Worksop 20 - Kesteven 20
Kesteven travelled to Worksop on Saturday. The visitors were looking for a result to cement their fourth place finish whilst the Nottinghamshire team were fighting for league survival. This ensured a fiercely fought battle.
Young Sayle continued at number seven whilst Tweddle was brought in to bolster the second row. Kieran Gallacher made his first team debut at inside centre. The reliable Rich Dolan came in on the blindside. A late reshuffle saw Turner moved to number eight with Brister slotting in at scrum half.
Worksop did manage to put Kesteven under sustained pressure for the majority of the first ten minutes. The visitors defensive line held firm. Fine penalty kicks for touch from Turner and some astute tactical kicking from Parker saw territory and momentum shift towards the visitors. The opening score came from a scrum ten metres out. Using Brister and winger Betts as decoys Turner dummied his way over the line to touch down for the opening try.
Worksop did work their way back into the game with some solid forward play which laid a platform for their backs to work the ball into space. This period of play saw them convert two penalties to take the lead. One area they could not gain a foothold in was the lineout. Sayle and Turner dominated this aspect of the game winning most of their own and some opposition ball throughout the match.
Kesteven were to regain the lead. A well placed kick into the corner saw disrupted lineout ball come to the backline. Swift hands from Parker, P. Jordan and Gallacher saw R. Jordan put into space on the wing. The tricky speedster finished with aplomb.
No panic was the half time theme. Have played the better rugby for most of the game Kesteven were being undone in a few set piece areas. Dolan, Tweddle and Odams were making their usual contributions in the loose with abrasive play.
Sadly the second half did not start well. Worksop were awarded a penalty try after their shortest player was clothes lined in the process of scoring by remorseful captain Clarke. Soon after they were awarded a second penalty try as the front row of Bennett, Haywood and Odams were moved off the ball and the referee did not stop the drive. The whole tight five remained in a heap on the floor whilst question marks over why the referee had not stopped the drive remained. At twenty ten down Kesteven did not panic.
Windsor came on to replace Gallacher adding some experience to a subdued backline. Gallacher had a great debut making some telling breaks and producing some good hands to unleash other players around him.
Some driving kicks pushed Kesteven deep into Worksop territory. From a scrum, number eight Turner picked up and showed good pace to unpick the home defence. His vision saw Betts run in a try near the corner. Soon after Kesteven levelled the match with a well worked try in the corner. Good work at the ruck saw superb hands from P Jordan, Sayle and Dixon put R Jordan in for his second in the corner.
The remainder of the match remained tight. However hard both teams tried the stalemate could not be broken and the match ended in a draw. Worksop battled well for this result and proved to be stern and stubborn opposition.
Bennett, Hayward, Odams, Tweddle, Clarke (c), Sayle, Turner, R. Dolan, Brister, Parker, Gallacher, P Jordan, R Jordan, Betts, Dixon SUBS: Paton, Windsor
