Kesteven 25 - Notts Casuals 28
Kesteven welcomed league leaders Notts Casuals to Woodnook for their first home game of the New Year.
The home team welcomed back Grant Ward, Andy Peabody, Dom Brister and Richard Midgely to the team and it was Peabody who made an immediate impact. He fielded the kick off, made 20 metres and from the first scrum Casuals were penalised to give Danny Turner an early shot at goal. He used the wind well to slot the goal. 3 - 0 after a minute was just the start needed.
The game settled down with K's using the wind to pin Casuals back and Casuals running the ball through good running and inter passing. Kesteven were mixing up the game well and exended their lead after 20 minutes. The forwards turned over good ball in the Casuals half. Wood fed Dan Turner on the right. Dan feinted to cut inside then fed a pefect pass to Grant Ward on the wing. The youngster squeezed in at the corner for a fine try. They were to adda 2nd try minutes later. Turner found a good touch 10 metres out and from the lineout Hayward charged for the line. He was hed up but Odams was on hand to force his way over. Turner added the goal and was instrumental in setting up the 3rd try shortly after. K's fielded the restart and found Turner deep in his own half. Again the Turner - Ward combination came good. This time Ward took the pass on half way and shaped to go inside but swereved outside and used his pace to race in. Turner's conversion was caught in the wind and drifted wide, however Kesteven had a useful 20 -0 lead with half time looming. Casuals had one last effort in the half and worked over for a try just before the break. Half time score was 20 - 5.
Casuals had the use of the wind in the second half and kept K's in their own half for long spells. They inched their way back into the game with a penalty and 2 tries to close the gap to 2 points with 15 minutes lefft. Kesteven rang the changes as Brister, Cooper and Odams were replaced by Coghill, Windsor and Paton. Kesteven had few chances but were always ready to run out of defence. Natham Turner at full back was creating chances and one such break release Ward again. The situation did not look promising but the youngster again created space ou of nothing and was able to complete his hat trick to extend the lead to 25 - 18 and to earn a bonus point with 10 minutes left.
Casuals however again responded with another try wide out to close the gap to 2 points again. They threw the kitchen sink at K's and got their reward with a winning try when their forwards forced their way over in the last minute to break Kesteven hearts. Final score was Kestteven 25 Notts Casuals 28.
It was a thrilling game of rugby played in good spirit. Kesteven were decidedly unucky not to win this game.
Team was N Turner; G Ward, P Jordan, R Cooper, H O'Brien; D Turner, O Wood; S Odams, D Hayward, P Bennett, W Pert, J Cowley, R Midgely, A Prabody, D Brister reps M Paton, M Coghill, R Windsor
