Kesteven Junior Round Up
A Great week this week with both 17s and 15s winning the Boston 10s Tournament against teams from across the East Midlands and the 16s, 14s and 13s all beat Sleaford
Under 17s at Boston
The under 17's have had a tough season. Losing 8 of their 1st choice players from their very successful side of last season was always going to be difficult. The replacement's have played with great gut's and determination all season, and finally got their just reward at the Boston 10's.
In some very hard encounters in very wet and windy conditions they drew with Newark the favourites for the tournament 2-2, Loughborough 1-1, Grimsby 1-1, in these three matches the lads realised they had not played as well as they could and needed to raise their game if they were to progress to the final. This they duly did defeating Boston b 5-0 and Boston a 1-0, to book a place in the final against arch rivals Newark.
In a cracking match K's raced to a 2-0 lead but Newark fought back to make it 2-1 and some fantastic cover tackling by K's kept them ahead until half time. They then scored a try early in the second half and showing an awesome desire to win the game defended their line restricting Newark to one more score running out worthy winners 3-2.
Squad: Aaron Whitaker, Adam Draper, Ashley Osbourne, Chris Marr, Daniel Rowley, David Tweddle, Faolan Lidstone, Jack Gordon, Jonathan Thornton, Josh Bolus, Michael Barney, Mikkel Andressen, Olly Fletcher, Richard Thornton, Rob Cann, Will Holley.
Under 15s
Kesteven U15s travelled to a wet & windy Boston with two strong teams to compete in a 10-a-side tournament. Ks Greens, strengthened by several new faces, battled formidably, recording fine wins against Market Rasen & Louth, Boston and Grimsby . But it was Ks Blues who defied the conditions and played the best rugby of the tournament, convincingly winning all seven of their games including a resounding 25-10 defeat of Leicestershire side Syston RFC in the final.
Kesteven Greens: Cook, Bristow, Melville, Binder, Coghill, Goodrich, Webster, McVittie, Durrance, Skinner, Pearson, Bartlett.
Kesteven Blues: Jackson, Pargin, Harwood, McDonald, Eggleston, Wood, Reynolds, Turner, Thornburn, Barker, Cowley.
Under 16s
Sleaford 0 v Kesteven 15
Kesteven arrived at Sleaford with only 12 players, the inclement weather had put some off. Sleaford’s under 15’s coach kindly loaned 3 of his better players to us to make up the side and they rose to the challenge each giving a great commitment to the team.
The cold windy conditions made it difficult for both teams to control the ball but they endeavoured to play an expansive game, the ref tried to allow a flowing game but handling errors meant there were quite a few scrums. Kesteven’s pack dominated the scrums with Nathan and Josh using their size and strength in the front row to pressurise their opponents.
Sleaford opened the scoring with a good run up the field. K’s playing against the conditions drove Sleaford up the field and scored a great try with one of the under 15’s going over in the corner.
K’s rucking was the best it has been for a while due to Tom and Jamie’s strength driving Sleaford back off the ball allowing Michael and Evan to pick up the ball and break through the defence.
The lineout's worked well, despite the wind, Joe accurate throwing to Tom who jumped and caught well meant we got a lot of clean ball which Justin tried to get out to the backs as much as possible. They attempted to move the ball wide but a lot of ball was spilled.
Early in the second half good tackling stopped Sleaford scoring a couple of times, K’s turned the ball over and some good kicks from Justin moved the team into Sleaford’s half. K’s put Sleaford under a lot of pressure on their line but the defence was very strong keeping K’s out for a long time until Cameron managed to cross the line twice late in the game with some hard determined runs to seal the victory.
It was a good close game to watch both teams playing in the right spirit and it could have gone either way, but thanks to Sleaford’s under 15’s we fielded 15 players and won.
Team
Nathan Duffy, Joe Pask, Josh Duffy, Tom Pert, Jamie Wynne, Evan Hollingworth, Michael Peters, Justin Dingley, James Pullinger, Cameron Pearce, Steve Shepherd and Joe Campbell.
Sunday 16th March 2008
Under 14s
Kesteven 20 Sleaford 0.
Sleaford took the kick off on what was to be a very wet and windy match, as K’s received the ball they charged it forward deep into Sleaford’s half and that is where the ball stayed for the next 10 minutes as K’s forwards pounded away and the backs attacked at everything they could. Sleaford did manage to break out of their half a few times but only to run straight into K’s tight defensive line and loose possession. Just before half time K’s made a blistering attack on the right wing the forwards kept control well in what were very tough conditions as the ground and ball were so wet, K’s pilled the pressure on but were not able to break through Sleaford’s defence before the half time whistle blew.
Half time score K’s 0 Sleaford 0
The second half proved to be even more one sided than the first, K’s now had the wind behind them and increased the pace and power as they attacked hard down the left side took the ball in to a ruck which was recycled in a flash and passed the full width of the pitch to Will Bolus to cross the line for 5 points. The conversion fell short.
After the restart K’s attacking held Sleaford in their 22 for the next 5 minutes.
K’s pushed forwards up to Sleaford’s 5 yard line. Tom Wire found the line to score K’s second try. The conversion kick sailed wide.
The next try came from Ben Warren who scored on the right wing after a strong driving attack by the forwards again the conversion was beaten by the wind. Sleaford were struggling to cross the half way line again and keep control, K’s lofted the ball over the top and as Sleaford’s full back fumbled the wet ball Will Bacon who had chased it down 30yards collected the ball and planted it for another 5 points. The conversion kick was forced wide again by the wind.
Final score Kesteven 20 Sleaford 0
A strong all round performance by K’s under tough very conditions.
Fuelled with a little revenge from the last meeting the Black Army boys had something to prove, it’s nice to win but its better to send Sleaford packing!!! WELL DONE!!!
U13 Match Report Sunday 16th March 2008
KESTEVEN 15 – 0 SLEAFORD
Kesteven U13s set the record straight with this convincing victory over local rivals Sleaford in appalling weather conditions at Woodnook.
Out to avenge their defeat in January, Ks came at the visitors right from the kick off. Playing with the wind, Kesteven camped in the Sleaford half throughout the first quarter.
Driving rain, strong winds and boggy ground led to numerous handling errors by both teams. The breakthrough came after 15 minutes when No.8 George Picker broke through the Sleaford defences on the half-way line and ran in for his first try, under the posts.
The visitors fought back hard, but whenever they broke through were quickly and decisively shut down.
Kesteven’s pack dominated the game, never more so than 10 minutes into the second half when their driving maul carried the Sleaford defenders from half way to within metres of their try line. This ended with a knock-on due to the wet conditions but the Ks forwards had made clear who was in charge.
Shortly afterwards one of several dangerous breakaways by full back Jimmy Bower led to a Sleaford scrum inside their 22. Ks’ pack immediately won the ball and Picker, in his trademark move, picked up and ran in his second try.
Repeated drives by Kesteven kept Sleaford well inside their own half for almost all the rest of the game. Ks made good use of the back line and dominated completely in the scrum and maul. Shortly before the whistle, Picker was able to pick up from another scrum for his third try and a well-deserved hat trick.
Other players who crossed the try line but were “held up” included Tom West and Jack Holmes.
Blue with cold and soaked to the skin, Ks celebrated an emphatic win, and look forward to continuing their winning ways to the end of the season. Well done guys – Newark next!
Kesteven squad: Deane, Mason, Sisson, Joyce, Corner (capt), Shipston, Picker, Cocks, West, Mihill, Hudson, Rees, Taylor, Coetsee, Bower, Holmes, Gabriel, Wood, Chambers.
