Mixed City Team Progress in the Lewis Shield Competition

Due to the rules of the Northampton Alliance Lewis Shield Competition where any players having played in a Cup final or semi final are not allowed to play in any future Lewis Shield games, Milton Keynes side looked more like a Club representative side made from the 3 senior sides plus a couple of Vets, BBOB found themselves in a similar position.

With a 2pm kick off in case of extra time, the game was under way, almost from the whistle Milton Keynes where awarded a penalty, but the wind and rain showed it was not going to be a good day for kickers, so the first opportunity missed, from the 22 metre restart Milton Keynes controlled the ball and pushed forward towards the BBOB line and scored a great try, set up by the forwards and finished by centre, Scott Aspinal, conversion missed, but the home side first on the score board.

This set BBOB on a wake up call and they went on the hunt for a score themselves, it only took them 10 minutes to equal with a well worked unconverted try. The scores level the evenly matched teams played some attractive rugby, both sides trying to get the upper hand. It was 10 minutes from time, when BBOB, gained a penalty for off side in front of the posts and duly took the lead.

Almost on time and Milton Keynes forwards combined to cross the line with a rolling maul, 2nd/3rd team player Rob Wilford getting the touchdown, Richard Cowan added the 2 points. BBOB lost a forward to the yellow card, just before the turn round. Milton Keynes ending the first half with a slender lead 12 - 8.

Second half was all action from the kick off, BBOB not concentrating, Milton Keynes seized the ball and Aaron McConnell scored in the corner, just 4 minutes on Milton Keynes scored under the posts with Colin Targett claiming the try, Richard Cowan converting the second of these 2 rapid tries.

BBOB stormed back into the game, and after some heavy pressure camped in the home sides 22 metre area they reduced the deficit, with another touchdown, the conversation missed, the score settled at 24 - 13.
BBOB now seeing they were still in with a chance of snatching the game, put pressure on the home side, for a long period, Milton Keynes tackled well and kept the visitors at arms length. It was 5 minutes before time when they finally broke through with a late try, the conversion missed again the score moved to 24 - 18, and this was to be the final score.

Next Saturday Milton Keynes are back in league action at home (still Field Lane) to promotion hopefuls Grove from the Oxford area. Kick off is 2.30pm and as always we invite as many local supporters as possible to cheer on the home side.

John Silk
Club President