Kesteven 27 - Presidents XV 17
A warm and windless Woodnook (how often can you say that!) saw Kesteven round off their season in some style. The annual President's match proved to be as entertaining a match as had been seen at the ground this season.
Kesteven have had a difficult season but enjoyed some good form on Sunday. The spirit was good and fine open play was the order of he day. K's were keen to attack at every opportunity and it was good to see Ian McAllister sprint over for the first try. Thi was followed by Rob Cooper who finished off a good break by Phil Jordan and Dan Turner rounded the full back for the third after fine linking with Jordan. That brought the score to 15 - 0 at half time.
K's started the second half in determined fashion and Mark Dent forced his way over for the fourth try. The President's XV had contributed to a fine spectacle and got their reward when John Hall scored twice in 2 minutes, then Faolan Lidster completed a move with a fine arcing run from 40 metres. Douglas converted onre of these tries and suddenly the Kesteven team were facing a crisis. Parker steadied the ship and set up the final try with a classic outside break on half way. Phil Jordan was up to take the pass and just outpace the defence to score the clinching try which Turner converted..
After a troubled season it was good to see K's play with a lot of confidence and flair, which was alomost matched by the youthful President's team.
Kesteven Rob Cooper; Tony Woolerton, Phil Jordan, Dom Brister, Ian McAllister; Martyn Parker, Mark Dent; Paul Shields, Pete Dolan, Marc Paton, Robert Sheardown, James Kmieciak, Dan Turner, Richard Dolan, Doug Hayward Subs Will Price, Chris Cluse, Tony Smith, Mark Sayle,
U13 Sevens competition report
A scratch squad of twelve Ks U13s travelled to Paviors for the second time in a month, this time for the NLD sevens tournament.
In contrast to our previous visit, it was a baking hot day, 25 degrees with full sun and only the gentlest occasional breeze, and the ground was hard.
A full calendar of games at the end of the season meant Ks had been unable to do much sevens-specific training, but with customary determination they rose to the occasion.
Ks won their first game against Bakewell 12–5, and followed this up by beating Mansfield B by a resounding 29-0. The first real test was Newark, who were satisfyingly dispatched 22-10, and then came the final pool game against Derby A.
This game was hardest fought of all. Ks again showed they have the ability to rattle Derby’s composure, and towards the end, there was some unsportsmanlike play by one or two Derby players, quite out of character, and sadly not noticed by the referee. This game finished as a 10-17 loss, but Ks as runner-up in their group qualified for the plate semi-final.
The semi-final was played against Sleaford, another team well known to the Ks. With both teams flagging in the early afternoon heat, the half time score was 7-7, the full-time score was 12-12, and we were in for another cliff-hanger.
The game then moved into “sudden death” extra time. Ks unfortunately lost the toss for the restart and were obliged to make the kick, which Sleaford received and ran in for a try without losing possession. Final score: Sleaford 17 Kesteven 12.
It was a pity that due to other teams dropping out, Ks found themselves in the only five-team pool, which may well have made a difference on such a searing day. Nevertheless they turned in an impressive performance and, with both their play and general behaviour, were once again a credit to themselves and the Black Army. Well done.
Your reporter did not keep a detailed tally but try scorers included Kieran Taylor, Will Lewis and Greg Mihill. Apologies if I have missed anyone.
Kesteven squad: Bell, Corner (capt), West, Mihill, Wood, Lewis, Shipston, Rees, Taylor, Picker, Gabriel, Chambers.
