Kettering 32 - 25 Paviors

The game began badly for the Blues when lacklustre defending saw the visitors score two tries and a conversion before most people had realised the game had kicked off! Things, at this stage looked ominous for the home side, and with the previous weeks heavy defeat at Peterborough Lions, who had lost to Paviors two weeks earlier, many expected the worst. The Blues side, however, responded magnificently, and fought back to build pressure on the Paviors line, which eventually saw Ian Renard side-step his way past a couple of would be tacklers to score close to the posts. Joe Daniel converted to close the gap to 5 points. Then the visitors opened up their lead again with a well worked line-out score, and the Blues once again looked in trouble.
However, the tide was turning and Renard was unfortunate to have a second score disallowed for a forward pass, before Daniel kicked an excellent penalty, only for Paviors to kick one of their own to lead 22-10 at the break.
The 2nd half saw the Blues fighting back, although Paviors drew first blood with a second penalty. Firstly, Daniel responded with another penalty, and then skipper Chris Chapman drove over for a unconverted try. The best try of the game then came when a fine handling move saw Danny Noble in support and he battled his way over for a try converted by Daniel to give the Blues the lead for the first time in the game. Rory Keir scored the decisive 4th and bonus point try to extend the Blues lead to 7 points, and despite a very nervous last five minutes the home defence responded with great determination to keep Paviors out and hold on for an impressive and morale boosting win.
RAJ Man of the Match: Joe Newman