Semi-final place is secured for Kesteven Rugby Club Under 14s’ team

Kesteven Under 14s have finished top of their NLD group to secure a place in the cup semi-final.

In a thrilling top-of-the-table clash, they faced a formidable Scunthorpe team on Sunday.

Both sides started cautiously, trading penalties and lineouts in the first few minutes, culminating in a Scunthorpe lineout just in their half.

Kesteven turned the ball over for Fergus to scoop it into a gap in Scunthorpe’s defence, charging through to score on the right wing.

Scunthorpe tried to dominate the breakdowns but Kesteven’s defence held fast.

Both teams conceded penalties at the ruck under the watchful eye of the NLD ref, resulting in some good territory being made at the kicks to touch.

Kesteven attacked time and again into Scunthorpe’s half but were unable to punch through again before half-time, keeping score at just 5-0.

Ready for a counter-attack, the Kesteven boys came out fighting after the break, again turning over a Scunthorpe lineout, this time it was Josh who powered through, positioning his try neatly for him to convert.

K’s kept Scunthorpe pinned down in their own half for most of the rest of the match, with two nail-biting scrums on their five metre line and a textbook backs move through Arnie, Nate, Josh, Stan and Gabe which came breathlessly close to two more tries.

A lineout from a penalty gave Josh the chance to burst through again to score, then converting with a terrific kick from out wide.

Scunthorpe pulled back with a try in the dying minutes, but it was too late to prevent a well-deserved 19-5 victory, sending Kesteven to the semi-finals in two weeks’ time.