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Boston Rugby Club

Reports round-up

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

January 28 round-up

Boston 1st XV 27, Stamford 1st XV 3

Boston secured their second Notts, Lincs Derby and North Leicester League double of the season in a hard fought game against Stamford. While Stamford languish at the bottom of the league, appearances can be deceptive. And the home team who, earlier in the season came away with a flattering 27-12 win in the reverse fixture, did not have things all their own way during the match.

After the previous week’s loss, Boston — sponsored by Vivaldi — were looking to bounch straight back. Coach Mick Lyon was forced to reshuffle his squad due to injuries and the unavailability of key players. With club captain Kevin Williams one of the casualties, number eight Ben Hauserman led the side. In the forwards Rob Lancaster returned at prop to be joined by Richard Scott on his first team debut in the front row. Tom Kemp was at scrum half, Ryan Krause at centre and Rhys Gosling at full-back joined a reshaped back division.

Playing against a strong, biting wind in the first half, Boston — in terms of their performance — were still suffering a collective hangover from the previous week. Despite having the lion’s share of possession, their control in the loose was poor. They conceded possession via turnover ball in the loose to a Stamford team who were a yard quicker. It came, therefore, as no surprise to see Stamford punish a Boston indiscretion for a late tackle to take a 3-0 lead from a penalty.

Towards the end of a frustrating first half, Boston eventually began to put together some decent phases of fluid attacking rugby. From a break in the loose by back row Ste Loveley, the forwards carried the ball towards the try line. Quick re-cycling saw prop Rob Lancaster being driven over in the corner to take the home side into a 5-3 lead. Having re-discovered their form, they quickly added a second try. This time a quickly-taken tap penalty by scrum half Tom Kemp 10m out, saw him off-load the ball to supporting captain Hauserman whose try, converted by Rhys Gosling, moved Boston into a comfortable 12-3 lead at half-time.

With the advantage of the elements in their favour in the second half, Boston started strongly, adding a penalty via Gosling to extend their lead 15-3. Despite again dominating possession, they struggled to break free from the strong defensive tackling of the Stamford team, who were always looking to launch counter attacks.

Boston’s third try after 60 minutes was their best of the match. Good support and inter-changes of passes between back row Lee Van Haren, centre Simon Cook and fly-half Darryn Barratt down the touchline enabled the latter to break free and score in the corner to effectively seal the game, and take Boston 20-3 ahead. At this stage coach Lyon, made a number of subsitutions.Winger Peter Stubley was replaced by Matt Craven and Wayne Sutcliffe was replaced by Nigel Lane in the forwards. At the end of the match prop Rob Lancaster scored his second try to further extend the score line to 27-3.

Boston 1st XV: R Lancaster, C Dowse, R Scott, F Cannon , W Sutcliffe, S Loveley, L Van Haren, B Hauserman, T Kemp, D Barratt, A Hart, S Cooke, R Krause, P Stubley, R Gosling. Replacements: R Collins, N Lane, M Craven.

Sleaford 2nd XV 34, Boston 2nd XV 10

Boston seconds failed to put together a winning show against local rivals Sleaford. Poor tackling and bad passing seemed to be the order of the day, as Sleaford scored three tries in the first half to Boston’s one penalty by Daniel Burt.

The second half continued largely in the same vein, although Boston creditably picked up their performance level and they were rewarded with a fine solo try. An interception by Colin Smith saw him sprint nearly the entire length of the pitch, just managing to keep ahead of four Sleaford players hunting him down to score under the posts.

However, Sleaford managed another two tries before full-time leaving Boston knowing that simply by having a solid scrum game and good line out ball will not win a game alone. This week Boston second XV play Wisbech.

On the junior front, the Lynx Engineering-sponsored Boston under-13s side put on a good display of rugby on Sunday against Derby under-13s. They started positively from the kick off and produced an open, attacking game. They were quickly rewarded with a try, created by the forwards, for James Fosberry to get his name on the scoresheet. Boston soon added a second try. Fosberry produced another surging run and used his strength to go over the line. In the second half a third try was recorded, finished off by a strong run by new member T Roberts.

Team: P Coddington, C Doig, M Elstom, H Gray, J Powell, L Smith, L Firth, J Fosberry, T Roberts, O Roberts, S Grundy, A Kemp, J Ridge, J Williams, C Riley, S Wood, A Rose, L Hampson, S Stevens, R Hewitt.

January 21 round-up

Ashby 21, Boston 1^st XV 7

Boston’s bid for promotion honours suffered a major setback with this result away to high-riding rivals Ashby, a side who had been beaten only once in their previous 12 Notts, Lincs Derby and North Leicester League fixtures. Boston knew their best hopes of success lie in trying to win the battle of the forwards and try to secure enough possession to impose themselves on the home side. But in the end, things didn’t work out as Ashby were the dominant force.

The home side gave little away — no penalties conceded and little in the way of territorial advantage either. As a result, Boston were left with little scope to flourish.

Initially there was a 20 minute phase from the off when the visitors tried to take the game to their hosts. But no points were scored and gradually Ashby got fully into gear. The home side stepped up the tempo and two tries from their centre plus a couple of penalty chances taken saw Boston facing a 16-0 deficit at half-time.

A poor pitch didn’t make Boston’s task any easier after the interval and coach Mick Lyon rang the changes with Anthony Buckberry and Richie Collins were replaced by Nigel Lane and Craig Dowse in the front row while Frank Cannon joined the second row and Kenny Doig was introduced into the back row.

Creditably, Boston stuck well to their difficult task but a continuing inability to win clean ball for back-in-the-fold scrum half John Frith never helped their cause. However, one try was registered—Norma Patterson’s effort being converted by Darryn Barratt to at least offer a glimmer of hope. But this was short-lived as a well-executed catch and drive from a lineout gave Ashby another try for what proved to be the final score of the afternoon.

This Saturday (January 28), Boston entertain Stamford in another league match (kick-off 2.30pm). The club seconds make the reverse trip to Stamford.

Boston: Sampson, Collins, Buckberry, Lane, Williams, Sutcliffe, Van Haren, Hauserman, Firth, Barratt, Hart, Cooke, Patterson, Stubley, Bourne. Replacements: Cannon, Doig, Dowse.

Meanwhile, at the Boardsides, there was a comprehensive 55-0 win for Boston 3^rd XV 55 when they played host to Horncastle 2^nd XV.

On the junior front, Boston’s under-14s beat Skegness 12-5. Points for the blue and whites came in a second half recovery via two tries and a conversion after trailing 5-0 at the interval. Man of the match was Jack Ridge.

January 14 round-up

Boston 1st XV 23, Newark 2nd XV 0

Boston officials had to scramble around to find suitable opposition for a friendly fixture after the first XV’s scheduled match against local rivals Skegness in the first round of the Lincolnshire Cup was called off earlier in the week. The club did not want to be without any match practice so close to their vital table-top league clash with Ashby this Saturday.

Fortunately for coach Mick Lyon and club captain Kevin Williams, Newark were able to field a combined seconds and thirds team to ensure the Boston side, sponsored by Vivaldi, were able to have a run out. With several first team players being unavailable, it gave the opportunity for a number of the second team to step up and stake a claim for the jersey. Craig Dowse at hooker, Wayne Sutcliffe at number eight and Chris Aiken, centre, were all keen to impress. Unlike the previous week’s game, which was a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows, the encounter with Newark, proved to be an uninspiring contest for long periods.

Three tries in the first half that Boston dominated effectively put an end to the contest. From the spectators’ point of view, the tries were a mixture of individual flair and teamwork. Boston’s first try came after 20 minutes, when from outside the Newark 22m line, winger Peter Stubley, used both pace and surprising strength to muscle his way over the line. Five minutes later a long pass from fly-half Darryn Barratt, saw full-back Ste Bourne enter the back line at pace and from outside the 22m line he surged through to score the home side’s second try to open a 10-0 lead.

Just before half-time, Ste Bourne added his second try when, from a well-worked driving maul — which was stopped near the try line — the recycled ball was spun down the back line for the full-back to score in the corner.

The second half saw Boston register one further penalty and try through Barratt, to move the blue and whites into a comfortable advantage of 23-0. After the game, coach Mick Lyon expressed satisfaction with the performance.

In the core areas of scrum, lineout and support play, Boston performed well. While Boston failed to convert penalties awarded to them — a lesson they will need to rectify before next weeks crucial game — the benefits far outweighed the negatives.

Boston travel to Leicester-area side Ashby on Saturday, looking to avenge their previous league defeat. The squad are under no illusions that this will be anything other than a stern test of their character and discipline, against a team who lost for only the first time last week (against second place Castle Donington). Boston currently lie third in the league, and this is a must win game for the club, if they want to maintain their promotion hopes.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, C Dowse, R Lancaster, N Lane, K Williams (capt), K Doig, S Loveley, W Sutcliffe, T Kemp, R Gosling, A Hart, S Cooke, C Aiken, P Stubley, S Bourne. Replacements: B Hauserman, A Buckberry, N Patterson.

Market Deeping 2nd XV 12, Boston 2nd XV 3

Boston narrowly lost away at Market Deeping in an evenly-contested encounter. With a number of changes to the team, it was encouraging to see Boston maintain their strength in both the scrum and line out. Boston opened the scoring with a penalty by Daniel Burt to take a 3-0 lead. The home side scored a try after 30 minutes and in response the Boston forwards came back and were unlucky not to have scored through Wayne Barnett who lost control of the ball just before touching down.

Just before half-time Boston put the Deeping try line under pressure with a number of good rolling mauls but the drives were eventually being pulled down by Deeping players. The pattern of the second half was similar to the first with good runs from scrum half Jonny Firth. Boston’s Antony Buckberry crossed the line only to be held up. The blue and whites should have won the game. However, dropped ball in the backs and a dubious Deeping try which seemed to be dropped over the line, ensured that this would not to be their day.

January 7 round-up

Boston 1st XV 33, Buxton 20 1st XV 20

A four-try fightback in the second half saw Boston Rugby Club first XV eventually run out victors against a resurgent Buxton team, in their first league game of 2006. The performance by the Vivaldi-sponsored Boston team was excellent in what was a classic game of contrasting halves that kept spectators on tenterhooks throughout the encounter.

Boston’s impressive start to the fixture belied what was to come as the blue and whites raced into the lead after only two minutes. Centre Norm Patterson opened the scoring with a strong physical run inside the 22m zone. He penetrated the Buxton defence to score under the posts. The conversion by Darryn Barratt, moved Boston into a 7-0 lead. For the next 25 minutes it was one-way traffic. While the home side dominated play and showed good handling and off-loading skills in the tackle area, they were never able to finish off many promising moves.

Buxton, to their credit, defended resolutely and were able to to turn over possession at crucial times. While the blue and whites had the pressure, they could not convert this into points, together with missed penalties, it would see Boston unable to extend their lead.

Buxton, after weathering the storm, took matters in to their own hands — literally — and in a devastating 10-minute spell they rocked Boston by scoring three tries through their adventurous counter attacking rugby to race into a 17-7 lead. During this time Boston were reduced to 14 men as back row Kenny Doig took time off in the sin bin. Clearly stunned by the onslaught, Boston were left in no doubt they were in a tough match. And half-time could not come quickly enough to allow coach Mick Lyon to gather his squad and regroup.

Boston started the second half in determined fashion and after 10 minutes influential number eight Ben Hauserman broke blind from a scrum 15 yards from the line. Quick interchanges between scrum-half Kenny Lines and winger Peter Stubley, left Stubley to jink and weave his way through the covering defence to score Boston’s second try. The conversion by Darryn Barratt added two more points and reduced the arrears to 17-14. Buxton were never going to lie down, and from the restart a well-taken drop kick from their fly-half, added three more points to edge them further ahead at 20-14.

At this stage of the game home coach Mick Lyon made a double substitution. Frank Cannon replaced Nigel Lane in the second row and Ryan Krause made way for Ste Bourne at full-back. Boston dramatically upped their work rate to produce a 10-minute spell of pressure rugby. Norm Patterson added his second try after the team had been camped on the visitors’ try line.

A series of scrums and rolling mauls were repelled by the Buxton defence until quick ball released to the backs saw Norm Patterson take the ball at pace 10 yards out and slice through the defence to score. The added conversion from Barratt saw the home side move back into the lead by one point at 21-20. Shortly after, number eight Hauserman scored a solo individual try — a pick up and drive from a 5m scrum, to move the home side crucially one score further ahead, 28-20.

With 10 minutes remaining the match was far from won, and the crowd watching wondered if there would be any more twists in the plot. Despite Buxton’s admirable never-say-die attitude, Boston scored their fifth and final try when back row Phil Taylor picked up a loose ball from a line-out 5m out and dived over in the corner to seal the victory.

This was an important fightback and crucial league win for Boston, to maintain their promotion push. This Saturday Boston entertain local rivals Skegness in the first round of the Lincolnshire Cup competition, kick off 2.15 pm. The fol-

lowing week they travel to top of the league Ashby.

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

Scunthorpe 4th XV v Boston 2nd XV: The scheduled away fixture was called off by Boston, as a result of player unavailability. This week the seconds entertain Market Rasen 2nd XV at home, kick-off 2.15pm.