The club is now over 140 years old and this is understood to be the first time three brothers have played in the same game for the 1st team, so a very proud day for the Conyard family.

Unfortunately, it wasn't in a winning side as ON's took full advantage of their set piece dominance to score 6 tries to 4 and a deserved win.

The Blues backs were already suffering with injury and unavailability, and we're dealt further blows when both Zulu half, Andy Byrne and centre Joe Newman pulled out on the morning of the game due to illness.

This meant a re-shuffle, as Ben Dwason started at 10, Josh Plowright moved into the centre and Damian Conyard came in on the wing, with the youngest of the 3 Conyards, 17 years old Luke, starting on the bench.

Despite this, and falling behind to an early, unconverted ON's try, the Blues began with great purpose, and more than held their own in the first quarter, playing up the slope and into the wind.

Josh Plowright levelled things when a clever cross-field kick from Joe Daniel was fielded by Damian Conyard, who fed back inside for the centre to score.

The Blues backs problems were soon compounded as Plowright had to leave the field, opening up the way for Luke Conyard to enter the fray.

ON's began to use the slope and conditions to great effect and their forward, set piece dominance saw them score 3 further first half tries, all expertly converted to open up a 26-5 lead approaching half-time.

The Blues continued to try to play their way out of trouble, but then a change of tactic at a penalty, saw Daniel hoist a high ball, the home defence hesitated and Damian Conyard latched onto the bouncing ball to run in from 30 metres and close the gap. Daniel added the extra's with a fine conversion into the strong wind, and the score at half-time was 26-12 to the home side.

Despite dominating territory in the early part of the 2nd half, the Blues were unable to capitalise, and the ever dangerous ON's backs were always threatening to break clear. Eventually the home side skilfully worked their way up the pitch and scored a well worked, converted try to extend their lead.

Back came Kettering and Joe Daniel fielded a Ryan Conyard kick to score a try and then kicked a penalty to leave the score 33-20 with 20 minutes remaining.

The ON's were not to be denied though, and a further converted try from a set piece move saw them pull clear again, as the Blues failed to sustain area pressure in the home 22.

Despite this, the Blues had the final word, as prop Josh Cox showed great running skills to dummy his way through from 30 metres out, for the Blues 4th and bonus point try.. Daniel added the extra points to leave the final score 40-27 to the home side.