Blues safe despite bonus point defeat

Virtually all the recent games between the two sides have been close affairs, and this one was no different, although, as with the first encounter this season, the Blues had to settle for a losing bonus point, as a real game of 2 halves saw the visitors storm into a 20-6 half-time lead and then spend much of the 2nd half defending a concerted Blues effort to turn the game in their favour.

In the end, this was a significantly good result for both sides. Firstly, the visitors managed to score 4 tries, and gain a maximum 5 point win, which is likely to see them in the play-offs at the expense of either Bedford Athletic, or Peterborough Lions, providing they win their last game with a maximum haul against Spalding next weekend.

For the Blues, the disappointment at not achieving more, was soon converted into elation as the news came in that the hard earned losing bonus point, and other results having gone their way, in particular, Peterborough’s convincing home win against Market Bosworth, means that the Blues cannot now finish in the bottom 3, whatever happens at next weekends final game of the season at Newark.

The Blues knew that Ilkeston would pose a completely different challenge to that of Loughborough and Market Bosworth in the 2 previous weeks, and the side prepared well for the game. However, Ilkeston’s early direct running posed the home defence questions it had not encountered of late, and by the time they got to grips with it, the visitors had scored 3 tries. Significantly, and in the difficult conditions, these were all wide out in the corners, meaning that the conversions were not impossible, but extremely difficult, and this proved to be the case as they were all missed.

Having weathered the onslaught, Kettering came back into the game and 2 Joe Daniel penalties reduced the deficit, but then, as half-time approached Ilkeston scored a 4th try, again wide out in the corner to give them a 14 point cushion at the break, which could so easily have been more but for a magnificent try saving tackle by scrum-half Tom Bridgeman early in the game.

With the conditions deteriorating and now in their favour, the Blues set about their task with renewed vigour. Despite having considerably more of the game in the 2nd half, and finally managing to come to terms with the visitors strengths, as the half wore on a Daniel penalty went agonizingly wide and the Blues lineout, which had functioned so well the previous 2 games, faltered on this occasion, leading to too many turnovers at important times, which in turn led to Kettering finding it extremely difficult to maintain any sustained pressure on the Ilkeston line.

Eventually, a quickly taken penalty by Bridgeman, saw the scrum-half pass to skipper, Chris Chapman, who showed great determination to smash through the visitors defensive line and cross for a try near to the posts. Daniel converted and, importantly, brought the home side within 7 points of the visitors. With 10 minutes to go the Blues continued to strive for more, and it took some determined Ilkeston defence to keep them out. Despite their best efforts, the home side couldn’t break through and Ilkeston held on for the win.

For the 2nd week running there were a number of nominations for man of the match, with skipper Chapman and Bridgeman receiving the same votes and George Newman a very close third.

RAJ Men of the Match: Chris Chapman & Tom Bridgeman