With Joe Newman, Tom Bridgeman and Josh Luthayi all missing through injury from the originally selected squad, the Blues had the make numerous changes to their back-line. Billy Burrell came in at scrum-half, Matt Neild in the centre Sam Wilson on the bench. All 3 justified their inclusion in what turned out to be a real team performance.

The game started with the Blues, playing in their new purple change strip, attacking down the slope. Despite dominating the early exchanges, it was 16 minutes before Steve Fraher scored the opening try, converted by Joe Daniel.

Then a devastating 10 minutes burst effectively killed the game off as on 20 minutes Daniel scored his first of 3 tries, followed 3 minutes later by skipper Chris Chapman and shortly after that Jordan Butlin finished off a fine attacking move from deep in the Blues half. Daniel converted 2 of the 3 tries to give the visitors a 26-0 lead after half an hour.

Mansfield, to their great credit, fought back and dominated the last 10 minutes of the half. The Blues defence, however, was not to be breached and fine rearguard action, led by the all action tackling of Josh Block, saw the half-time score remain 26-0 to Kettering.

The only down side of the half, for the Blues, was a shoulder injury to new recruit, Conner Collett, who was replaced by Archie Toseland, who also had a fine 1st team debut.

Mansfield started the 2nd half in determined mood and their cause was aided when the Blues squandered two great chances to extend their lead. This gave the home side further encouragement and they took full advantage on 52 minutes, when their inside centre burst through from halfway to score a fine converted try.

Almost straight from the kick off the rejuvenated home side pressed again and scored from a lineout, the reduce the Blues lead still further, and with 25 minutes to go, the score stood at 26-12 to Kettering.

The Blues re-grouped and having survived the period of home dominance fought back. Daniel scored his second try on 64 minutes, in support of a break from James Taylor, to calm any nerves and then scored the try of the match, with a chip, kick ahead and then gathered the ball to cross for the try which he converted himself.

As time ran out, Billy Burrell was on hand to put the finishing touches to another flowing move and Daniel added the extra's to leave the final score 45-12 to the Blues, and for a personal 25 points haul, which earned him the RAJ Man of the Match award, despite strong claims by a number of other individuals, in this excellent team performance.

RAJ Man of the Match: Joe Daniel