Blues battle to New Year win

The Blues started in determined fashion and Tom Spencer scored a pushover try from a 5-metre scrum, which was expertly converted by man of the match, Joe Daniel, to give the Blues an early 7 point lead. Daniel then added a penalty to extend the lead and the visitors looked on course for a comfortable win.
This wasn't to be, however, as the home side re-grouped and aided by a string in penalties, forced their way into the game. One of these penalties was converted, and the game was on!
Despite dominating much of the first period, the Blues squandered a number of opportunities and Scouts made the most of their limited possession to stay in the game, and then scored an excellent try right on the half-time whistle to close to within 2 points at the break.
Again, Kettering started the 2nd half well and Daniel converted a second penalty to stretch the lead to 13-8 to the Blues. Then with some excellent close play taking the game into the Scouts 22, the ball, inexplicably, flew out of a ruck and the Scouts accepted the good fortune to run 70 metres and score the equalising try.
With players from both sides in the bin, the game switched from one end to the other, and then when restored to full numbers Scouts set up a driving maul which went fully 30 metres, before it was collapsed and another blues forward went into the bin. The home side now had the upper hand and should probably have done better with the possession, before a great counter attack saw Daniel chip over the top, recover the ball himself, pass inside to Gareth Rees, who in turn fed Josh Cox, who stormed over for a great try. Daniel was this time unsuccessful with the conversion, but then kicked a penalty to stretch the lead to 21-13.
Back came Scouts and with their man extra they broke from a scrum and scored an unconverted try to set up the tense last 5 minutes.
Restored to full numbers, and with Daniel pinning the home side back with excellent kicking, it was the Blues who finished the stronger, and ensured that they were on the front foot as the final whistle sounded.

RAJ Man of the Match: Joe Daniel