Saturday 15 December Kesteven 2ndXV 40 - West Bridgeford 3

Saturday saw the 2 best teams in Penant group 3 face one another in a must win double header between the clubs 1st and 2nd xvs. Whilst the 1st team were keeping their unbeaten record in tact away at Bridgeford, the second string were in the process of setting themselves up for a monumental effort at home.

Captain Pete Dolan was single minded in his approach to the game with victory his only goal and it was apparent from the first 10 seconds as outstanding player of the match Chris jinks opted to catch the kick off rather than allow it to go straight into touch that this was more than achievable. Jinks beat his onrunning man with ease and drove into the next to hand on to back row partner Andy Peabody who followed from where Jinks had left. Within 2 minutes the dog pack had worked the opening for lively John Cunningham to score the opening try at the posts. With Andy Price on target with the extras, the perfect start had been made.

From here on in, Kesteven set to dominate every area of the game and make the statement they wanted and next it was Cunningham who became the provider as he took an inside ball of fly half martin to break in the clear, with centre Dent on his shoulder the pass was perfectly timed and the second try scored under the posts. Price again added the extras. With their tails up, Kesteven looked to pile on the pressure to a shell shocked visiting side and the outstanding forward 8 drove straight through the Bridgeford side forcing them to commit penalties. Price was succesful with one kick and narrowly missed with a second, but the black army were in no mood to let their opposition off with just 3 pointers, and following a superb break down the right wing, it was tallismanic Jinks who was up in support to smash over from close range.

West Bridgeford eventually managed to put themselves on the scoreboard with a long range penalty kick to show they were at the top of the league for good reason, but it was the home side that went into the break with momentum.

The second half proved to be equally as outstanding as the first, with the dominant pack to the fore and only unforced errors preventing Kesteven from adding to the score early on. Eventually, the pressure told and following one of many scrums won against the head, Peabody broke blind from the scrum and found Price and finally Windsor in support to finish a classic try. Windsor was unlucky to not complete a brace moments later as he sprinted 50 meters only to be halted by a superb last ditch tackle. This was merely prevention of the inevitable as Andy Price finished a score over on the right touchline to add to his immense tally of tries this season. Once Harry Martin had burrowed over from close range for a deserved try following a mature display at 10, the victory was complete with no real way back for Bridgeford. Again they had one last effort in the last few minutes, but Kesteven were determined to keep the line in tact and defended with honour to keep the visitors out for a deserved victory.

This was a rare opportunity to see a team play at it's best to it's potential and give an almost complete display when in mattered most. Captain Dolan directed his team superbly well and lead by example, but noone would argue that the outstanding player for the day was Jinks, who's tenacity and abrasiveness pullled and motivated the rest of the team to a wonderful victory.

The side will now be the team to beat and will be sure of an equally hard game when they travel to West Bridgeford for the return fixture in the new year.

Team:
Paton, Login, Dolan, Hanson, Hayward, Jinks, Smith J, Peabody, Morgan, Martin, Windsor, Dent, Betts, Cunningham, Price A Subs: Cooke, Smith S, Hughes, Crowson, Danford

Disclaimer: The author cannot guarantee that the events reported here are fact by either order or manner in which they occurred; the only guarantee offered at this time is that Kesteven were victorious...