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Boston Rugby Club

Reports round-up

April 2006 match action details Club’s own website: www.bostonrugbyclub.co.uk

April 29 round-up

Boston 1st XV 41, Barton 1st XV 0

Boston 1^st XV won through to the final of the Lincolnshire Shield. They secured progress to a showdown this Sunday at Sleaford by comfortably outscoring Barton by six tries to nil. It was indicative of Boston’s style of play that only one try was scored by a forward — No 8 Ben Hauserman. The remaining five tries were evenly spread among the backs.

Scrum half Darryn Barratt, and fly-half Rhys Gosling scored a try apiece, with centre Norm Patterson registering a brace. Not to be outdone winger Paul Jarvis, returning from injury, added a further five points to his season’s tally.

The remaining points came via the boot of Gosling who added four conversions and one penalty to his personal points collection. The score at half-time was 22-0.

Overall it was good team performance, despite Boston’s tendency to play start-stop rugby. It was encouraging to again see Boston’s youngsters perform well at senior level. Max Slater had another impressive run out for the Vivaldi-sponsored team on the wing. And on a number of occasions he made 25 to 30-yard runs, only to be stopped close to the Barton try line. Alex Maguire, for the second successive week, came off the bench into the back row to replace Ste Loveley.

Boston’s last game of the season will be in the final of the Lincolnshire Shield to be played on Sunday at Sleaford, kick off 1pm, against Horncastle. After this game Sleaford will play Spalding in the Lincolnshire Cup final.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, R Collins, R Lancaster, K Williams, F Cannon, D Allen, B Hauserman, S Loveley, D Barratt, Rhys Gosling, N Patterson, S Cooke, P Stubley, S Bourne. Replacements: M Slater, N Lane, A Maguire, M Mullinder.

April 22 round-up

Boston 1st XV 53, Keyworth 1st XV 15

Even though they recorded an emphatic win, highlighted by eight tries being scored, Boston Rugby Club’s first XV missed out on clinching successive promotions.

They failed by just two points with Castle Donington securing second place in the Notts, Lincs, Derby and North Leicester League on the back of a 39-7 victory over Dronfield — duly bringing about their own move up the regional rugby pyramid.

In perfect playing conditions and in front of a large crowd of Boston vice-presidents who had enjoyed pre-match lunch and entertainment, Boston — sponsored by Vivaldi — quickly made their intentions known as they looked to attack the visitors at every opportunity.

Looking to the future, coach Mick Lyon had made a number of changes to the squad by calling up two colts. In the forwards, Alex Maguire moved on to the bench and made an appearance in the second half in the back row, while in the backs, debutant Max Slater started on the wing and marked an impressive debut by scoring a brace of tries.

In a first half dominated by the home side, Boston’s points machine rolled effortlessly into action. Rhys Gosling opened the scoring after five minutes when converting a penalty — deserved reward for the pressure the team were applying to the Keyworth defence.

Ben Hauserman, returning after injury at No 8, registered the first try through a well-taken line out front peel to move Boston into a 8-0 lead. Shortly after this from open play, a flowing back line move saw Max Slater score his first senior try when rounding off a good move by going over in the corner. With the conversion by Rhys Gosling the home side were in the ascendancy with a scoreline of 15-0.

Three further tries were added before half-time. Darryn Barratt scored an individual solo try as he dummied and jinked his way through the Keyworth defence. Max Slater added his second try and Rhys Gosling picked up a dropped ball on the half way line and sprinted the length on the park to ensure Boston ended the half 36-5 in the lead.

Within minutes of the restart, Boston scored their best try of the match. In a classic turning defence into attack scenario, the backs launched a counter attack from their own dead ball line. In a flowing passage of play, the ball was quickly transferred through all the backs up the field. Eventually centre Barratt received the ball within the Keyworth 22m zone to out-sprint the defence to score.

With the game safe, Mick Lyon made a number of substitutions, Alex Maguire replaced Richard Scott-Mann in the back row, Kevin Williams came on for Nigel Lane, and Simon Cooke replaced Kenny Doig. Boston added two further tries through winger Peter Stubley and fly-half Rhys Gosling to eventually run out comfortable winners in a margin of 53-15.

This week Boston play their re- arranged semi final game against Barton at home in the Lincolnshire Cup, kick-off 3pm. Their focus will now be on gaining some silver ware to ensure their seasons hard work is rewarded.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, R Collins, R Lancaster, N Lane , F Cannon, K Doig, B Hauserman , R Scott- Mann, T Kemp, Rhys Gosling, D Barratt, M Slater, R Krause, P Stubley, S Bourne. Replacements: K Williams, A Maguire, S Cooke.

The second XV did not have a fixture this week.

A competition between three clubs was staged as the finale of the under-16s’ season. The first game was between Boston and Skegness. Boston came out in determined fashion with lots of good phases of ball. And they soon went into the lead with tries by Ernie Wetton (2) and Alfie Myles. The latter also added one conversion to put the home side in the lead by 17 points. A few changes were made at half-time to rest players and this allowed Skegness to hit back. But all the time the Boston rearguard held firm as the team remained 17-0 ahead at the final whistle.

Deeping then went on to play — and beat — Skegness.

The final match of the morning was Deeping against Boston. This was their third meeting this season, each team having won once. Early in the first half Deeping went into the lead with a penalty. Then they attacked again and from Boston’s own 22m line, Joe Horniblow ran the length of the pitch to score and put Boston into a 5-3 interval lead. The second half was a determined effort by both teams with Deeping coming out the winners with two more tries in a final score of 13-5. Boston, well led by their captain Matt Sharman, took pride from their performances and the young players now look forward to their end of season presentation dinner on Friday.

April 15 round-up

No matches (Easter weekend)

April 8 round-up

Nottingham Casuals 12, Boston 1st XV 34

In spite of an emphatic away win in their penultimate league game of the season against fourth placed Nottingham Casuals, Boston Rugby Club first XV’s hopes of promotion appear dashed. The Vivaldi-sponsored side knew they had to reply on other teams to at least inflict one defeat against Castle Donington to stand a chance, while continuing to win their remaining three matches.

With news coming through late on Saturday night that Castle Donington had won by a margin of 20-9 away at Keyworth, hopes are rapidly fading of the Boardsiders securing back-to-back promotions.

In wintry conditions of hail, rain and strong winds, Boston encountered a young home side who — while quicker at the break down — were no match for the more experienced visitors at the set-pieces and especially in the backs. It was through this area that Boston registered the majority of their points with wingers Peter Stubley and Paul Jarvis scoring one try apeice and Rhys Gosling adding two conversions and three penalties. Meanwhile, in the forwards department, No 8 Dan Allen scored his second try in two weeks.

Just one league match remains on Saturday April 22, with Boston playing Keyworth at home and Castle Donington entertaining Dronfield. The two-point gap between second and third place remains. The opening day loss away at Worksop, looks like it will come back to haunt the blue and whites.

With Easter here this weekend, Boston take a well earned rest, before their final league match comes around. Boston still have to play their postponed Lincolnshire Cup semi-final clash against Barton, which looks likely to be played in midweek under floodlights — that’s because vacant weekends are fast disappearing as the season heads towards its conclusion.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, R Collins, R Lancaster, N Lane, F Cannon, R Scott-Mann, S Loveley, D Allen, T Kemp, R Gosling, A Hart, P Stubley, D Barratt, S Bourne.

April 1 round-up

Boston 1st XV 26, Scunthorpe 3rd XV 7

Boston first XV’s scheduled Lincolnshire Cup semi-final game against Barton was called off late on Thursday night. It left the Boardsides club urgently looked to the pool to secure a game. And Scunthorpe thirds were eventually drafted in to plug the gap for urgent match action in advance of their vital Notts, Lincs, Derby League encounter at Nottingham Casuals this Saturday.

The visitors, however, started the strongest with the advantage of a strong wind. They kept Boston pinned in their own half, and not surprising registered the first score to move 7-0 ahead. The Boston side, sponsored by Vivaldi were strangely subdued and found the Scunthorpe defence difficult to breach. The first half went largely unnoticed by the watching crowd, until — literally with the last kick of the first period — Rhys Gosling kicked a drop goal to open the home side’s account and take into the interval just 7-3 in arrears.

The benefit of a five-minute team talk from coach Mick Lyon, saw the home side respond positively at the restart. Their previous inability to mount more than two phases of rugby was soon forgotten as the forwards began to run at the visitors and mount some sustained pressure.

From one enterprising run from first Ritchie Collins at hooker and then back row Richard Scott- Mann, the ball was fed in for the supporting Dan Allen to open Boston’s try account. The conversion by Gosling saw the blue and whites move 12-7 ahead. With momentum at last gained, Ryan Krause — at centre — ended a flowing move between forwards and backs, which had the rugby purists delighted as he extended the home lead to 19-7 with his try being converted.

Boston were now playing with confidence and showed plenty of desire to play expansive rugby. From slick passing from first Gosling and then with Krause, the ball was fed out for winger Peter Stubley to run in the third try which, when converted, moved Boston into a decisive 26-7 lead. Boston were grateful for the work out, and coach Mick Lyon nominated number eight Dan Allen as man of the match for his all round performance.

On Saturday April 8, Boston travel to Nottingham Casuals, knowing they must win their remaining two league games, and hope Castle Donington lose at least one of their remaining two matches for promotion dreams to be fulfilled.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, R Collins, R Lancaster, N Lane , F Cannon, R Scott- Mann, S Loveley , D Allen, T Kemp, R Gosling, A Hart, P Stubley ,D Barratt, S Bourne.

Boston 2nd XV 0, Market Rasen 2nd XV 7

For the second week in a row, just a single score was all the difference between two evenly matched sides. Yet again Boston seconds were outstanding in defence but lacked the cutting edge to score at the other end. This Saturday the seconds entertain Notts Casual seconds, kick-off 3pm.

Juniors section

Boston Rugby Club’s under-13s and under-16s sides hit the road for a weekend mini-tour to the Lee Valley area.

The first game on Saturday morning was against Harlow. The u13 team were feeling the effects of A long journey and Harlow went into the lead by half-time. It looked like Harlow were the better team. But Boston did not give up. And they closed the gap well with a try late on by James Fosberry (converted by Jack Ridge) with the match ending 15-12 to Harlow.

The u16 game was vastly different. Boston played some of their best rugby and were 14 points ahead after 10 minutes. They continued to play well in all areas, notably winning most of the forward action. It was a physical game and tiredness started to show in the second half with Harlow coming back at them. But Boston remained ahead to eventually win 19-17. Simon Fountain, Scott Williams and Paul Jarvis scored tries, with the latter adding two conversions.

Sunday’s games were against Cheshunt. The u13s played a great team game and proved to be the better side winning by a margin of 35-12. Tries were scored by Jack Ridge, Tom Roberts, Liam Smith and Harry Gray with the former adding two conversions

The u16s were ready for another win following their performance the previous day. And they started in similar attacking fashion going 14 points in the lead in the 15 minutes stage. By half time they were 19 points ahead. This performance continued with everyone playing their part in a match which ended 52-5 in favour of Boston. Tries were scored by Alfie Myles (2), Matt Sharmen (2), Ollie Webster, Joe Horniblow, Simon Fountain and Paul Jarvis who also converted six of the scores. Thanks were extended to club connections at Harlow and Cheshunt for being great hosts.