Saturday 13th October 2012

Saturday 13th October

RFU Senior Vase

Northampton Mens Own 21 Kesteven 40



Kesteven made the long trip to Northampton for the 2nd round tie in the RFU Senior Vase. Rupert Jordan, Sheardown and Webster came in for the unavailable Taylor, Brown and Woolerton.



Kesteven were looking to get off to a good start, playing to keep the ball alive and were soon on the attack. They showed their confidence when an early penalty was pushed to the corner and perfectly executed the catch and drive, with Gavin Purvis getting the touch down. Matt Harland added the conversion. Then Turner got the second following a neat pass from Parker. Again Harland converted and Kesteven had a clear 14 point lead early on. The home team were finding it difficult to get into the game as Kesteven kept possession. The third try came as Hughes was tackled short, but Hudson did brilliantly to keep the ball alive and find Harland who popped the ball off to Whittaker to score in the corner. Just before the break Odams was first through onto a loose ball on half way. He found Turner up in support and he raced away, using Jordan as a decoy on the wing, to go in for the fourth try. Harland's conversion made the half time score 26 - 0 to Kesteven.



In the second half Peabody replaced Webster and Carew came on for Pert. The home team regrouped after the break and made it more difficult for Kesteven, however they did have a problem with discipline and conceded ground on a number of occasions. Harry Martin came on for Rupert Jordan for his first team debut. Kesteven came close to scoring on a couple of occasions before Cam Hudson sent Jake Hughes bursting through, just squeezing over at the posts. Harland again converted before Northampton started to play some rugby. They found space out on the left and their wing ran in a good try from half way. The conversion was good. Ken Lines suffered a couple of knocks in the fray and Jordan came back on with Harland moving to scrum half. In the last 10 minutes Webster and Pert returned to freshen up the pack with Sheardown and Flear being rested.



The discipline problems continued for the home team and they had a second player sent to the sin bin. Kesteven took a quick penalty and Hudson again made space for Hughes to run clear to score his second try. Harland's conversion brough the Kesteven total to 40. Northampton now threw everything into the game and Kesteven were sucked into a battle. The home team finished with 2 more late tries both converted to put a gloss on the score. Kesteven had won through to the third round with a hard fought 40 points to 21 victory.



The win means Kesteven have won all of their seven games so far this season. This week they are back to league action away to Southwell, all support is welcome as they look to maintain their position at the top of the league.



Team was: M Harland; A Whittaker, J Hughes, C Hudson, R Jordan; M Parker, K Lines; S Odams, R Sheadown, G Purvis, W Pert, J Cowley, J Flear, D Turner and T Webster. Replacements: A Peabody, M Carew and H Martin.