JUL

JUL

JUL

JAN

DEC

MAY

Notts Casuals 30 Kesteven 8

Kesteven travelled to Notts Casuals on Saturday expecting a tough match from a team just one place above them in the league. After a narrow victory last weekend the K’s were looking to build upon that performance.

Injuries and a few players saw a Simon Oakes relinquish his 2nd XV captain duties to fill in at scrum half. Last seasons captain Peabody also came in as a late replacement to take his place on a strong looking bench.

The match started brightly for the Black Army. With the wind in their backs some adept kicking from Turner, Parker and Oakes saw good territory gained by the Grantham side. Early pressure and a clear dominance in the scrum saw good pressure put on the Notts Casuals’ line. A scrum won against the head saw number eight Smith pick up and drive close to the line. Though no try to come ensuing play saw Turner presented with a three point penalty which he duly slotted.

More territory and dominance saw a further opportunity for points sail narrowly wide. Midway through the first half the Nottingham side did seem to gain some continuity to their play. Their dangerous backline started to combine and holes in the Kesteven defence started to leak yards. Tony Woolerton did his level best to obliterate ever opposition culminating with a superb last ditch cover tackle to save a try. However, a series of ruck infringements saw the usually reliable Casuals fly half miss three penalties to let the visitors off the hook. At this stage the referee warned the Kesteven side about indiscretions at the break down.

Having missed numerous penalties the Casuals decided to kick for territory. Good line out ball saw their backline run a typically smooth play. This opened up a huge hole for their full back to race through under the posts. This was a disappointing end to a good first half for Kesteven. However, heads did not drop and buoyant side went to receive orders from coach Steele and captain Clarke.

With a plan to cut out the penalties and mistakes Kesteven turned round to face the wind with a positive attitude. The opening encounters of the second half were fairly even aside from a solitary penalty to the casuals. Soon after good rush defence saw the Casuals backline rushed into a mistake. A dropped ball on the Kesteven twenty two saw winger Rupert Jordan enter a football style dribbling race with an opposition player. With great superb skill he managed to win this encounter and draw the Grantham side level.

However, momentum soon shifted to the Nottingham side. A slick backline move saw the opposition winger released to run through some flimsy tackling to score in the corner. The conversion was good.

The next key moment really sealed the victory for the Nottingham side. Full back Dixon and Turner combined well to take a quick line out. The duo combined and broke into opposition territory. Quick hands saw Bennett and Phil Jordan combine to release Betts in the corner. The surly Kesteven winger was duly clothes lined in the process of scoring. Kesteven backs turned to the halfway in preparation for receiving the kick off after a penalty try. However, the referee had other ideas. In bizarre fashion he stopped play, dished out a yellow card and gave Kesteven a penalty five metres out!? Kesteven duly did not score from this and were pushed back to the half way. To make matters worse a midfield mistake saw turnover ball presented to the opposition backline. Their outside centre did the rest and outstripped a ragged defence to put the nail in the coffin.

A further try and a penalty from the Nottingham side sealed their victory. Kesteven were taught a few lessons in the art of finishing and need to cut out simple turnover ball. They travel to Barton upon Humber next week to a usually abrasive encounter. Lessons now need to be learnt from, and built upon, by this developing Kesteven side.

Team was P Dixon; I Charles, R Jordan, D Turner, P Jordan; M Parker, S Oakes, P Bennett, D Hayward, S Odams, N Clarke, W Pert, A Brown, T Woolerton, G Smith SUBS A Peabody, S Odams, B Betts

Saturday 27th February

Kesteven 2nds 28 - Notts Casuals 0

With Skipper Simon Oakes away on 1st team duty Nick hardy-Gillings led the side in this rearranged match with Notts Casuals.

Playing with the benefit of the slope in the first half Kesteven got off to a great start. Casuals were penalised at the first ruck and Matt Harland stepped up to kick the goal from 40 metres for a 3 - 0 lead after a minute. Kesteven were on top for most of the half. Lidstone and Cooper had some good runs and Lamb kicked well while the forwards produced some good driving play. Paul Jabba Shields got over the line but wasn't able to ground the ball. All that the home side had to show for their effort was a further 2 penalties by Harland for a half time lead of 9 - 0.

Casuals started the second half in good style keeping Kesteven pinned back in their own 22 for a good 20 minutes. Will Price replaced Tony Burton, coming onto the wing with Lidstone dropping to full back and Cooper moving in to centre. The young wing struck a telling blow shortly after by intercepting a pass on his own 22 and sprinting 80 metres for a try. Harland converted and the game had changed. Kesteven took heart from this as Casuals heads dropped, and the home side took control of the game. A line out close to Casuals line was won by Sayle and as the forwards swarmed round they pushed the Casuals pack over the line. Tweddle emerged from the heap with the ball for the try. Harland converted again. The Kesteven backs were now coming into their own and Lidstone was next on the score sheet finishing of a mazy run with a try. This time Harland's conversion hit the post and stayed out. The final score of 28 - 0 was unkind to Casuals who put a lot of effort into the game without reward. They gave their all for 60 minutes but Price's try knocked the stuffing out of them.

For Kesteven Sayle again dominated the line out Paersey had some powerful runs and young Bill Davies put in some good work. In the backs Hughes gave a spirited performance while Lamb used his experience well. Cooper and Lidstone were always dangerous while Will Price took his try well.

Team was R Cooper; F Lidstone, T Burton, M Harland A Price; J Lamb, J Hughes; D Tweddle, B Davies, P Hughes, M Clarke, N Hardy-Gillings, J Smith, M Sayle, A Pearsey Subs W Price C Foster .

Saturday 6th March

Notts Pennant Match Group 5

Kesteven 3rds 43 Melbourne 2nds 24

The sun was shining and the pitch was dry as Kesteven took the field in this rearranged match against Melbourne. The visitors arrived short-handed and Kesteven lent them Rob Windsor and Stewart Orme to help out.

Kesteven were playing with the slope and were soon on the attack. Phil Jordan, filling in at stand off made a good break and found skipper Ross Penman up in support to go over for the opening score. Daz Blackley left the field after 10 minutes with a knee injury, to be replaced by young Dan Williams playing only his third game of rugby. Penman also left the field to be replaced by Aaron Bellamy. This disruption to the back division did not appear to affect the home team, although Melbourne were next to score when they broke away for a try out on the left. With both conversions having failed this tied the score at 5 all.

The speedy Kesteven backs were causing the visitors some problems. Stand in scrum half Pete Dixon, whose display in the number nine position was somewhat unorthodox, was unlucky to be pulled back for a foot in touch but the score was not delayed long as first Rupert Jordan then Aaron Bellamy went over for tries and just before the break Dan Williams finished off a nice move with a try in the corner. Pete Dixon converted two to make the half time score 24 - 5.

Arnold replaced Dovey at the break and Melbourne were soon on the attack. The visiting pack were driving well and worked a good position which saw Rob Windsor go over the line, only to drop the ball in the act of scoring. Melbourne won the resulting scrum and their number 6 got the try. The conversion was good to narrow the gap to 24 - 12.

Kesteven rallied well and Jordan Smith erupted from a scrum on half way to go in at the post unopposed, then Phil Jordan scored a fine individual try. McAllister converted one and Phil Jordan converted the other before Rupert Jordan added his second try.

Melbourne were not to be outdone and finished strongly with two tries of their own to earn a bonus point. One of these was converted to make the final score 43 - 24, rounding off a very entertaining match.

Team was D Blackley; R Penman, I McAllister, J Scott, R Jordan; P Jordan, P Dixon; E Dovey, M Paton, T Smith, S Bowles, T Miles, J Welham, J Smart, J Smith Subs A Bellamy, D Williams, K Arnold.

Saturday 6th March

Kesteven were well represented in the Nottingham RFC Academy match v Mosely Academy.

The Nottingham side had brothers Dan and Nathan Turner, Olly Wood and Tom Rose in their team. All four acquitted themselves well with both brothers scoring tries as Nottingham won 12 - 8.

U16s NLD Shield

Kesteven 37 – Belper 12

On Sunday Kesteven U16s made the journey over to Derbyshire, to a muddy, sticky Belper pitch. Kesteven arrived with a 14 man squad and knew that whatever the opposition, they would be up against it. Although boggy, the pitch was wide and offered the Kesteven backs the chance to pass and play the running game. Kick off saw kestevens best start all season with an aggressive defensive line putting pressure on the Belper fly half and forcing a knock on. Kesteven were quick to take advantage of Belpers errors with an early score, attacking play saw a classic wingers try from simple hands to Callum Jackson, Jack Danford converted for Kesteven to take the early lead. The Kesteven tempo remained high and their dynamic game soon lead to a further try. The Kesteven scrum half saw a gap open up in open play in the Belper 22 and ran in for the try under the posts for Jack Danford to convert. The Kesteven pack used their pace to overcome the physicality of the Belper pack and with supportive pick and go forwards play a strong run from Josh Bunning secured further points as he went over for the try in the corner. Although Kesteven knew they had the beating of them in the backs, the tight pick and go play remained in the forwards for the rest of the half and as the Belper pack tired the superior fitness of Kesteven forwards saw prop Adam Griffin go over for the try in the corner. A simple error in a disorganised Kesteven defensive line saw Belper quickly score to end the half. At half time Kesteven knew they needed to stick to their game plan and use their backs. The second half saw Belper start to drop their esprit de corps with cheap shots.

Kesteven stuck to the game plan and yards were gained after a fantastic break by Hector Mclean. Kesteven kept their discipline and were soon rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts, Jack Danford added to his tally to covert. Belper tried using their forwards to play the slower game, but strong supportive play from the Kesteven front row and with aggressive defending from the back row Kesteven turned it around to get back into their own game. The Kesteven scrum half marshalled the forwards to provide some clean ball for the backs, the Kesteven backs made quick work with yet again simple passing down the line to Callum Jackson to touch down for the try in the corner. Kesteven were unfortunate to get sucked into the ill discipline from belper with a few stray punches between Josh Bellamy and a Belper player. But Kesteven managed to keep their composure and again were well rewarded with another penalty in the belper 22 converted by Jack Danford.

Overall this was one of kestevens finest matches of the season and coming to belper to secure a comprehensive league win with a squad of just 14 players was testament to the commitment the boys showed on the day.

Kesteven U-12’s Match Report 7/3/10

Kesteven 25 West Bridgford 0

Kesteven 5 Chesterfield 25

Kesteven 0 Deepings 10

Kesteven 0 Melbourne 15

A depleted K’s team opened the NLD Finals impressively against West Bridgford, their forwards winning quick ball to release the backs who carved out several try scoring opportunities. Tom Mawer’s quick feet often took K’s over the gain line and centre Josh Watts ran with purpose, scoring twice.

However, conceding an early try against Chesterfield punctured K’s confidence as their larger opponents imposed their physicality, despite Charlie Lyle’s smart blind side score.

As K’s energy levels diminished missed tackles cost them dear in the final two matches.

Try scorers: Watts(2),Campbell,Lyle,Lord,Mawer

Kesteven:Lyle,Attrill,Morrison,Mawer,Knott,Smith-Evans,

Lord,Watts,Campbell,Riecker,Delbrocco,

Wright,Coyle,

Under 11 Shield Finals Derby

KESTEVEN 5 Moderns 0

Kesteven 15 Melbourne B 0

Kesteven 0 Southwell 10

KESTEVEN 0 Ilkeston 10

Kesteven finished a credible 4th in the NLD Shield finals away at Derby last Sunday.

The small squad were in their own mini league of Moderns and Melbourne.

The first game against Moderns was a tough encounter on a muddy pitch with both

sides having chances to score and being held up close to their lines.

Good scrum half play from Jack Rogerson and some good scrummaging meant

Kesteven slowly got on top.

This resulted in a try for Chris Lampard early in the second half.

Kesteven held on after this to a well deserved victory.

The second game against a larger Melbourne side looked more difficult

but buoyed up by the first game Ks quickly took the lead through Alex Wheeler

and followed this up with Jack Rogerson making the most of a mistake to pounce

before half time. The second half and game was decided early on by a long run

from Joshua Udom going in at the corner.

The semi finals were against Southwell who were a well organised side and although

Ks played well they didn't have the efficiency of their opponents.

By the 3rd/4th place playoffs Ks were obviously tired having no substitutes and

through a combination of this and some decisions going against them they lost to an

Ilkeston side they would normally beat.

Players

Kearsey (C), Brewin, Clydesdale, Lampard, McLoughlin, Porter, Rogerson,

Smith, Udom, Wheeler, Whinney, Windsor