On a pleasant sunny Sunday morning the Under 12s took a squad over to the 15th Annual Wellingborough festival. We were entered in a strong looking league with ONs Old Scouts and Olney and with missing a few influential players were under no illusions that it was going to be an easy morning. First up were the ONs a team we had much the better of in the Kettering festival earlier in the season, ONs started the stronger of the team with most of their go forward coming of ex Saints legends Soane Tongauiha son,I think the term 'chip of the old block' has never been more appropriate. An early score down We hit back with a score of our own to level it only to concede again from a number of knock on's, this and seemingly being on the wrong side of the ref got to us and the ONs ran in a couple of scores to end up worthy winners.
Next up we're the Old Scouts, asking for a reaction we put in a much improved performance with great defence from Sam Clark and Toby and tries for Fraser and with the help of Ewan Dan. Final score 2-2.

Our Final pool match was against eventual winners Olney, another large team Kettering were feeling the heat and started to fall off the bigger lads in pink. A cracking solo effort from Tom R gave us something to cheer but Olney pulled away with there U12.... centre helping himself to a brace.
As with normal Festivals we were about an hour and half behind schedule and we were losing players to other commitments and injuries but a patched up U12s rallied to play there final match against hosts Wellingborough U14s who had finished in the same postion to us in the other pool.
With a stroke of tactical genius, the self appointed DOR switched Milo to the wing and Archie to 9 resulting in a fine Hatrick for Milo and a solid game at the base for Archie. Good running from Will ,Leo and Max got us on the front foot for the first time in the morning and Kettering played the attacking rugby we have seen for most of the season. Final try went to Alfie who for all of the last match played with a broken thumb but didn't want to let his teammates down!

All in all a tough morning, but we knew it would be looking at the draw, but I thought all the players were terrific today in touch conditions to play rugby in, and with our smaller team we did try and play some rugby when others teams reverted to 'give it to the big lad'.

Well done everyone, Stamford next week to finish the season.