Pre Match
Following a great day with touring team Eastleigh on the Friday at RAF Cranwell, followed by a wonderful, emotional and tearful 'End of an Era' dinner on the Friday night to celebrate 11 years of minis and juniors rugby together, K's selection for the game against Eastleigh was based on a game of position roulette:
1. Dan O
2. Dan W
3. James H
4. Lawrence B-P
5. Wyatt B
6. Robert T
7. Nathan S
8. Joel S
9. Will H
10. Dylan G
11. Tom McD
12. Callum C-D
13. Will M
14. Joe D
15. Toby S
Finishers: Thomas H, Alfie O, Oscar H and Max
Kudos to Alfred and George for coming to watch.

First Half
A resplendent Eastleigh, wearing fantastic touring tops, started well, dominating all aspects of the game in the first few minutes. Against the run of play, Wyatt popped up with a trademark interception around halfway and sprinted clear to score the first try of the game, which he then converted, 7-0 K's.

From the restart, K's won a penalty, which was kicked to touch for a lineout, which they won. However, Eastleigh's eager pack ripped the ball, and good backs play set up a good opportunity for the visitors' first score, 7-5.

Joe D made a good tackle from the restart, but Eastleigh won a penalty. The kick missed touch, finding Wyatt, who kicked over and gave chase. Eastleigh kicked clear, which Toby recovered. K's ran a couple of phases but conceded a penalty for holding on, which Eastleigh kicked to touch. Eastleigh won their lineout, running several phases before releasing one of their speedy wingers. He beat Toby, but Toby came back, making the tackle just short. Joe D ripped the ball, but Eastleigh managed to retake possession and crashed over for their second try, 7-12.

Just after the restart, Eastleigh kicked through, only finding Wyatt, who made a break and then won the penalty. He kicked beautifully to the 5m line for a K's lineout. Eastleigh managed to win it but conceded a penalty for offside. James managed to crash over, but K's were penalised and Eastleigh kicked clear. Toby fielded the bouncing ball, but Eastleigh were quick to chase and turned it over, launching a swift counter and a breakaway try from their other winger, 7-19.

K's tackling game then deserted them as they made it far too easy for Eastleigh to dance through, scoring their fourth try to extend the lead to 7-24.

K's applied pressure after the restart and won a penalty, but an errant pass was volleyed into the grateful hands of the Eastleigh centre who ran the length of the pitch to touchdown Eastleigh's fifth try, 7-31.

K's won a penalty after the restart, which Wyatt kicked to touch, winning a lineout on the 5m line. K's then put together a lovely sweeping backs move to play in Joe D on the wing and narrow the gap to 12-31 at half time.

Second Half
K's reverted to normal positions after the break, and the impact was immediate. They made a much better start to the half, Oscar making a break, only for the strong, determined Eastleigh defence to force the knock-on. K's were suddenly dominant in the scrum, winning another scrum 15m out. Will H, now playing a more familiar number 8 role rather than scrum half, powered over to open the second half scoring, with Wyatt slotting a lovely kick, 19-31. It felt like game on! The locals were stirring!

Joe took the restart well, and K's ran several phases, resulting in a penalty and lineout on 5m. However, they conceded a freekick and Eastleigh were able to clear their lines. Moments later, Eastleigh had a scrum inside their own half but Will H managed to turn the ball over. K's had quick ball and Thomas H broke through, but more great defence from the visitors won a penalty for holding on. The kick didn't find touch and K's launched a counter, but again the Eastleigh defence won possession. K's then conceded a penalty for a high tackle, and Eastleigh had a lineout. However, they knocked the ball forward, giving K's a scrum around halfway. Alfie O's kick went straight out, giving Eastleigh a lineout. Up leapt Joel, enabling Dylan to make a half break, only to knock on. Eastleigh had a scrum but conceded a freekick. Wyatt went quickly and K's went close, Dylan stopped 10m short but conceded a knock-on. Eastleigh had another scrum but again conceded a freekick. Tom McD was stopped short, but K's had another freekick. This time, he powered over to close the gap, Wyatt adding the two, to make it a one-score game, 26-31.

From the restart, Dan O showed good power to break through multiple tackles, offloading to Joe D. But again Eastleigh ripped the ball and launched a counter, which resulted in a K's scrum 15m inside their own half. K's launched a lovely move and Aidan was almost round the outside, but a foot on the line ended with an Eastleigh lineout. They knocked the ball on and K's won the resulting scrum. Will H ran a lovely line through the centres and levelled the score, 31-3,1 with Wyatt again adding the two to give K's the lead for the first time, 33-31.

Eastleigh put K's under pressure from the restart, winning a penalty and kicking to touch for a rare second-half visit into K's territory. The ball wasn't clean and bounced back into touch for a K's lineout. K's went along the line, Dylan made a good break but was brilliantly tackled by the visiting fullback. K's recycled the ball, finding Dan O on the wing. He was tackled, K's recycled and Joel broke through, making a delightful pass to selflessly play in Wyatt under the posts. Wyatt again added the two and K's were ahead by 9, 40-31.

K's really had the wind in their sails now (no pun intended, given our visitors are from the south coast). James H with a lovely catch and drive, from which K's went wide with a lovely move, resulting in Tom McD racing free for another score! Again Wyatt was on target to give K's a 47-31 lead.

From the restart, K's again looked threatening only for a knock-on to scupper their chances. Eastleigh ended with a penalty on halfway, quickly followed by another, which gave the visitors a good attacking platform. Credit to their enormous hearts, then broke the K's defence and scored a good try, converting it nicely to narrow the score back to 47-38.

More good pressure from the determined visitors resulted in an Eastleigh scrum on 10m. Tom McD stole the ball, but K's conceded a penalty, which was kicked to touch for an Eastleigh lineout on 22m. Eastleigh continued to show impressive determination and fight, but both the clock and determined K's defence were against them as the final whistle blew.

Post Match
What an incredible game, befitting of both teams' fantastic spirit and the day's tour vibe. 85 points was a treat for the crowd and K's can be rightly proud of their second half performance - a brilliant comeback against a good team. Eastleigh played with a heart and a spirit that will have made their coaches proud. It was wonderful to see both sides enjoy a photo together after a match in which the true spirit of rugby was evident throughout.

There were huge performances from Wyatt and Tom McD in particular. But MOTM for K's was James H - well played, James.

Both teams enjoyed a wonderful meal after the game and the coaches enjoyed spending time together - what rugby is all about.

We were delighted to receive some wonderful messages from our new friends from Eastleigh after the game: Thank you for being a part of the tour, we wouldn't have changed it at all! Thank you for your hospitality today. Kesteven RFC has had a very positive impact on all of us. It's nice to see a club that has an atmosphere and aura around it and it was very much felt for all parts of the club! All of you were so friendly and welcoming and not only that, the spirit of Rugby is there to see. Your boys are also a credit to all your hard work that you put in and I hope and wish you all the best in the cup final in 2 weeks time. Winning 3 on the bounce would be a perfect way to send them off to the colts! We will all be supporting you here in Hampshire! We appreciate everything you have done for us today and it has been a pleasure to have met you all ?⚫?

I won't lie, there were tears from K's coaching/management team after that message - meaning that the weekend started and ended in tears, but in a really good way!

Thank you to everyone for a wonderful, underforgettable weekend. ?