Blues Up and Running in Midlands Premier

On a bright sunny day, the game being played on Nuneaton Borough’s football ground the Blues found themselves under pressure and conceded a penalty which also resulted in Josh cox being sin binned for allegedly pulling down a rolling maul. The hosts elected for a scrum and this paid off, as a blind side move led to the opening try after 7 minutes.
Kettering hit back and a raking kick from Joe Daniel led to a line out 5 metres out from the home sides line, the Blues disrupted the line out and George Newman burst through to level the scores with an unconverted try in the 10th minute. (5 – 5)
Nuneaton retook the lead with a well struck penalty and then extended their lead with a converted try when a kick through was fumbled and the home sides left winger needed no second chance as he burst through to score on 18 minutes. (15 – 5).
With 30 minutes gone the situation worsened for the Blues when Cox received his second yellow card, resulting in a red card for a high challenge, however, rather than cave in the Blues rolled up their sleeves and began to dominate proceedings. Joe Daniel kicked two penalties to close the gap to 15 – 11 and with the home side also now down to 14 with a yellow card Damian Conyard showed great determination to squeeze over in the corner for an unconverted try, and what had seemed a very unlikely 15 -16 half time lead.
The first ten minutes of the second half was an even contest until the ever-dangerous Nuneaton left wing jinked his way through a host of Kettering would be tacklers to score a terrific solo try which was converted to give the hosts a 16 – 22 lead.
An ever-growing number of penalties by the home side though eventually led to a second yellow card and with five minutes to go a half break and deft offload by flyhalf Bruce Keir put Jordan Butlin through to score under the posts and Joe Daniel duly converted to give the Blues the lead once again (22 – 23).
A frantic final three minutes of constant Nuneaton pressure stretched the Blues to the limits, but they were equal to the task and held out for the win which was full of character and courage.

Raj Restaurant ‘Man of Match’ – Jordan Butlin