In Round 7 of the Counties 1 league, Kesteven Rugby Club’s 1XV traveled to face Belgrave, a team they hadn’t played in years. Memories of a difficult loss in their previous encounter lingered, and with Belgrave sitting third in the table, Kesteven knew they had a battle ahead. Separated only by points difference, both teams fought for position, with Belgrave ultimately edging out a narrow 33-26 victory.

Belgrave set the tone early, scoring a converted try to lead 7-0. However, Kesteven soon found an opportunity to answer back. Scrum-half Harry Clough skillfully kicked through the defense and was on track to score when he was tripped. The referee awarded a penalty try, leveling the score at 7-7. Belgrave’s discipline wavered as they received a yellow card, but despite the setback, they regrouped and managed another converted try before half-time, taking a 14-7 lead into the break.

The second half began with Belgrave extending their lead to 21-7 with another converted try. Momentum stayed with the home team as they added a fourth converted try, stretching their advantage to 28-7. Midway through the half, tempers flared, resulting in yellow cards for both teams, including one for Kesteven’s James Goodrich.

Kesteven rallied, showing grit and determination. When a dropped ball rolled within meters of the line, Olie Hanson reacted quickly, scooping it up and scoring to narrow the gap to 28-12. Although Belgrave responded with an unconverted try, Kesteven refused to back down.

Capitalizing on another Belgrave yellow card, Henry Parker broke through the defense, cutting back inside to score a well-timed try under the posts and converting his own score to bring Kesteven closer at 33-19. With just minutes left, Gav Purvis showcased exceptional awareness, receiving a well-executed front-ball lineout, exploiting Belgrave’s missing hooker to score Kesteven’s final try. Parker’s conversion brought the final score to 33-26, earning Kesteven a valuable losing bonus point.

Kesteven’s strong final 20 minutes demonstrated their resilience, and despite the loss, their performance against one of the league’s top teams highlights their steady progress. This result, and the 2 bonus points, keeps Kesteven in the mix as they continue to climb the league table, with their sights set on future victories.

Final Score: Belgrave 33 - 26 Kesteven

Tries:
Harry Clough (Penalty Try) x1
Olie Hanson x1
Henry Parker x1
Gav Purvis x1

Conversions:
Henry Parker x2