Following our defeat to Luton in the cup we go into the plate competition & our first opposition is Biggleswade. Rules dictate that a playing squad is picked for this fixture. We've never faced them before so an exciting game ahead against the unknown. Grass pitches are unplayable again so we go to the astro, two 25mins of rugby with no conversions, here's how it played out.
First half:
Kettering start with a good attack, we get put into touch in their half. Joe gets the ball off the opposition following the line out. Ball goes through hands all the way to the other side of the pitch. Oran has a lot of work to do on the wing but goes over for the try. Kettering attack again with some great lines. Sam running hard & straight, lovely offload to Charlie, Freddie kicks the ball through & puts their defence under a lot of pressure, Joe gets the ball & he's over for a try. Great pressure & support. BW attack now, they have some quick backs. Good double tackle on the touch line, good work from Austin who makes sure he takes his man out. Kettering attack again but we don't off load quick enough & we go into touch. The boys carry on with the attacking play, Shea running through the centre & breaking the gain line, lovely off load to Freddie & he's in for the score. Kettering applying the pressure now & the ball goes loose, some good fly hacking to put the ball behind BW, Austin dives on the ball to secure it, pops it up to Tom R who runs in the try, great team work & support. Kettering win a scrum in our own half, the pack looking dominant, ball out to Freddie who uses the switch pass to Ben, great attacking play. Ball goes forward, BW scrum in their own half, Kettering pressure BW well, great work from Max & the forwards at the breakdown to secure the ball, loads of pressure by the boys, they are stopping BW getting any rhythm to their game, Charlie steals the ball & goes over for the try. More pressure now from the boys, BW kick to clear, Clarke catches the ball, out to Milo on the wing & he side steps his way through to score. BW on the attack & we get caught napping, they run through a poor defensive line to score. Kettering attacking & win a penalty for a high tackle, Ben catches them sleeping with a tap & go, he's over for the try. BW attack, we kick to clear but their back catches & runs through our line, he looks certain to score but a last ditch tap tackle from Milo brings him down, BW work the phases & do get over to score eventually. We attack again with great offloading, superb support play from the boys. Oran breaks on the wing, offload to Christian, offload to Charlie & he sprints to score. End of the first half
Second Half:
We start with good intent but we give a couple of penalties away, BW kick but miss touch & find Freddie who runs the ball back to score. Some great support play from the backs who maul BW, get the ball out, switch inside ball , out to Oran who scores. The boys are really pressuring BW, Superb intensity from the team, BW just can't get into their game at all, one of their fast backs gets held up by the Kettering forwards & they force the scrum, great work. The boys win the scrum, ball out by Milo to Oran, strong hand off & he's in to score. BW attacking really well, they play the off load game well & go over to score. A very good try from them. We attack again, Shea dominant through the centre, off load to Freddie & he side steps his way through with great support to score. More good attacking play & off loading. It's a ruck though, we secure & Ben takes the ball at pace off the back of the break down, attacks the space & scores. A comment from the supporters now to mention Dan's snake hips run in the last passage of play!
BW don't give up & attack, they work the ball through hands to make a good score & thats time here at Waverley Road.
We wanted a reaction from the boys after last weeks performance & we got it. We talked about support, communication & believing in your team mates to be on your shoulder. A brilliant performance form the team, everyone marking their man & making the tackles, very low missed tackle count this week. Superb defence with great pressure to stop the opposition getting into their game. Our fast offloading game in full effect in attack. We couldn't have had a better reaction. Enjoy the Christmas break & we look forward to seeing you in the new year to build on this superb first half of the season. Well done team!
Tries: Oran 3, Joe 1, Freddie 3, Tom R 1, Charlie 2, Milo 1 & Ben 2