MK 1st XV away to Kettering 2s

MK 1st XV travelled to Kettering for a non-league match on Saturday 5th November 2011, and as it was bonfire/firework night, the game did not disappoint.

Watching Kettering warm up it was clear that they were a young and fit looking side, with eyes on their own 1st team selection. However, following our own warm up and kick off at 14:15hrs it was a settling sight to see MK in the Kettering half for the first five minutes, with the pack fully on form and following some excellent rucks and mauls saw Kieran McConnell push his way singlehandedly through the defenders to score MKs first try within 5 minutes of the kick off, this went unconverted with the distance a little too far for Phil Powell narrowly missing the uprights.

With the pressure all on Kettering and the forwards winning yet another ball and following an excellent back move, saw Gavin Whitehead our new recruit playing centre, take the ball out on the wing and with some excellent handling, handoffs and running score again for MK at the nine minute mark. This was also unconverted by Phil Powell. Not to be out done and following a very long miss pass delivered by Gavin Whitehead to Dan Rolfe, saw Dan run from the edge of MKs 22 the full length of the pitch to score very close the posts, thus allowing Phil Powell to score his first points of the day with the conversion putting MK ahead at 17 – 0 after only 15 minutes into the game.

It was with some surprise then that Kettering found themselves in the MK half and following some clear off side play missed completely by the referee, and MK unsighted saw Kettering score a well run try very near the posts which was converted, 17 – 7.

The forwards were once again sticking to their game plan and following some excellent scrumming, rucks and mauls, saw them very close to the Kettering Try line and it was a super human forwards move that saw Steven Christie take the ball over for another MK Try at the 29’ mark although this was also unconverted. The pressure was maintained with MK once again putting Kettering under pressure, with some excellent and physical tackling unprecedented for MK this season saw the ball once again being won by the forwards and following an excellent backs move, with some very neat and accurate passing saw Dan Rolfe score down the right hand side and not quite scoring under the posts this making it hard for Phil Powell to convert the try, this saw MK 27 – 7 at the break.

After an excellent talk by the Captain of the day Phil Powell and scrum leader Kieran McConnell, telling the team to keep it simple and stick to the game plan and that the teams experience, fitness and training were winning through, so just keep it up, saw the team take to the field knowing that Kettering were going to through everything at them and they didn’t disappoint, although had Kettering stuck to rugby, instead of fists, boots and bickering, this young side might have had more of a game than they did. It was after such an incident with a Kettering player take a kick at the head of Dan Walker resulting in a penalty but no Yellow or indeed Red card, saw Phil Powell converting with very little effort.

Although Kettering went on to score twice more, one of which was converted, the second half was marred by some scrappy play by Kettering and a referee who was clearly watching another game, which contributed nothing to the enjoyment of either team, and of some of the younger and more immature Kettering players had focused on playing rugby and not the incessant winging to the referee, each other and the spectators, they might have scored more points. So it was that we saw Chris Peachey yellow carded for an offence that to this day, no one can understand what and Wayne Kelly also being yellow carded for a superb tackle that touch the player around the chest, won Wayne the ball only for the referee to say it was high, again I am sure he was watching the other game. But the match was sealed by an excellent backs move and a new centre pairing of Gavin Whitehead and Neil Haynes saw Neil Haynes score out on the wing to seal the match at 35 – 19 as the try went unconverted.

An excellent day out, a massive lift for the 1s showing that match fitness, sticking to a simple game plan and keeping cool heads can win games. The day was only marred by ‘late call’ work commitments by some and the poor attitude of others not willing to commit to the first team, saw us once again taking players from the 2s at short notice who I have to say to a man, played out of their socks for the 1s and despite this, saw the 2s once again winning at home, well done to them.