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Boston Rugby Club

Reports round-up

December 2005 match action details Club’s own website: www.bostonrugbyclub.co.uk

December 17 round-up

Dronfield 1st XV 0, Boston 1st XV 14

Boston Rugby Club’s first team hit the road to Dronfield and duly chalked up their first Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire and North Leicester League double of the season. But their success had a price. Fly-half Rhys Gosling suffered a broken collar bone in the second half, an injury which dampened post-match spirits in the dressing room.

With both first and second teams taking the long bus journey to Dronfield, the Vivaldi-sponsored Boston team knew they would be in for a tough afternoon, and faced not only a small, narrow, muddy park, but also a side still smarting from their previous encounter, which Boston won 40-8.

As expected while Boston were still mentally on the bus, Dronfield started the game in positive fashion, putting constant pressure on the visitors. Only resolute defending and unforced errors by the home side prevented Dronfield from scoring. Boston however, when awarded penalties, were able to convert them via the boot of Rhys Gosling to take a narrow 6-0 lead at half-time.

Another penalty early on in the second half by Rhys saw Boston extend their lead to 9-0 before Rhys’ injury forced his retirement from the match. Despite this setback, Boston’s dogged defence and discipline in the loose ensured the home side

did not score any points.

Indeed it was left to centre Norm Patterson, to score the only try of the game when, after a restart, captain Kevin Williams collected the ball and launched a surging run to the try line. While being stopped yards short, the recycled ball was quickly fed to centre Norm Patterson who recorded the visitors’ first try to seal another league victory and maintain their promotion hopes.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, R Collins, R Lancaster, F Cannon, K Williams (capt), K Doig, P Taylor, K Lines, B Hauserman, R Gosling, A Hart, S Cooke, N Patterson, P Stubley, S Bourne. Replacements: A Buckberry, D Allen.

Dronfield 2nd XV 0, Boston 2nd XV 25

NOT to be outdone, there was cause for double celebrations, as the seconds also recorded an impressive win. Like their colleagues in the first team, they also did not concede any points. Skipper Dave Scott was rightly proud of the team’s performance away from home and with a number of new players.

December 10 round-up

Boston 1st XV 42, Nottingham Casuals 1st XV 5

At the mid-point stage of the 2005-2006 rugby season, Boston continued their impressive Notts, Lincs Derby and North Leicester League campaign with a comprehensive victory over visitors Nottingham Casuals. Victory by five tries to one underlined the home side’s dominance, and ensured they maintained their current third place in the table, as they enter the Christmas break.

The Vivaldi-sponsored Boston team started the game in whirlwind fashion, registering 14 unanswered points after 10 minutes of play. After one minute, the pace of winger Peter Stubley saw him open Boston’s account. Not to be outdone, fellow wing Adrian Hart scored the second, as the ball was moved quickly down the line. Both tries were convertedby Rhys Gosling, for Boston to take a 14-0 lead.

The purple patch, however, quickly ended towards the midway period with both sides struggling to keep possesion. For Boston, ball was either being lost in contact or turned over. The first half, however, ended on a high note courtesy of outside half Rhys Gosling. Two well-taken penalties increased Boston’s lead, and the final coup de grace, came via a fine solo try.

From just outside the Nottingham 22m line, Rhys showed the ball to the opposite backs and then jinked inside, out-sprinting the visitors’ defence to score under the posts. Rhys converted his own try to take the blue and whites into a commanding 25-5 lead at the interval.

Coach Mick Lyon then decided to make a double substitution. Iain Sampson replaced Anthony Buckberry in the front row, and Frank Cannon came off for captain Kevin Williams in the second row.

Within five minutes of the restart Rhys Gosling had extended the lead through a penalty, before centre Norm Pattison scored the first of his two tries. From a period of sustained pressure near the try line, number eight Ben Hauserman supplied a perfect pop ball for Norm to run onto to finish off from ten metres out.

Norm’s brace was completed after a set lineout catch and drive was halted close to the try line. The recycled ball enabled the centre to jink inside the defence to score. With Rhys Gosling converting both tries, Boston finished the game with another important league win and points differential.

During the second half in particular Boston’s intention to play a quick tempo game was seen. With scrum half Tom Kemp providing quick ball, the back row runners and backs were eager to run from deep and at speed into the visitors.

Allied to, at times, some impressive handling and off loading of ball, the watching crowd were kept entertained on a chill winter’s afternoon. Outside half Rhys Gosling ended the match with a 22-point haul courtesy of four conversions, three penalties and one try.

This Saturday Boston travel to play Dronfield in their last game of the year, kick off 2.15 pm.

Boston 1st XV: A Buckberry, R Collins, R Lancaster, N Lane , F Cannon, P Taylor, K Doig , B Hauserman, T Kemp, R Gosling, Norm Pattison ,S Cooke, A Hart , S Bourne. Replacements: S Loveley , K Williams (capt) , I Sampson, C Dowse.

Nottingham Casuals 2nd XV 32, Boston 2nd XV 20

A lack of preparation for this encounter ultimately proved to be Boston’s downfall as they lost a game they should have won away at Nottingham Casuals. Boston arrived late at the ground and initially had to start the match with only 13 players on the field, and crucially had no time for a warm up, or a chance to talk tactics.

With a number of young players in the team, this only led to greater initial confusion. Although from the start Boston’s scrum secured good ball and took the game to the home side, it was not long before the Notts side took advantage of their greater numbers, to open the scoring after 10 mins of play through their backs.

When eventually the rest of the squad arrived, captain Dave Scott was, at last, able to sort out the team. To the blue and whites’ credit they quickly “got back into gear” with Max Slater scoring a try under the posts. A penalty by Daniel Burt, in between Nottingham scores kept the side in contention. Fly-half Wayne Barnett scored their second try to reach the end of the first half 21-13 adrift.

In the second half after a few more positional changes — which included Hunain Dahar making his second team debut at prop — the game continued as the first half with Boston scoring and converting one more try, via Adam Wilkinson.

On this occasion, however, Nottingham Casuals proved too strong and recorded another two scores before full-time. The seconds must learn a lesson from this experience to ensure they all set off together and allow adequate travel time. The seconds look to the pool this week to secure a fixture.

December 3 round-up

Boston 1st XV 28, Keyworth 1st XV 6

In recent encounters, especially at home, Keyworth have proved to be a side where Boston have struggled to compete and as a result frequently finished gallant losers. On Saturday, Boston reversed this trend, to produced a controlled and impressive victory, to the delight of club coach Mick Lyon and captain Kevin Williams.

Three tries to nil was a just reward for the performance of the Vivaldi-sponsored Boston team. Throughout the encounter, the Boston forwards dominated play and at the same time, tamed the feisty Keyworth forwards, who had to live off limited possession for long periods.

Boston’s first try was scored by debutant centre Norm Pattison, whose powerful running and strong tackling, added a new cutting edge to the back division. Keyworth became more frustrated at the lack of possession and the penalty count grew in the visitors’ favour with Rhys Gosling punishing their indiscretions. The blue and whites’ second try was scored via number eight and man of the match Ben Hauserman, who linked well with Tom Kemp at scrum half.

To seal off the win, winger Peter Stubley added a final well-taken try in the corner, to earn an impressive win and crucially maintain the side’s promotion push. This Saturday Boston host Nottingham Casuals in the final league game of the year, kick-off 2.30pm.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, R Collins, R Lancaster, K Williams (capt), F Cannon, P Taylor, S Loveley, B Hauserman, T Kemp, R Gosling, Norm Pattison, Ryan Kraeuse, A Hart, S Bourne. Replacements: K Doig, N Lane, A Buckberry.

Boston 2nd XV 37, Horncastle 1st XV 25

AFTER their scheduled match away at Keyworth had been cancelled earlier in the week, the seconds secured a pool fixture against Horncastle.

From the start, Boston dominated the scrum and match developed into an ebb-and-flow affair. Daniel Burt opened the scoring for the home side with a well-taken penalty, to be followed by A Smith scoring a try in the corner.

Throughout the game, when one side appeared to be getting on top the other clawed their way back to reduce the points difference. Back row Sam Palin, increased Bostons lead to 13-7 before hooker Craig Dowse registered the blue and whites’ third try which was again converted by Daniel Burt to move Boston 20-7 ahead. Horncastle quickly responded to add a converted try to go into half-time 20-14 adrift.

The points continued in the second period. The blue and whites added three further tries via first No 8 Wayne Sutcliffe, who followed up his own kick and chase to score between the posts. Daniel Burt added the conversion.

Debutant Max Slater then scored in the corner before Sam Paylin added the last try of the match. Overall this was a much-improved performance by Boston. The young players who moved up to the second team and fitted in so well particularly impressed skipper Dave Scott.

Second XV: G Sargeant, C Dowse, S Wellsby, P Roberts, D Scott (capt), S Burt, H Dahar, W Sutcliffe, S Kemp, W Barnett, S Palin, S Dalrymple, A Smith, D Burt, Perry Cumber, C Clawson, P Smith, A Maguire, M Slater.

Minis and Juniors section

UNDER 7s

The little ones also played two matches. The first was against Peterborough where a determined effort saw Boston lose 4-3 on tries. James Butlin, Adam and Myles Bero scored these. The second game stretched the defensive skills, and resulted in a 5-3 loss to Wisbech. Michael Collins, Myles Bero and Louis Williams all scored.

UNDER 8s

This was the most united team effort with the boys putting in a fine defensive display winning the first game by a 4-0 try scoreline against Peterborough. Jack Alderton, Elliot Bero, Alex Roberts (two) netted the tries. The second match was a much tougher affair against Wisbech. It should have been a comfortable win. Instead it was ended in a 5-5 draw on tries scored. Elliot scored two tries, Jack added another, James Andrews got his first of the day, and there was one more for Alex Robert. It was a real team display that kept the side’s unbeaten record going for this season.

UNDER 10s

The first match was against a much more disciplined Peterborough team. The Boston side found it difficult to string any passes together, resulting in most of the play being bunched together. The highlight, however, was a lightning run down the wing by Alex Bero, to record the home sides only try of the match as they lost 4-1 on tries score. The second fixture against Wisbech was a much closer affair with both sides battling out for dominance. The first score was by Alex Bero who burst into their pack and then went through, to score a memorable try. This was short lived, as the team relaxed and Wisbech scored immediately. The last 10 minutes were quite physical with Oliver Street and Jamie Ward getting some punishment in the tackles, the game ended at one try apiece.