After the car crash that was last week’s match report, things were looking good for a better stab at it this week…the first home game of the season that was kindly sponsored by the Mini and Junior Section. Although next season please can you leave your cars at home… I had to park in Emberton and walk to the ground.

Olney kicked off with the south westerly wind and immediately put Kettering under pressure with Rob Morgan scoring close to the posts after good work from Eliot Simpson. The try was converted by Charlie Hicks. Almost straight away, Kettering levelled the scores after a penalty from a lineout enabled them to catch, drive and go over after 17 minutes. Kettering nearly scored again after a fly-hack through but their No8 failed to gather and the chance was lost. Olney soon found themselves on the front foot after a kick-to-clear double act from Charlie Hicks and Ewan Fuller and soon afterwards young Leonard went on another one of his bullocking runs but was brought down just inside their 22. A little later Eddie Goss strolled over the tryline to score after a cracking crosskick from Charlie Hicks, who then converted off the far post to make the score 14-7. Moments later, Charlie himself went over for a try after a quick tap in the middle by Ethan Chambers that enabled Mac Kitchener to set up Charlie for his score. Puzzlingly, he failed to convert this far easier conversion attempt. There then followed a full 15-man effort initiated by Harvey Dench from deep inside his own half and finished off by Joe Baker flopping over the line after some strong running from Arthur Betteridge, Mac Kitchener, Eddie Goss and Hector Stanbridge. Charlie converted to make the score 26-7. Kettering scored again but failed to convert after another catch and drive from a penalty lineout. 26-12.

It was from about now that Kettering {redacted} Shortly afterwards, Stanbridge was Yellow carded for tackling from an offside position on halfway which was probably a bit harsh but the ref oddly justified it because he apparently overlooked a no-arms tackle a little earlier. Oh well, that’s alright, then. Half-time score 26-12.

Kettering playing with the wind in the second half had a little more zing and made good progress after pushing Olney off their own scrum early on. This coupled with another {redacted} contributed to a good scrum pushover score which they converted well. 26-19.
Eliot Simpson then kicked a marvellous 50-22 which he proceeded to gather himself for a quick throw-in. According to the referee this was not allowed so Olney had to take a normal one which eventually led to nothing. Rafe then came on for Mac and last week’s scorer Coby on for Graham. Then Mac came back on for Charlie and Graham went back on, this time for Harry. God knows who Max Day came on for but he finished an unconverted try shortly afterwards following another charge by the young Leonard who was just held up after a dud lineout from Kettering…31-19.

Not long to go…about 12 minutes but now Kettering were really applying some pressure and forcing Olney into making lots of errors. Following a scrum, they attacked down the blindside to make a good score wide out that they converted to make it 31-26…ooh dear!
The final 10 minutes lasted an age with Kettering only just failing to touch down wide out after a speculative crosskick. Eventually after a few false endings, a monster drop-out from Ewan’s own line, and a knock-on of Billy Smart proportions from Hector, the whistle went for full-time and the winning result suddenly seemed never-in-doubt.

Yet again, the opposition managed the referee better than Olney did, this time through {redacted} . And it nearly worked. If you watch the Veo recording, they managed to accrue over 9 minutes rest and reorganisation at the times when Olney were “on it”.

Good showings from Rafe Wilmer on his debut, Harry Dunning and as always Stan Allen. Hector Stanbridge, who has put on over a stone since this time last year got to sleep in the house again on Saturday night for another nuggety man-of-the-match performance. [Ed - Hector had pressing matters so Rafe took not only a 1st XV tie but the Polar Events bottle of bubbly too!]

A very close match for most of the game and Olney Rugby wish Kettering President Helen Bridgeman the best of success in her term of office…Doug will have been very proud.

Your scribe is on holiday next week so you’ll have to tell him what happened at Harboro’ when he gets back. Hopefully you’ll get someone, for whom English is their first language, to write the report instead.