With another league opponent dropping out, Kesteven Rugby Club’s 2XV traveled to Ashfield for a friendly, eager to test themselves against fresh competition. What unfolded was a remarkable display of discipline and teamwork, as Kesteven cruised to a 52-0 victory, showcasing the benefits of their rigorous Tuesday and Thursday training sessions.
The game began with Kesteven fielding only 13 players, yet this didn’t deter them. Within 15 minutes, they were already 14-0 up thanks to tries from Kev Beck and Rory Sheard, both converted by Arran Ward-Worley. The arrival of their 14th man only strengthened Kesteven’s dominance, and the team kept pushing forward, sticking to their game plan with impressive discipline.
Ward-Worley’s precision from the tee added conversions for every try, and Kesteven’s sharpness in attack led to further scores. Sheard completed his brace, capitalizing on quick ball to stretch the lead. Kesteven maintained focus and control. Olly Lowe then stormed over for his try, and Beck added his second, widening the gap to an insurmountable 38-0.
The cohesive link between fly-half Olly Lowe and scrum-half Xanti Xipu kept Kesteven’s attacks fluid and unpredictable. In defense, Foster-Burton was relentless, breaking down Ashfield’s attempts to gain ground with well-timed tackles and disrupting their rucks, while Foston delivered bone-crunching hits that even drew applause from the crowd.
The second half saw more of the same, with Foster-Burton contributing another try and Sheard capping off his hat-trick. Kesteven’s disciplined defense, missing just three tackles in the entire game, kept Ashfield scoreless, while their forward pack refused to take a backward step, driving Kesteven’s momentum at every turn.
The 2's coach, Tony Bates reflected on the game, saying, “The team showed character and the benefits of the drills we go through every week. They were disciplined and stuck to the game plan, executing exactly what we ask of them on a Tuesday and Thursday.”
This dominant performance underscores the hard work Kesteven’s 2XV has been putting in, with the team demonstrating precision and power across all phases of play.
Final Score: Ashfield 0 - 52 Kesteven
Tries:
Kev Beck x2
Rory Sheard x3
Olly Lowe x1
Foster-Burton x1
Foston x1
Conversions:
Arran Ward-Worley x6