Kesteven Get Stuck In The Mud

The team arrived at Ashbourne and began going through the warm-up routine and match preparation on a sodden pitch. 3 changes were made to the side in Matt Harland at scrum half to replace the injured Adam Draper, Hallam O’Brien at Fly Half and Phil Jordan returning to the wing.

Kick off was delayed due to a passing electrical hail storm but once this eased, play commenced. Kesteven kicked off and Ashbourne immediately ran the ball straight back. With so much rain, wind, cold and mud, the day was going to be a messy affair but it took Ashbourne just 3 minutes to run in their 1st try having put together several phases in the forwards and managing to find enough space to break through tackles. The conversion bounced off the posts.

Kesteven fought hard for the next 30 minutes with play confined in the middle of the field that was slowly turning into a mud bath. Some confusion as to who’s side each player was on sent a few passes a bit wild and even the referee was having difficulty distinguishing who was on which side. Both teams exchanged some decent attacking runs but it was Ashbourne that found their way home for a second try after 34 minutes with the conversion once again missing.

The 2nd half saw Ashbourne manage to turn a ball over in a ruck and canter in for their 3rd try after just 3 minutes, the conversion once again rebounding from the posts. Play continued with Kesteven trying to put a game plan together but finding the ball like a bar of soap and the going incredibly heavy. An aerial battle ensued and Kesteven were caught out on their 22, the ball was turned over in a ruck and the Ashbourne player was able to sneak in for their 4th try of the match, 10 minutes in to the 2nd half, securing them the bonus point. This time the conversion was successful.

By now, individual players and which team they were playing for had become indistinguishable. Andrew Peabody, Will Pert and Andrew Price joined the match from the bench in their nice clean kit to replace Alex Ingram, Tony Woolerton (injury) and Captain Tom Webster (injury).

Kesteven’s best chance for adding some points to the board came when Ashbourne were finally penalised for handling in the ruck and Mark Broom, who had been responsible for 2 of Ashbourne’s tries, was sent to the bin with 9 minutes left of the match. Kesteven set up camp in Ashbourne’s 22 but despite numerous attempts and some strong running from James Goodrich, the visitors were held just short and were not able to slide over the Ashbourne line and the game finished at 22-0

Man of the match went to Rob Sheardown for his gutsy performance, crunching tackles and solid play.

Team: Scott Odams, Rob Sheardown, James Cowley, Martin Carew, Tom Webster (Will Pert 71), Mark Sayle (Jnr), Tony Woolerton (Andrew Peabody 60), Daniel Turner, Matt Harland, Hallam O’Brien, Alex Ingram (Andy Price 43), James Goodrich, Sean Templeton, Phil Jordan, Aaron Whitaker.

Coaches: Mark Sayle & Mally Turner
Statistician: Nikki Turner
Photographer: Louise Clark