Blues rise to the occasion

Things didn’t start well before the game, when fly-half, Josh Plowright, was injured in the warm-up and the backs had to re-shuffle moving Ben Dawson to the 10 slot and Billy Burrell to the bench. However, the players responded positively to the changes, and both contributed significantly to the end result.

The Blues came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and wing forward Ben Street opened the scoring with a try after 2 minutes, converted by full-back Joe Daniel. Joe Newman was next to score, after 10 minutes, when the Blues pounced on a turnover and quick hands saw the centre burst through under the posts. Daniel again converting.

With the Blues completely dominating proceedings, it was no surprise when scrum-half, Tom Bridgeman, broke through and with a sublime pass fed number 8, Rory Keir who scored the 3rd try. Daniel adding the extra’s.

At this point Mkt Bosworth had not even entered the Blues 22, and when they did the Kettering defence held firm and denied the visitors the score they needed to get into the game. Back came the Blues and a fine handling move Dawson dummy his way over for the bonus point, unconverted, try after 25 minutes.

As half-time approached another backs move put centre and man of the match, Alex Smit, into space and he showed great speed to run through the remaining defenders from 50-metres out and score under the posts, making Daniel’s conversion a formality, and see the Blues leading 33-0 at the break.

Winger Luca Rodger was replaced by Burrell at half-time, who later moved to his more familiar position at scrum-half to replace Bridgeman, and George Newman came on for Keir, with Street moving the number 8 and Newman to blind-side wing forward.

Bosworth needed a good start to 2nd half, with the strong breeze at their backs, to have any chance of a comeback. However, it was the Blues who effectively killed the game off after 2 minutes when they moved the ball wide and Joe Newman burst down the left wing to cross in the corner for a 6th, but unconverted try.

With the efforts of the first half clearly taking a toll, and playing against the conditions, the Blues found the going much more difficult from here on in, and Bosworth kept battling for some kind of consolation. However, Kettering were in no mood to concede points and their defence excelled throughout, with the 2 Jamie’s, Bishop and Manley prominent, preventing the visitors from mounting any sustained pressure in the Blues 22.

With minutes to go, another fine piece of handling, saw skipper and 2nd row, Chris Chapman, in support to receive the pass from Joe Newman and cross near the posts for the a deserved reward for his efforts. Daniel added the extra points to seal a resounding victory for the home side.

This was a game where numerous players excelled and the decision for man of the match was split across the board. However, in the end the vote for RAJ Man of the Match, went to Alex Smit.