Sleaford 2XV 14 - Kesteven 2XV 15
Kesteven made the short trip to Sleaford for this friendly. Skipper Simon Oakes took a seat on the bench and let Andy Pearsey take over as captain for the day.
Sleaford started brightly and were intent on taking the game to the visitors testing the Kesteven defence. Although they had the better of the half they weren't able to make the crucial breakthrough.
Kesteven through good line kicking from Lamb and Turner kept pushing Sleaford back, but it was defence that held firm. Kesteven opened teh scoring when Cooper intercepted a pass in his own half. He was stopped just short of the line but Ian Charles wasup in support to go over for the try. Harland's conversion from far out it the post.
Sleaford continued to press and were rewarded with the last move of the half when they sored with a push over try. The successful conversion gave the home team a 7 - 5 lead.
Kesteven made some changes at the break. Brett Login had retired hurt after 10 minutes to be replaced by Tyrone Miles. At the break Gavin Purves replaced Marc Paton and Andy Price replaced Ian Charles. Kesteven began to dominate play in the second half with Hayward and Odams prominent. The backs began to stringtogether some good passages of play and Matt Harland was next to score when he completed a clssic threequarter move with a try in the corner..
Sleaford occasionally got into the visitiors half adfrom one such foray they scored. A clernace kick was charged down and swift follow up won th erace to th eball for the try. The cnversion struggled to get any height but did enough to struggle over the bar to give the home side a 14 - 10 lead with 10 minutes left.
Kesteven reacted well and repeated their earlier exploits with a second classic trhreequarter move withthe same result of Harland racing in for the winning try.. Rugby is a simple game when played at such pace!
This was a very good win over a strong Sleaford side. The never say die spirit of the squad was evident again with another example of aside not accepting defeat.
Harland was the star man with his two tries but hughes, Lamb Turner and Cooper kept the backs moving well. Dixon atfull back was sound collecting the Sleaford kicks through and returning them with with some sparkling running while Charles showed the benefit of good support play with his try.
In the pack Odams had an outstanding game, winning loads of turnover ball. Hayward andPaton, then Purves gave strong performances. In the second row Miles and Tweddle were a force to be reckoned with with some bruising runs while Sayle gave his usual dominating performance in the line out, and with Brown formed a mobile back row. Pearsey led the side with wisdom andexperience keeping the side together well.
Team was Dixon; Charles, Cooper, Turner, Harland; Lamb, Hughes' Paton, Login Odams, Hayward, Tweddle, Brown, Sayle, Pearsey Reps Miles, Purves, Price, Oakes.
