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Boston Rugby Club

Reports round-up

SEASON 2006-2007

November 2006 match action details

November 25 round-up

Boston 1st XV 29, Keyworth 1st XV 5

Boston continued their winning league run, with a hard-fought victory against a spirited Keyworth team. The elements and pitch conditions played their part in dictating the style of play, which unsurprisingly was forward-dominated.

Playing against a strong wind in the first half, the Keyworth fly-half intelligently used the wind to keep Boston pinned for lengthy periods in their own half. Boston’s tight eight quickly established their domination in the scrum, a discipline that continued throughout the game.

It was from this platform that Boston (sponsored by Staffsmart) gained their first try. From a scrum on the 10m line, scrum half Tom Kemp broke blind and quick hands enabled winger Peter Stubley to use his speed to outpace the visitors’ defence and score in the corner. Quickly after this, Keyworth levelled with a well-worked forward drive.

Given the conditions and difficulty in handling, a tight forward driving game was what was called for. Boston capitalised on this, scoring two well-worked tries after 30 minutes. Both were identical, worked from 5m lineouts. A well-executed catch and drive saw number eight Ben Hauserman emerge from the bottom of the pile of players to score his two tries. The conversion by captain Rhys Gosling enabled Boston to enter half-time with a 17-5 lead.

The second half in the main proved to be a scrappy affair with few highlights to report. Boston’s forwards continued their domination both in the scrum and in their driving loose play. The excitement generated by an excellent 35m controlled drive by the forwards warmed up the watching crowd. It brought Boston to within 5m of the try line. The resulting scrum saw number eight Ben Hauserman drive over and record his third try, to see Boston extend their lead to 22-5.

At this stage in the match coach Ray Hayward utilised all his subs. Nigel Lane, came on for Frank Cannon in the second row, Craig Dowse was replaced by Ritchie Collins at hooker and Paul Jarvis replaced Kenny Lines at full-back.

Boston’s final and fifth try of the game was scored by centre Simon Cooke that, with the conversion, meant Boston ended the game 29-5 ahead. Boston’s coaching staff were pleased with the overall performance given the difficulties of the conditions. They will want to keep this winning momentum going as they face fellow joint table-toppers Nottinghamians away on December 2 in a crucial encounter, kick-off 2.30pm. All support will be welcomed.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, C Dowse, A Buckberry, F Cannon, R Shelford, S Loveley, J Fendyke, B Hauserman, T Kemp, R Gosling, A Wright, S Cooke, D Barratt, Peter Stubley, K Lines. Replacements: R Collins, N Lane, P Jarvis.

Midlands under-18s trials: Boston Rugby Club first XV full-back Paul Jarvis was called up on Sunday to take part in the under-18s Midlands trials.

November 18 round-up

Boston 1st XV 47 Melbourne 1st XV 3

What a difference a week makes. After last Saturday’s game, Boston 1^st XV emerged from the changing rooms as a transformed team. And they produced a significantly improved performance to secure their place in the third round of the EDF Cup.

This eventually turned out to be a comprehensive victory, with the Staffsmart-sponsored Boston side scoring 34 points in an impressive second half display of open running rugby, with centre Darryn Barratt recording a deserved tries hat-trick.

A number of changes were made to the previous week’s squad that won at Dronfield. Coach Ray Haywood introduced two new players. In the forwards second row Ryan Shelford a New Zealand import made his first team debut and at scrum half the team welcomed the return of Kenny Lyons.

In the first half Boston played against the wind and strong winter sunshine. But the visitors failed to capitalise as Boston remained camped in the Melbourne half. In the forwards, number eight Ben Hauserman and Ryan Shelford made strong surging runs in the loose and both backs and forwards were looking to off-load the ball in contact and keep the ball alive. After five minutes Boston, through winger Peter Stubley, scored the first of their two first half tries when he outpaced the opposition defence to score in the corner. A converted penalty by Rhys Gosling shortly after was reward for Boston’s mounting pressure to take them into a deserved 8-0 lead.

With Boston testing the defensive tackling of the Melbourne team, it was inevitable that before long they would secure further points. Full-back Paul Jarvis finished off a flowing move that switched first right and then left across the pitch to edge Boston into a 13-0 position at half-time.

The second half proved to be an explosive encounter in more than one way, as Boston came out of the starting blocs in impressive fashion. With the majority of the spectators still in the clubhouse finishing off their refreshments, Boston and centre Barratt scored two tries within two minutes as the home team move effortlessly into a 25-0 advantage.

The second came courtesy of an individual solo break by Gosling that split the Melbourne defence wide open. Gosling proved instrumental in securing centre Barratt’s hat-trick when a perfectly judged grubber kick 10 metres out enabled Barratt to run on and score under the posts.

At this stage and with victory assured, coach Hayward brought on hooker Craig Dowse to replace Ritchie Collins, James Fendyke for Marc Miles and Anthony Buckberry for Nigel Lane. Further tries by winger Stubley (to gain his brace) and an interception try from the half-way line by Gosling, followed by a monster drop-kick from inside the visitors’ half, only rubbed salt into Melbourne’s wounds before tempers flared towards the end of the match.

Overall this was a greatly improved performance and one that showed what Boston are capable of when they play their own game. This Saturday (November 25) Boston resume league action when they entertain Keyworth at home (kick-off 2.30pm). With Boston lying in third place in the league, only adrift of Nottinghamians on match points difference, they will want to maintain their promotion push.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, R Collins, N Lane, F Cannon, R Shelford, S Loveley, M Miles, B Hauserman, K Lyons, R Gosling, A Wright, S Cooke, D Barratt, P Stubley, P Jarvis. Replacements: C Dowse, A Buckberry, T Kemp, J Fendyke.

Boston 2^nd XV 17 Horncastle 1st XV 5

Boston seconds quickly put the disappointment of last week’s loss out of their minds with a gutsy win over Horncastle. In a tight forwards orientated game, Boston, despite conceding an enormous amount of penalties, registered three tries via Philip Roberts, Kenny Doig and John Macpherson. On Saturday November 25, Boston seconds travel away to play Keyworth seconds.

November 11 round-up

Dronfield 1st XV 5, Boston 1st XV 8

For the second successive week, Boston ensured they continued their winning run albeit with another below-par performance away at Dronfield. While the effects of a two-hour coach journey, strong wind and rain cannot be ignored, it was the manner in which Boston (sponsored by Staffsmart) again got dragged down into a forward battle, which most upset and disappointed coach Ray Hayward and led him to state to his squad that “today they used their get out of jail card.”

Boston started the match playing with the advantage of a strong wind and quickly realised that Dronfield’s intention was to play a tight forward game and attempt to nullify any intentions Boston had of playing an expansive game. Captain Rhys Gosling again struggled with his kicking and missed a number of opportunities to put Boston into the lead, before finally being successful to move Boston into a slender 3-0 lead midway through the first half.

The pattern of play was at best described as scrappy and Boston’s only try was the result of an enforced error by both teams. A promising move by the backs in Dronfield’s half broke down, only for the visitors to quickly gain the advantage in loose play and steal the ball. This allowed Simon Cooke to run in to extend Boston’s lead to 8-0. Again Boston’s concentration went astray and they conceded a try just before half-time to allow the home team to go into the interval with a distinct psychological advantage, a deficit of only three points and the advantage of the wind.

The second half proved to be a test of Boston’s stamina, strength and resolve, not just for the players but also for the travelling supporters. To the team’s credit they displayed guts and determination to ensure they did not concede any points. Perhaps playing into the wind and driving rain helped Boston ensure they had to concentrate for the full 40 minutes. Despite both teams being reduced to 14 players (a result of two separate sin-binnings), Boston Staffsmart came away with an important league victory and another two points that fuelled celebrations on the long coach journey home.

On Saturday November 18, the Boston squad take a break from league action to entertain Melbourne in the second round of the EDF Cup competition, kick off 2.30 pm. All support is welcome at the club, based at the Princess Royal Arena off the Boardsides.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, R Collins, A Buckberry, N Lane, F Cannon, S Loveley, M Miles, B Hauserman, T Kemp, R Gosling, A Wright, S Cooke, D Barratt, Peter Stubley, P Jarvis. Replacement: C Dowse.

Dronfield 2^nd xv 40, Boston 2^nd xv 7

Travelling away with their first team colleagues, Boston seconds unfortunately could only muster 10 players. The home side, to their credit, loaned Boston a number of players to make a decent contest possible. Not surprisingly Boston struggled to gain any cohesion in their play and despite scoring one try, they lost convincingly by a 40-7 margin.

November 4 round-up

Boston 1st XV 26 Worksop 1st XV 8

In a below par performance, Boston eventually did enough to come away with a valuable victory. The result saw them continue their winning run, and more importantly maintained their promotion push.

At times winning ugly in sport is a pre-requisite of successful teams. On Saturday Boston, sponsored by Staffsmart, were no different. Historically matches against Worksop have proved difficult and the Nottinghamshire side have, to some extent, been Boston’s bogey team. For the expectant crowd watching, who have become used to the expansive game Boston traditionally play, it proved to be a frustrating afternoon.

From the kick-off Boston found it difficult to get into their stride. Worksop are always an awkward team to play against. Poor handling, lack of quick ball in the loose and a growing penalty count conceded in the tackle area only fuelled Boston’s frustrations. There were only brief glimpses of the incisive running rugby of which the team is normally capable. Early breaks by Darryn Barratt, Paul Jarvis and Peter Stubley through the Worksop defence proved unrewarded.

After 15 minutes, a mazy run by winger Stubley, where he ghosted past three defenders, from outside the Worksop 22m zone, earned Boston’s first try of the game to move the home side into a 5-0 lead. Despite Boston beginning to dominate the opposition in terms of territory and pressure, their only reward was a further penalty by Rhys Gosling to extend the lead to eight points. However, straight away from the restart Boston conceded a penalty, which was ably converted. And minutes later a rare foray into the Boston half saw Worksop level the game with a well-executed forward drive, to enter half-time level at 8-8.

Boston just could not get going. And the half-time message from the coaching staff was one of preaching patience, a belief in playing the game how Boston wanted to play and not to get dragged down to the opposition’s level.

Five minutes after the restart, captain Rhys Gosling restored the lead via a penalty to move Boston 11-8 ahead. And shortly afterwards, hooker Craig Dowse was replaced by Ritchie Collins.

At last Boston were beginning to put together controlled phases of rugby. And their pressure was further rewarded with another converted penalty. Pack leader and number eight Ben Hauserman effectively secured victory midway through the second half with the first of his two tries. The first was a result of a quickly taken tap penalty by scrum half Tom Kemp, which Boston worked through the forwards for Ben Hauseman to run straight at the Worksop defence and score with an outstretched arm. With the score at 19-8, Boston brought on fresh legs with back row Marc Miles being replaced by Ollie Webster, and full back Paul Jarvis, by Simon Cooke.

Literally with the last move of the match, a 5m scrum from the Worksop line saw number eight Ben Hauseman scored a classic “pick up and drive try” to add another valuable five points. And with the conversion added, Boston finished with a 26-8 victory.

On Saturday November 11, Boston travel to Dronfield with the seconds, in another league game in advance of their second round EDF Cup game against Melbourne at home the following week.

Boston 1st XV: I Sampson, C Dowse, A Buckberry, N Lane, F Cannon, B Hauserman, J Fendyke, M Miles, T Kemp, R Gosling (capt), A Wright, D Barratt, R Krause, P Stubley, P Jarvis. Replacements: O Webster, S Cooke, R Collins.

Skegness 2^nd XV 0, Boston 2^nd XV 63

Boston enjoyed their time on the coast with an emphatic away win. The highlight of the game was a four-try haul by back row Sam Paylin. On Saturday November 11, Boston seconds travel with the first team to play their Dronfield counterparts.