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Sat 09 Mar 2013 · Midlands 1 East
Peterborough
1st XV
17
13
PETERBOROUGH 1st XV 17 – 13 KETTERING 1st XV
Doug Bridgeman11 Mar 2013 - 12:34
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Kettering stumbled to another defeat which brings them right into the relegation melting pot, as time ran out on their comeback after once again gifting their opponents a significant lead, and then trying to come back from a extremely difficult position,
The Blues began brightly enough and had the home side under pressure right from the kick off. The early pressure lead to nothing and then astute kicking by the Peterborough halfbacks and the Blues mounting penalty count saw 'Boro' rattle up 17 unanswered points in the first quarter.
The hosts took the lead through a penalty and then scored a try when number 8 and captain Peter Kowlakowski broke off the side of a maul and scored the opening try, almost unchallenged, which was converted.
Then despite the blues domination in the set scrum for much of the game, Peterborough managed to win a ball against the head and their ever alert blind-side wing was in support to score a simple try, again with little resistance from the shell-shocked Blues defence.
Kettering finally began to play some rugby and eventually Joe Daniel kicked a penalty to get the Blues on the scoreboard, and then Luca Rodger was stopped inches short when a try looked inevitable, as the first half closed with ‘Boro’ leading 17-3.
The Blues, playing with the gusty wind at their backs, began to dominate and Daniel kicked another penalty. And as the home side visibly tired and suffered an apparent nasty head injury to one of their players which took several minutes to ensure he was able to leave the field without the need for further medical attention, it seemed that the tide had turned.
After numerous drives at the Peterborough line had been either held up, or the referee had been unsighted as the Blues scored, the officials patience eventually ran out and he awarded the Blues a penalty try, which Daniel converted. With 10 minutes on the clock and significant injury time to be played the Blues penned the home side back, although one excursion into the Blues 22 saw a simple penalty chance missed by the home side, and great defence stopped another lineout drive by the Peterborough forwards, it looked like the Blues would have time to press home their advantage. However, with almost a minute remaining of normal time, plus a minimum of 5 minutes to be added, for the various 2nd half injuries, the referee inexplicably blew up for full-time and the home sides relief was clear for all to see.
With a number of sides now within 5 points of each other, and 4 games to play, the next game, at home against Market Bosworth, will now have even more significance into who stays up and who is relegated, although it is looking increasingly likely that it could go down to the last game of the season before the final places are confirmed.
The hosts took the lead through a penalty and then scored a try when number 8 and captain Peter Kowlakowski broke off the side of a maul and scored the opening try, almost unchallenged, which was converted.
Then despite the blues domination in the set scrum for much of the game, Peterborough managed to win a ball against the head and their ever alert blind-side wing was in support to score a simple try, again with little resistance from the shell-shocked Blues defence.
Kettering finally began to play some rugby and eventually Joe Daniel kicked a penalty to get the Blues on the scoreboard, and then Luca Rodger was stopped inches short when a try looked inevitable, as the first half closed with ‘Boro’ leading 17-3.
The Blues, playing with the gusty wind at their backs, began to dominate and Daniel kicked another penalty. And as the home side visibly tired and suffered an apparent nasty head injury to one of their players which took several minutes to ensure he was able to leave the field without the need for further medical attention, it seemed that the tide had turned.
After numerous drives at the Peterborough line had been either held up, or the referee had been unsighted as the Blues scored, the officials patience eventually ran out and he awarded the Blues a penalty try, which Daniel converted. With 10 minutes on the clock and significant injury time to be played the Blues penned the home side back, although one excursion into the Blues 22 saw a simple penalty chance missed by the home side, and great defence stopped another lineout drive by the Peterborough forwards, it looked like the Blues would have time to press home their advantage. However, with almost a minute remaining of normal time, plus a minimum of 5 minutes to be added, for the various 2nd half injuries, the referee inexplicably blew up for full-time and the home sides relief was clear for all to see.
With a number of sides now within 5 points of each other, and 4 games to play, the next game, at home against Market Bosworth, will now have even more significance into who stays up and who is relegated, although it is looking increasingly likely that it could go down to the last game of the season before the final places are confirmed.
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