Saturday saw Kempston Rugby Club prepare for their first Merit League fixture of the season against Old Northamptonians and they stormed to a convincing victory on a stellar opening day.
Well prepared after a tough pre season game against Bedford Athletic, the K’s assembled at Cutler Hammer, and it wasn’t long before the K’s David Cowl went over for the first try, ably converted by Ewan Casey.
Both sides regrouped, with Northamptonians taking the game to the Ks, who again responded with a barnstorming breakaway try from Ewan Casey, who unfortunately failed to convert.
Some excellent defensive work from Kempston kept their opposition from scoring, and some solid midfield play resulted in our joint Player of the Match, Chris Mayhew, going over for the home side’s third try.
Kempston’s discipline almost cost them dearly when they gave away penalties which resulted in Northamptonian lineouts in the K’s 22, but their defence stood firm and again Casey broke out and scored, twice, both times converting his own try to secure his hat trick.
The K’s weren’t going to get all the spoils, and sure enough, a little defensive napping resulted in an opening Northamptonians try, which they converted.
Seven minutes later the referee blew his whistle for half time, and the two sides retreated to their own huddles for the all-important team talk with Kempston leading 33-7.
The second half started in the same manner as the first, with an early try from Luke Barry, converted this time by captain, John Higginson.
Not long after, Alistair MacMullen went over for Kempston, but this time the angle for the conversion proved too tricky for K’s captain.
There then followed long periods of scrums, resets, and again strong defence from both sides, before Joel Cain – playing full back – broke through and found the try line, scoring near enough to the posts to make the conversion a formality.
The visitors found some respite with a try of their own after this, but by this time it was looking like a real uphill struggle for the visitors to get back into the game.
Two more tries from Kempston sealed the match; the first from Joel Cain followed by a score for Josh Thomas with the final play of the game.
The final score of 64-14 represented a perfect start to Kempston’s season, with Northampton Outlaws next up on 7th October.
Words by Simon Forbes
