Kesteven vs. Nottingham Moderns (13/04/2019)

After their first defeat in six games, Kesteven 1st XV bounced back to round off the competitive season with a resounding victory at Woodnook against league-rivals, Nottingham Moderns. K’s made four changes to the squad, with a return to the pack for Tom Miles replacing Will Pert, club stalwart Martyn Parker stood in for Adam Draper at fly-half, and Will Cann and Leo Vincent returned to the bench. Kesteven secured the bonus-point victory with tries from Aaron Whittaker (3), Dan Turner (2), Tom Miles (2), Cameron Bibby and James Goodrich. Gavin Purvis ran out as skipper.

Although K’s tended to start quickly in recent performances, it was the visitors that took an early lead. A Moderns scrum gave a platform for the outside centre to bust through the black defence in midfield and sprint home for the opening score. The conversion was unsuccessful.

It didn’t take long for K’s to reply. A loose kick downfield was collected and returned by the evasive Aaron Whittaker who dived under the posts to open Kesteven’s account, with the conversion taking the hosts in front. K’s doubled their try tally through second-row Tom Miles. A quick tap and go from a penalty from stand-off Martyn Parker saw him offload to Miles who powered home to finish on the left. Scrum-half Ben Whinney saw his shot at extra two drift wide, but K’s were in the ascendancy.

A further unconverted score from Whittaker consolidated the lead, making the score 17-5. The fullback slalomed his way through the red and white defence to touch down for his second. Despite losing M. Parker to the sin bin for a high tackle, K’s pushed on. A break from Dan Turner saw him link up with James Goodrich and the centre forced his way over for the bonus point try, with Whinney’s conversion kicked wide.

As M. Parker returned to the field, Kesteven scored yet again just before half time. The fly-half orchestrated the backs play to find Whittaker who eased round the outside of the covering defence to dive into the corner, claiming an impressive first-half hat-trick. The conversion was short, but K’s led 27-5 at the break.

As the second period got underway, Aaron Whittaker took a slight knock and was replaced by Tom Price but soon returned once back up to speed. Will Cann also replaced Ben Betts in the centres. As K’s applied the pressure further, the scoreboard continued to tick over. Closing in on the Moderns line, Cam Bibby ran a superb line to pound his way over from close range. Whinney found his kicking his boots to slot the conversion.

Dan Turner and James Goodrich combined well once more to give the former a converted try in the 62nd minute, and the back rower scored moments later after picking up a loose ball in midfield to cross the whitewash.

Moderns did grab a late score, but the last action of the contest would be in the form of a 9th Kesteven try. A break down the short side from Dan Turner set up Tom Miles who raced in to score, well and truly wrapping up proceedings at Woodnook. Kesteven 55, Nottingham Moderns 12.

Kesteven 1st XV

1. Robert Sheardown
2. Xanti Xipu
3. Gavin Purvis (c)
4. Tom Miles
5. Olie Hanson
6. Cameron Bibby
7. Tom Webster
8. Dan Turner

9. Ben Whinney
10. Martyn Parker
11. Henry Parker
12. Ben Betts
13. James Goodrich
14. Harry Cox
15. Aaron Whittaker

16. Leo Vincent
17. William Cann
18. Tom Price