Buxton vs. Kesteven (09/03/2019)

Kesteven jumped to 5th place in the league table after a high-scoring outing away to Buxton. Tries from Dan Turner (2)
Tom Miles (2), Aaron Whittaker, James Goodrich, Henry Parker and Harry Cox, as well as 4 conversions and a penalty from the boot of Ben Whinney blew away the home side, despite coming within a few scores at times. Gavin Purvis continued as skipper.

The opening score came very early on for K’s. On halfway, Whinney got quick ball from the ruck and fed Whittaker, who flew past the Buxton defence with ease to dive over on the right hand side. In windy conditions, Whinney slotted his first conversion. A missed penalty was rectified by the Buxton fullback who landed his second shot from the same position, but Whinney restored the 7-point Kesteven lead with a penalty of his own.

From here, it appeared the floodgates had opened and K’s ran in three rapid tries. After a superb backs move, winger Tom Miles was left with space out wide to dive over for an unconverted score. The second of the three came after a break in midfield from Ben Betts. The ball was shipped wide to find Henry Parker, who touched down for his first try in a 1st XV shirt. Whinney’s shot for the extras hit the near post. Miles was in again under the sticks for his second, with the conversion added and K’s looked to be in the ascendancy.

However, Buxton came back into it. The abrasive game plan to use forward carries repetitively tired the Kesteven pack, and eventually, the home side crossed over. The conversion was missed, but Buxton returned to the away 22 quickly. The forward game plan remained and the side in yellow dotted down once more. The rush of tries seemed a blur as the half time whistle sounded, with K’s leading 27-15.

Memories resurfaced of the earlier contest between the two clubs, where a 19 point lead for Kesteven was painfully lost. An early second half try from the hosts warned K’s that the contest was far from over. Buxton looked to be tipping the balance in their favour, but their style of play was repetitive. As a result, James Goodrich read a pass superbly to intercept and run home unchallenged, with Whinney adding the extras. Harvey Fuller and Leo Vincent were introduced at half time for Olie Hanson and the injured Tom Webster, with Harry Cox replacing Henry Parker later in the half.

Buxton scored once more, before K’s sealed the win. Turner stole the ball at the breakdown and kicked downfield, where the chasers counter-rucked, won the ball back and shipped it out wide to find substitute Cox who dived into the corner. Whinney’s effort at goal was off-target. Two late tries from Dan Turner in the corner and an intercept well and truly wrapped up proceedings for K’s, who had now gained two bonus-point wins from two games against teams in the top half of the table. Buxton 30, Kesteven 51.

Kesteven 1st XV

1. Robert Sheardown
2. Xanti Tito Xipu
3. Gavin Purvis
4. Will Pert
5. Olie Hanson
6. Cameron Goodrich
7. Tom Webster
8. Dan Turner

9. Ben Whinney
10. Adam John Edward
11. Tom Miles
12. Ben Betts
13. James Goodrich
14. Henry Parker
15. Aaron Whittaker

16. Harvey Fuller
17. Leo Vincent
18. Harry Cox