K's U15s win NLD Cup Final, again!

Pre Match
K's had made the final courtesy of league wins against Chesterfield H (49-3), Ashbourne A (55-0) and Ilkeston (45-7) and a tense semi-final against Lincoln, from which they emerged 31-24 winners.

They faced Newark, who won their group on points difference from West Bridgford, following wins against Matlock (5-22), Corsairs (5-41), Melbourne (50-0) and West Bridgford (25-12) and a defeat to Boston (24-32), meaning they finished level on points with West Bridgford, winning the group courtesy of a better points difference (PF 162, PA 54, +/- 108 vs. PF 163, PA 66, +/- 97). Newark then won their semi-final against a depleted Stamford, emerging 21-12 victors.

With Dan W out with a concussion, K's took a squad of 19:
1. Joe D
2. Tom McD
3. Callum C-C
4. Thomas H
5. Thom B (vc)
6. Joel S
7. Will M
8. Will H (c)
9. Alf A (vc)
10. Alfie O
11. Max H
12. Wyatt B
13. Oscar H
14. Rhys S
15. Jacob H
16. Dan O
17. Henry S
18. Dylan G
19. Ollie Ma

After a late injury scare, Joe D managed to shake off the knock. Impressively, the whole squad travelled to the game - demonstrating true rugby values and K's 'One Club : One Family' ethos.

Game day arrived. Early morning WhatsApp messages were exchanged, bags were packed, checked, double-checked, and checked again, and K's arrived at the club ready to board the coach. Parents were notably more nervous than the players, who coped with the occasion brilliantly.

The coach departed to the sound of hooting horns and K's were on their way to Lincoln to face close rivals Newark.

Warmups complete, the two teams were ready to do battle.

First Half
K's kicked off the first half into a stiff breeze. Alfie O hoisted the ball high into the air and Newark failed to deal with it, knocking on. Play continued but K's hearts were in mouths as Joe D lay motionless on the floor. K's probed left, then came back right as Zoe reached Joe and play was stopped so medical attention could be given. To everyone's great relief, Joe was okay and play restarted with a scrum to K's.

K's forwards drove Newark back but the shove had come too early and Newark had a free kick. They tapped the ball and went quickly but Joel made a super hit before Newark ran it in again tight, losing the ball forward. But K's had strayed offside and Newark had the penalty and their first chance to use the wind and enter K's half. Newark were immediately penalised from the lineout for obstruction and K's kicked the penalty into touch 5m inside their own half. The lineout was clean and K's set up a hugely impressive rolling maul that ran Newark all the way back to the edge of their 22m. Will H was tackled, Alfred cleared out and Alfie O stepped in to 9 to release Rhys, who fed Wyatt. Oscar ran the dummy line, Wyatt fed Jacob who drew the man and passed to Max who set off but was well tackled into touch 5m inside the Newark 22m. However, with no advantage, play was called back for a K's penalty for side entrance into the maul. Alfred went quickly, spotting the lack of cover, and was stopped just short. Will H couldn't quite break the defence, but K's had a penalty for a high tackle on Alfred. Jacob kicked for touch and set up a lineout on 5m.

K's went for the rolling maul again but were unfortunate to knock on, handing a scrum to Newark on their own 5m line. Another good drive pushed Newark back but they managed to pass clear. K's defence didn't allow them to advance far so Newark came back the other way, releasing their winger who Rhys brilliantly tackled. Newark recycled and tackles flew in from tom McD and Callum before K's turned the ball over, releasing Thom B. He was tackled before Alfred fed Alfie and the ball found Wyatt who offloaded to Max in the tackle, who was tackled into touch just short of the line.

From the lineout, Newark's clearance kick was charged down but kindly fell into Newark hands. K's quickly made the tackle and Newark kicked again, this time finding Jacob who evaded a couple of tackles before smashing into the defence. Thomas H protected the ball and Alfred fed Will H who punched a hole in the Newark defence. Callum then handed off two defenders, showing great strength and power. Alfred and Alfie combined to feed Oscar who burst into Newark's 22m but K's had infringed and Newark kicked into touch, but only to the edge of their 22m. Again they were penalised for obstruction and Jacob took aim at touch, but sliced the ball, which Newark gratefully caught. K's tackling was strong but they were caught offside again and Newark had a penalty. This time they tapped and went, escaping their 22m and winning a penalty for a high tackle from K's. The kick found touch just inside their own half. This time it was clean, and Newark passed to their dangerous number 8 who was met with a great double tackle from Will H and Thomas H which knocked him 5m backwards. Newark kicked over the back finding Jacob again who raced forward, smashing into the Newark defender and setting up fast K's ball. Alfred and Alfie combined and fed Thom B. He offloaded to Thomas H who offloaded to Will H, to Joel S, to Oscar who stepped back inside, beating the first tackle and offloading to Joel in the second. Callum was stopped so K's went wide, with Wyatt being tackled by the rush defence which had strayed offside. Alfred went quickly with the penalty, feeding Jacob who cut back inside before being hauled down. K's came back the other way, Thom B probing before Alfred fed Tom McD who was stopped just short. K's spotted the overlap, Alfie O feeding Wyatt who slipped the ball to Oscar. Oscar drew the winger and passed to Rhys who raced over from 5m to open the scoring for K's, 5-0.

Although it had taken almost 15 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, K's were dominating and, despite playing into the strong wind, had 90% territory in Newark's half.

Newark restarted the game, quickly conceding a penalty which Jacob dispatched into touch for a K's lineout 30m out. However, the throw wasn't straight giving Newark a scrum. Another good nudge pushed Newark backwards, Oscar tackled the centre and Newark tried a chip through which Jacob recovered and launched a counter attack, but play was called back for K's offside in the centres, giving Newark a chance to exit their half. Newark tapped the ball, releasing their dangerous 8 but Tom McD was on hand to knock him backwards in the tackle. They went again, this time the offload found Joe D who offloaded to Joel. Joel made ground, then K's probed left before coming back right, Alfred to Alfie ... the ball went loose but backwards and Joe D tidied with a strong run into Newark defenders, taking three to haul him down. Alfred fed Callum who fed Thom B who went on another powerful, dynamic run, tying up three defenders. Callum cleared the ruck well and K's tried a cross field chip, which Newark caught to take back possession. Tenacious tackling prevented any Newark advance before K's turned over the ball. Will H drove in and Newark were penalised - which Alfred took quickly, releasing Tom McD. He was hauled down and Will M cleared out well, enabling quick ball for Alfred to feed Callum. It took two defenders to stop him, but K's again had quick ball. Alfred to Alfie, whose long pass found Wyatt. Wyatt found Jacob, who stepped the first defender, drew another two and offloaded to Oscar. Oscar's dummy sent the cover the wrong way and he touched down to score K's second of the game, 10-0.

Newark's restart was taken by Thomas H who beat the first defender before a swarm of Newark players halted progress and won a scrum. They attacked blind but K's defence forced the knock on before they got into K's 22m and K's had a scrum. The pass was errant but Wyatt cleared up, releasing Jacob. Newark's defence was strong, resisting Joel's run and turning over the ball before play was stopped for a Newark injury and a penalty. Newark kicked for touch and had a lineout inside K's 22m. K's defence was strong, put pressure on Newark's ball and winning a penalty which Alfred kicked into touch for half time, a half that K's had dominated with 77% territory despite playing into the wind.

Second Half
K's had the wind in their favour in the second half as Newark kicked off. K's took possession and both Alfie O and Dan O made mini breaks before Wyatt released Tom McD who advanced into Newark's half. K's recycled to Callum but good jackaling from Newark's 8 forced the penalty for holding on. K's were soon back on the attack, winning a scrum just inside Newark's 22m. Another good nudge from the dominant K's pack forced Newark back. Alfred ran the disguise but Will H was well tackled. K's recycled and Dan O pierced the defence in the middle of the park before Newark won a scrum and managed to exit their 22m despite some desperate, errant passing. K's then failed to roll away and Newark took a quick penalty, advancing into K's half. K's repelled that attack, but Newark came again, using their backs this time. But K's defence was strong and forced the penalty for holding on. Jacob dispatched the ball int otouch and K's had a lineout 5m inside Newark's territory. Dan O took the crash ball and fought off 5 defenders to make 20m, taking K's to the egde of Newark's 22m. Alfred released which who switched to Oscar. He cut back inside but Newark slowed the ball before conceding a penalty for offside. Alfred went quickly but K's couldn't quite get over the line and Newark managed to clear the ball.

Moments later, Newark had another penalty and broke through the centres only for a wonderful last-ditch tackle from Jacob to keep Newark out, the ferocity of which forced the ball forward and earned K's a scrum. Jacob exit kick to touch was good. Newark's lineout was clean but K's defence was quick and Will H managed to drive Newark's ball carrier 20m backwards into his own half, forcing a knock on. Scrum K's.

Shortly after, Newark broke down their left hand side and Jacob made another good tackle, to win a lineout for K's. Will H was brought down in midfield but K's recycled enabling Wyatt, Dan O, Callum and Henry to make a few yards each. Joe D then drove K's 10m forward with a strong run. Newark then turned it over but immediately lost it again, Thom B dashed forward but Newark again wrestled possession back. K's defence was resolute but infringed again with another offside. Newark ran it this time, slowly gaining meagre metres as K's defence stood strong. A combination of K's rush defence and Newark's handling combined to see the ball go loose and bounce kindly for Wyatt. He went on a jinking run, linking with Alfred and looping back round before feeding Oscar. K's were now deep in Newark's 22m. Dan O probed again, but K's were held up over the line resulting in a goal-line dropout. Thom B took it, handing off several tackles before being stopped. K's ran it in again but were stopped just short before Thom B picked it up, and released Wyatt, whose pass found Ollie Ma in space to crash over for K's third try of the game, 15-0.

K's then knocked on the restart, giving Newark a scrum 15m into K's territory. K's were offside again however, gifting Newark another penalty. Newark ran it but immediately knocked the ball forward, giving K's the scrum. K's probed right but lost the ball forward in an offload giving Newark the chance to counter attack. Newark ran several phases, eventually scoring through the number 8, 15-5.

K's restarted the game and were immediately on the front foot as Wyatt's kick wasn't caught cleanly, bounced back and was touched down. Suddenly K's had a 5m scrum. K's drove Newark back but somehow they came away with the ball. Newark tried to go wide but Oscar's tackle on the centre was adjudged to have knocked the ball forward and Newark had a scrum on 5m. Newark ran several phases but were unable to exit their 22m. They were then awarded a penalty which again they chose to run. K's were conceding too many penalties and again infringed moments later, resulting in a yellow card for unfortunately Henry who copped one for repeat team infringements. K's were down to 14. Newark ran the penalty again but determined K's defence forced them backwards forcing them to try to kick clear. Jacob launched himself into the air to take a spectacular high ball under pressure, setting up Alfred to try the chip through which sadly drifted dead. Newark 22m which they recovered and reached halfway before throwing a forward pass. K's scrum but again K's went early, conceding another penalty which Newark took quickly but were unable to capitalise as strong K's defence refused to give way. A forward pass gave K's possession and the chance to remove the ball from the field of play to jubiliant scenes as the final whistle blew.

K's had successfully defended the NLD Cup!

Post Match
Don't be fooled by the scoreline, this was a dominant display from K's who rarely looked like conceding. Had it not been for conceding too many penalties, the score could, and should have been much higher. Credit to Newark for a good defensive display. But K's dominated territory, with 62% territory in the second half and 68% territory overall.

MOTM was awarded to Jacob for a superb display. Well done Jacob. There were superb performances all over the park. Everyone stepped up and contributed to an outstanding performance and memorable cup campaign.