Saturday saw a break from League action as Kesteven travelled down the A1 to take on their oldest rivals. The league structure now in place means we sledom play our Lincolnshire neighours so it was good to cross swords with them in the Notts Lincs and Derbys Shield Semi-Final.

The injuries suffered at Lincoln last week and unavailability forced Kesteven to make a number of changes. Midgely Rupert Jordan and Sean Templeton came into the backs, with James Goodrich moving to scrum half. In the pack Purves Carew and Peabody replaced the injured trio of Cowley Flear and Durrance. Even with these changes Kesteven were confident of contiuning their good run.

The visitors started well threatening to make the early breakthrough but handing in the wet windy conditions proved difficult. Scoring chances were few and far between and it was some 30 minutes into the game that Stamford opened the score. Whittaker fielded a kick ahead on his own line and set off on a mazy run to the 22. He was tackled and judged to have held on to the ball in the tackle. Stamford kicked the goal. They were able to double their advantage with the last kick of the half when Kesteven were penalised at the scrum some 30 metres out.

The second half saw Stamford again take the game to Kesteven and justfailed to add to their tally when a penalty slipped past the post. This seemed to give Kesteven some impetus as the eventually took control. Taylor cam on to replace Rupert Jordan and Midgely and Turner swapped places. Tom Wire also came on for his first tem debut replacing Peabody Kesteven were now attacking with graeter menace and came close to breaking through. Twice they were over the line but were called back for previous infringements. The game finished with Kesteven on the attack. Phil Jordan thought he had scored but was judged to be in touch before he crossed the line.

Stamford had held on for their win.

Team was A Whittaker; R Jordan, P Jordan, S Templeton, R Midgely; M Harland, J Goodrich; S Odams, A Brown, G Purves, W Pert, M Carew, A Peabody, D Turner and A Woolerton Reps T Wire, K Taylor M Sayle