Battling Thirds Deserve More

A strong Kettering Third team made the journey to Stamford looking to continue their good league form. A strong opening twenty minutes saw the tough tackling defence that had been the Third teams hallmark keep a lively Stamford second team unable to get out of their half. Strong running and support play from the forwards gave the midfield space to run, and Rory Kier took full advantage, flattening all comers much the amusement of those gathered on the sideline.
Kier lacked support runners outside him however, and was unable to offload when the four or five men required to drag him down. Had Kettering been able to capitalise on the massive holes Kier was creating, the score line would have been very different.

Twice the blues over committed to a ruck and failed to guard it’s right side – and twice they were punished by Stamford. Two quick tries failed to break the Blues resolve however, and Clive Mutt was unlucky to miss out on a try after just being pushed out of bounds having chased down a chasing a kick. He would get his reward for string running down the right wing however, a second kick in behind the Stamford wing putting Mutt in for a try.

A handling error in the Blues midfield gave Stamford another score before half time, the 221-5 scoreline greatly misrepresenting the flow of the game.

In the second half, Kettering’s strong play continued, great line speed creating pressure in the backfield and generating turnovers. Sadly, the Blues couldn’t capitalise on the chances their great work rate was creating, and didn’t add to their points tally in the second half. A misplaced pass gave Stamford another long range try, and the conversion put the score at 28-5, which is where it remained.

A disappointing result that another solid performance did not merit – little errors gifting Stamford chances that they took very efficiently.

Team:
Jimmy, Hughie, O’Leary, Price, Marchbank (F. Kier), Davey, Lundy (Audley), Elliott (Grannon); J. Cox (Horrigan), Clelland, Long (Barney), R. Kier, McNabb (Sam), Mutt (Silk), Dickinson