Kettering U14s v Luton

Kettering played their last 15-man game of the season this Sunday (excluding tour games) versus Luton. Luton is a new team for the blue boys. The Luton ground/clubhouse was open nice and early and gave a fantastic reception. Players and parents were sitting down to hot drinks and bacon rolls, in the warm…a pleasant start to the day.

Luton were great hosts and have a great set-up, although rabbit holes gave the ground staff plenty of work to do prior to kick off! The Luton pitches are directly underneath the Luton airport flight path and landing aircraft proved to be a bit of distraction to some of the players…some of the boys transfixed as they went over head.

Kettering travelled with 2 subs and had to make a lot of changes to the starting line-up. Several lads playing out of their usual positions but everyone was happy to do this, and it gave a chance to try something different and get a better idea of the game playing from a different position.

The game started, and Kettering kicked off. The blue boys chasing hard and sprinting to Luton’s receiver applying lots of pressure, a fumble takes place and Kettering score first. During the first half Kettering scored some nice tries out wide, avoiding the masses in the centre of the pitch and using our speedy back three to good effect. Although the attack might make the headlines it was the midfield defence that kept the boat steady. Our smallest players play from 9 to o/s centre and they put in a top defensive shift along with plying the speedsters out wide plenty of decent ball.

At half-time Luton coaches explained how they tend to lift things in the second half after starting slowly.

Second half, and Luton seem refreshed. The wider Luton players looked sharp and full of running and a couple of decent forward ball carriers making yards against Kettering.

Kettering’s forwards chopping and changing positions prior to and during the game did well and started to show a bit of dominance at scrum time. We were pushing forward in attack and defence, but Luton’s 9 and hooker combination were technically decent and secured their own ball and nicked a couple from Kettering too.

Overall It looked like Kettering’s fitness and pace across the pitch that was the difference. Try scorers included Kian, Thomas, Logan, Dan, Josh, Ben and Lewis. A decent morning’s rugby to wrap up the main season.

Net week = tour.