Colts v Old Scouts

This was the first time the two colts sides had met for a few seasons. League form predicted a close game and that was correct.

Scouts started brightest, playing with the wind. A good catch and drive making huge gains up the right touch line and soon converted to a try. Kettering were feeling the early pressure.

Playing against the wind the colts worked to keep ball in hand and with some penalties against the Scouts began to get a foot hold in the opposition half. Good scrum and lineout ball was being generated and the backs were starting to manage some better control. From phase play on the right midfield a gap was spotted in behind the Scouts defensive line, a neat chip over and Sam Martindale raced through to gather and score under the posts.

Into the second quarter and Kettering where playing well against the wind, working from deep a sweeping backs move took them from deep in their own 22 ending up near the Scouts 22. Further phases and clean possession and Justin Leung barged his way over near the left corner flag. A tricky conversion was well struck by Tareeq Manji for the extras.

Scouts had managed to create a second score of their own and the half ended 12:12.

Kettering turned around with a good tail wind. Several times they were able to create territory and possession in or around the Scouts 22 but failed to create a score. Scouts came back with some more controlled possession and the flying Curtis on the right wing weaved his way over unfortunately being forced off injured in the tackle as he score.

Kettering kept working territory and spent large periods camped on the Scouts 22 line. They were making reasonable gains with driving forward play and came close on several occasions to the winning or equalising score. However the Scouts defence managed to keep them out and time eventually ran out.

The coaches remarked that the league points were there to be taken today. Progress made with good team performances now running several top teams close this season. Now to stop running them close and start winning a few of these tight games!