.
The absent Oakes can be very proud of his side well lead by Pearsey. Father and son Dave and Frankie Davies made a great front row partnership with dynamic hooker H. The second row of Bowles and Hardy-Gillings were energetic throughout and Jerry Goodrich on the back row made his experience count with the multi skilled kicking of Coghill proving the difference.
New comer Ed Watling provided a secure link at scrum half with Parker contolling the backline well. Burton was abrasive as usual and the returning James Goodrich showing the skills missed in his absent 4 years. The back 3 of Windsor, Potter and MacAllister didnt have much to go for in attack but never looked troubled in defence. The 4 subs of Blackley, Dolan, Price and Charles all made positive impacts when they joined the game.
Team was:
Dave Davies, H, Frankie Davies, Stuart Bowles, Nick Hardy-Gilings, Michael Coghill, Jerry Goodrich, Andy Pearsey, Ed Watling, Martyn Parker, Rich Potter, Tony Burton, James Goodrich, Rob Windsor, Ian MacAllister Subs: Richard Dolan, Daz Blackley, Andy Price, Ian Charles
