Kesteven cruise through NLD Senior Cup first round!

Kesteven had successfully won both the home (80-12) and away (0-8) fixtures of the previous season. West Bridgford for much of that season, were in a strong contention to win the league. The side that arrived to face Kesteven had a new coach and a number of new faces.

It took Kesteven just 2 minutes to open up their account. A break down the blindside from a scrum by Olly Wood, drawing his opposite man and allowing Dan Turner to thunder through the remaining Bridgford defence for the try - duly converted by Chris Galloway.

Play continued with Kesteven strong in both attack and defence. Perhaps the nerves of this cup fixture were beginning to show as a few mistakes by Kesteven allowed West Bridgford to capitalise in the 15th minute with a break from their own 10 metre line to score their 1st converted try.

Kesteven seemed to settle down after this wake-up call and after a few well worked phases, Doug Hayward broke through the defensive line before the forwards were able to rumble down the 15 metre line towards the West Bridgford try line. Olly Wood got a clean pass away to Tony Woolerton from one of the rucks who in turn ploughed through the disjointed West Bridgford defence for Kesteven’s 2nd try on the 20 minute mark.

From the Kick Off, Joe Cooke caught the ball just outside the 10m line and after the forwards cleared the ruck, Dan Turner made another storming run down the park. Captain Tom Webster took the ball on the 22 and headed for the posts unfortunately being pulled down just short of the line. With many of the Kesteven players thinking he would make the try line, support was in short supply. Some of the backs were able to secure the ball in the proceeding ruck before Olly Wood put Ollie Hughes in for his try out on the right wing. The very reliable boot of Galloway secured the 2 points.

The next score again came from Kesteven with Will Cann making a darting run through the West Bridgford centres to successfully touch down just next to the posts for Galloway to convert

The dying minutes of the first half saw Kieran Taylor make a charge down the wing, place a chip over his opposite number which was gathered up by Galloway to score just under the post which was also successfully converted leaving a healthy lead of 33-7 to Kesteven at Half Time.

The second half opened in a similar fashion to the first half with Will Cann once again breaking through the defence to put Ollie Hughes in for his second try after just 3 minutes. 8 minutes later, following some excellent turnover ball from a ruck by Martin Carew, Kieran Taylor was released down his wing to score with Galloway nailing the conversion to make it 47-7.

West Bridgford seemed to lift their tails at this point and placed the Kesteven side under pressure. The visiting side were rewarded with an unconverted try after their player/coach centre was able to gather the turn-over ball from a ruck and make a run down the line taking the score to 47-12.

The final score of the match came when West Bridgford spun the ball wide from a scrum for one of their centres to break the Kesteven back line and go under the posts for a converted try, closing the game at 47-19.

Notable performances go to young Chris Galloway not only for his contribution to the score line but the tenacity shown in arranging the attacking and defensive line. Man of the Match went to Will Cann after a fine performance.

Next Saturday (14th September 2013) Kesteven RFC’s new extension will be officially opened at 1pm followed by Kesteven 1st XV at home to Melton Mowbray in the first match of the 2013/14 Midlands 2 East (North) league campaign.

Team: R. Sheardown, D. Hayward, G. Purvis, J Cooke, M. Carew, T. Webster(c), T. Woolerton, D. Turner, O. Wood, C. Galloway, W. Cann, J. Hughes, R. Cooper, K. Taylor, O. Hughes. Subs: S. Odams, W. Pert, P. Jordan, H. Martin, J. Flear

The Grantham Journal.