This week’s guest reporter: Drew Peacock

A warm welcome to Kettering as we start the second half of the season with the return fixtures starting from now. At present Olney are sitting in fourth place in the league and would hope to consolidate this then challenge the top three to finish higher than at any time in previous years. Kettering, as we know, would try to prevent this and are capable of beating most sides when on form. With today also the occasion of the annual ladies lunch there would surely be some welcome support on the touchline. Our favourite single man has been in hospital recently for reasons it wouldn’t be fair to divulge. We’re sure he will have been charming many of the nurses and wish him a speedy recovery. Get well soon Plod.

With the conditions far more conducive for rugby than last week and the pitch looking in fine order, the assembled masses were hoping for an entertaining afternoon on the touchline. It lived up to expectation from the early stages when a touch kick from Olney went out on the full giving Kettering a lineout in Olney territory. Winning this and releasing their backs, the ball reached the left winger who dotted down in the corner and a fine conversion gave Kettering the lead. With Olney’s first meaningful entry into the 22, a couple of penalties and a Kettering man in the bin for 10 minutes allowed enough room for Eddie Goss to drive powerfully over. Max Day with the extras and the scores level. With both teams winning their lineouts well it came as no surprise when Olney won theirs on halfway to use the backs again and a mazy run from Arthur Betteridge with the offload to Stu Livesey to give him a run in under the posts. Kettering next and another lineout to set their backs off resulting in another converted try. Scores level. With both sides willing to run, a highlight of the half was captain Goss taking the ball on his own 22 and with not many options open, headed off for the other end, leaving several defenders in his wake, only to be stopped 2m short with little support and perhaps hoping what might have been. Olney stayed in the 22 and Day kicked the next points to put Olney 3 points up. At the end of the half Kettering had worked their way close enough to the Olney line and a crossfield kick was gathered on the right wing for a try and the half time score at 19-17 to the visitors.

The second half was no less frenetic than the first and early on Olney had a lineout 5m out. The forwards decided it was their turn and when Rob Morgan forced his way over from close range, with the conversion, Olney had the lead (albeit only briefly!). The next score again came from winning the set piece when Kettering won a scrum not far from the Olney line, feeding the winger who scored the bonus point try. Olney came back with a wonderful try from broken play when Day collected a loose ball, made the hard yards and offloaded to Henry Warren, who had a lot to do before he eventually crossed the line. Much to the delight of his father, no doubt, who has become one of the loyal followers, both home and away and strangely admits to actually reading these reports. Shortly after though, Kettering scored again with another converted try and put them ahead with the game reaching its conclusion. Olney were not about to let this game go though and a wonderful counter attack from deep resulted in Day finishing the move then converting it himself to give Olney the lead by a point. This lead was further extended when Day finished a move from a successful lineout to take the final score to 41-33 to the hosts. This may not be totally accurate as it was getting dark and this reporter’s eyesight is not what it used to be and there’s every possibility that Max wasn’t actually on the pitch at the time.

Some notable performances again this week and a well-deserved victory in a game which could have gone either way. Max Innes coming in from the colts for his first start, Eddie Goss who put in a real captains performance and also young Stanners with his powerful frame and size which puts fear into the opposition by merely running onto the pitch. Even then he punches above his weight! The legend that is Steve Howson said the result was never in doubt.

Apparently the Harris family got together for a family meal at home not long ago. This was going well until the boys discovered Mrs Harris had put ginger in the curry. It’s been a while since they moved out but they were really quite fond of that cat!