The recent hard ground problem that may or may not have been a cause/attributing factor to the many injuries we have experienced was well and truly resolved this Sunday. The overnight and continued rain certainly softened things up and as a result….no injuries come the end of play…absolute result for the team!

The rain was so persistent there were a few questions asked around possible cancellation! However wet it was, the temperature was pretty decent and play went ahead. The Broad Street club is a fantastic ground and a great place to visit, with the addition of Old Salts making a triangular, we were set for a good morning’s sport.

With a string of injuries, Kettering’s numbers were restricted, we scraped 15 which grew to 17 by the first game. Our first game was against Old Salts, a brand new team for us. This was a close game in every sense, the result ending in a tie. Kettering made it hard going and fair to say we didn’t shine in wet conditions. It was a bit of ‘slug it out’ competition at times. Kettering‘s defence saving the day and keeping us in the game. A try a-piece was a fair reflection of the game.

Kettering’s second game was against hosts, Broad Street, the first part of the game was more of the same. Kettering forwards didn’t dominate as they’d like and the backs made some try saving tackles. The backs gave some of the forwards a lesson in how to react in contact situations, their body position and assertiveness made me consider a role change for some!

It wasn’t until the last 5/10 minutes that Kettering really started to show some of the attacking game that we are used to seeing. A nicely worked forwards move produced one try and a move spanning from our own 22 and passed through multiple hands nearly resulted in a score in the opposite corner. The final result saw Kettering win by a few points.

A good morning’s rugby overall but plenty to work on over the next few weeks…