Match Report Kesteven V Ashfield

Saturday 5th December

Midlands League 3 East North

Kesteven 43 Ashfield 12

Kesteven welcomed Ashfield to Woodnook for the first time for a few years. A strong wind blew down the pitch and looked set to have a big influence on the game.

Kesteven had the wind at their backs for the first half but the expected domination didn't happen. The visitors had a strong pack and were adept at keeping hold of the ball for long periods. The Kesteven defence was called into action and the Black line held firm, but at the expense of a number of early penalties.

The home team did however look sharper in the backs and Aaron Whittaker looked to have broken clear but his kick ahead was cleared by the Ashfield full back. Kesteven were getting into the game more and won a line out close to the Ashfield line. Rob Sheardown won possession and found Dan Turner at his shoulder to take the scoring pass. Whittaker added the conversion and shortly after Turner again found space with a strong run and this time Whittaker was the finisher going in for the second try. This time Berry added the goal points.

Discipline was becoming a problem for both sides and first Ashfield had a player in the sin bin. Ashfield were still able to get a good foothold in the home 22 but again the defence held good. As Ashfield came back to full strength it was the turn of Kesteven to incur the wrath of the referee and Osborne paid the price for a sequence of penalties against the team. While he was off Whittaker was called to make a heroic tackle. He was injured in the process and while he was having treatment Ashfield took advantage of the extra space to go in for a try.

Tweddle and Whittaker were briefly replace by Odams and Dingley and in the last five minutes of the half there was a remarkable turn round. First Kesteven were awarded a penalty in midfield and bucking the usual trend Sheardown took it quickly. The ball was spun left then back across field in a fine display of inter passing between for Tweddle to send young Tom Miles in at the corner. If that was not enough Kesteven got the important bonus point try right on the stroke of half time when Turner was on hand to intercept an Ashfield off-load to stride over for his second try. This time Berry added the conversion to give Kesteven a good 26 - 5 lead at the break.

After the break Ashfield had the wind behind them and the started strongly. They were quickly on the attack and added a second try which was converted. They had a period of ascendancy and it looked like it was going to be a long half. The Kesteven defence however is a very strong part of their game now and the repelled all attempts. They then got the breakthrough that they needed and again it was Turner at the heart of it. He made a clean break through the middle. He unselfishly through out a long pass to the supporting Sheardown. He was stopped by a high tackle which cost Ashfield a second yellow card. Turner took a quick tap from the penalty and this time Sheardown was not going to be stopped as he forced his way over for the try.

From the restart came the moment of the match. Turner controlled the ball well and from a position on the left touchline he broke through at pace to evade all attempted tackles to scor under the posts. This time Goodrich took over the kicking duties and slotted the conversion. Kesteven continued to ring the changes as Dingley came on to replace Berry and Brown made a welcome return for Lines.
Ashfield didn't give up and kept play up in the Kesteven half however they were tiring and when they lost the ball on the Kesteven Parker swept up the loose ball and Goodrich fed Tom Miles still 70 metres out. The youngster rounded his opposite number to run strongly for the final try.

There was still time for Ashfield to play for pride and again it was excellent defence by Kesteven that kept them out.
This was a much harder game than the score suggests. Turner was outstanding with a hand in 5 of the 7 tries scored and Rob Sheardown led the team exceptionally well keeping a lid on discipline. Next week Kesteven travel back to Leicestershire to play Aylestone St James aim to keep pressure on leaders Loughborough.

Team A Whittaker; T Miles, J Berry, J Goodrich, O Hughes; M Parker, M Dent, A Osborne, R Sheardown, G Purvis, W Pert, D Tweddle, K Lins, R Armstrong, D Turner Replacements J Dingley, S Odams, A Brown.