Off the back of a disappointing home loss to Boston the week befor the management and Captain were hoping for a big bounce back performance from the 1st team on their trip away to Chesterfield. Early in the week it soon became apparent that a lack of players would make this a rather difficult task, late dropouts making it harder still.

Kesteven made the trip over with 13 unavailable front row players, two backrowers having to train and get up to speed very quickly in the week on the dark arts. Kesteven were also without a further seven backrow/second row players together with 8 backs being unavailable. This was a total of 28 unavailable players together with the unfortunate absence of the coaching and management staff due to illness and unavailability. This situation was handled extremely well by all 16 players that could travel; a sense of backs against the wall was evident throughout the warm up and preparation. This grave situation is surely one that Kesteven RFC should never find themselves in again.

On to the game. It was clear that Chesterfield had a large pack and fairly predictable whilst effective game plan of bringing them round the corner repeatedly. The home side’s large number 8 made a few good busts and the athletic flyhalf looked dangerous at times. But to a man the kesteven team held out valiantly for much of the first half with doggedness and ferocious tackling. Unfortunately Jamie Flear got injured after around 20 minutes and was taken to hospital with a bad arm injury. This was a tough break for Jamie as it was only his second game of the season after only playing 10 minutes the week before in the 3rd team. Simon Morgan, playing with a fractured eye socket came on. Simon went to scrum half, with Adam Draper moving to 15, prompting Whittaker to move forwards to 13 and at last the long overdue entrance of James Goodrich to rugby in the forwards, moving onto the flank.

Further pressure from Chesterfield took its toll and they scored in the corner after some good hands outflanked the Kesteven defence. This Kesteven team however had their noses pointing in one direction all afternoon, they had already overcome greater adversity then going behind by a score. The team rallied to put some late pressure on Chesterfield with Aaron Whittaker making a great trademark break to beat three players and score in the corner… Only for the home touch judge to rather controversially raise his flag and indicate that Whittaker had placed a hair in touch. As such we went into half time 5-0 down.

The second half started much like the first with Chesterfield’s large forwards rumbling time after time into the Kesteven defence. However it was Kesteven who started to turn the tide. With some good turnovers and fast hands they eventually managed to release Whittaker. He made sure no touch judge could stop him this time by beating his three defenders with ease to score in the corner. Unfortunately Wood couldn’t convert and the score stayed at 5-5. Kesteven buoyed with optimism them pushed on, good play and fast hands released Rupert Jordan to score in the corner… Only for the same touch judge to apply his new found trick of raising his flag. Kesteven started realise that they were going to have to overcome every obstacle placed in their path this day.
The Chesterfield pack then kicked into gear, some good territory allowed them to bring their strong number 8 into the game. Chesterfield scored three tries in the space of 20 minutes to take the game to 26-5. But Kesteven were not done, despite the deflation that should and would normally affect a team at this point. Wood’s clever territorial kicking put Kesteven in some good field position and some pressure soon showed cracks in the home defence, Draper rushed onto the ball from fullback cutting a line under the posts. The quick drop goal from Wood was successful and we had a game back on. Chesterfield didn’t lie down, their forwards once again came round the corner time after time. 15 phases were smashed back by Kesteven defenders, with no other option the home side’s fly half tried to spread it wide. Olly Wood picked the pass off with ease and he cantered in from 70m to score the try that got Kesteven their bonus point. 26-19. There was however still 2 minutes left on the clock. Kesteven fancied getting the ball back and finding the most unlikely of draws. Chesterfield had a scrum deep in the Kesteven half. The Kesteven pack featuring so many changes they cant be listed found some admirable grit and screwed the Chesterfield scrum into the ground, winning the ball back. Sadly the next attack lead to a small knock on and Kesteven had to tackle a Chesterfield player into touch to finish the game. Kesteven left with a losing bonus point.

Across all levels of the sport Rugby is played for more than just glory, there are certain values that go hand in hand with our sport. Honesty, determination and team work. Well this Kesteven team overcame adversity and found a victory, not on the scoreboard, but in themselves. Looking at each other after the game and in the changing room they all realised how much they had worked for each other. Hopefully this spirit can be replicated in performances to come.

Instead of listing the team, I would like to give a special thanks to each player.

Scott Odams

Scrummaged tremendously well despite having a novice hooker next to him. Was a voice of reason around the park and showed classy glimpses of ball handling.

Mark Sayle JNR

Skinny usually a second row or back row stepped up to play hooker for the first time at adult level. He had a fantastic game and disrupted the opposition put in time after time. Playing hooker did not stop him from still being Kesteven’s go to man in the lineout. A great performance that almost won him man of the match.

Gavin Purvis

Gav, like Scott, scrummaged strongly all game. He also showed up effectively in the loose. But it was his lineout throwing that should be noted here. Simply Gav has never done it before, he practiced all week and delivered an almost faultless display of throwing in.

Will Pert

This now veteran of Kesteven rugby once more showed his worth. Tackled all day, hit rucks hard and never took a backwards step.

Leo Vincent

Leo made his first team debut and showed that it was long overdue. He tackled all day and never let himself or the team down. He even managed to pinch a couple of Chesterfield’s lineout as our number four jumper.

Jordan Smith

Jordan hadn’t played a game all season. Hadn’t been at training and hadn’t been at pre-season. But despite this, when the chips were down he answered Kesteven’s call. Again another man who tackled all day and didn’t let his team down.

Jamie Flear

As noted in the text Jamie, like Jordan, had virtually no preparation for this game at all. With only 10 minutes for the 3rd team last week. That didn’t stop him being effective when on the pitch. Sadly he suffered a dislocated shoulder whilst turning the ball over at the breakdown. He was taking to hospital in an ambulance during the game.

Adam Draper

Adam showed his normal guts and determination mixed with several touches of class. Moved from his normal position of nine to Fullback he still didn’t take a step back. Took his try with aplomb.

Olly Wood

Kesteven’s regular fly half hunkered down and got on with the defensive duties when he had to. But it was his tactical kicking in the second half that gave the team the position to re-launch itself. Showed serious wheels to run in his interception as well.

Rupert Jordan

Rupert tried hard all game, running some good lines. He was unfortunate not to get his try and adjudged to be in touch. Rupert showed up and played for Kesteven despite having to be in London on the day. He was immediately taking to the train station to get a train down the capital to meet his commitments there.

Justin Dingley

Justin had been playing at nine all season for Kesteven, but slotted into the centre role with ease. Like the rest of the team he played his part in defence and never let his head drop. A team man through and through.

James Goodrich

James started in the centre, his usual position. But was quickly moved to the back row when Flear got injured. Goodrich admitted to finding the going tough in the forwards after the game. That didn’t stop him showing up extremely well and earning himself man of the match, awarded by James Cowley. Goodrich has a promising future in the pack, either in the second row or the back row….

Alex Ingram

Alex is a university student that played for Kesteven last season. He had no hesitation with jumping on a train and making his way to Chesterfield and gave his all. Some thundering hits showed his worth time after time. Our massive thanks go to Alex.

Aaron Whittaker

A rock of the Kesteven squad that inspires all around. Took his try extremely well and was Mr positive throughout. Should have been awarded a try in the first half as well.

Simon Morgan

Simon travelled as K’s only replacement. He had informed us that he had a fractured eye socket but the brave scrum half was willing to sacrifice himself and his injury where other squad members were not. He came on to scrum half after twenty minutes and was an assured presence throughout.

Match details

Match date

Sat 22 Nov 2014

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Midlands 3 East (North)

Team overview