Honours even in battle with Moderns as Keyworth 2s draw 19 – 19.

The Moderns side was a mixture of their 3rd XV and their Vets team, whilst the Keyworth side included several 1st XV players plugging a few gaps in the 2nd XV line up, after their league game against Cresswell Crusaders had been called off at ridiculously short notice, late on Friday night.

Keyworth had the advantage of the fairly ferocious elements in the first half but as so often happens, failed to make it really tell except on a couple of occasions when clearing downfield. It was following a long kick that Keyworth found themselves in the Moderns 22. After the lineout, one of the Moderns forwards found himself on the wrong end of a yellow card after a bit of innocuous handbags. Keyworth took immediate advantage and from the ensuing penalty, Jason Holland went blind and fed youngster Rob Tiplady in his first game for the club and he drove over from 5m for the opening score on 25 minutes. The conversion attempt by Jason Holland was without doubt one of the most inept seen on any rugby field this millennium.

Moderns stormed straight back and were level within less than 10 minutes when slack defence from Keyworth allowed the Moderns centre to weave his way over from 10m out after Keyworth had been penalised for being offside in midfield. The game was littered with penalties, scrums and constant whistling and the lack of advantage stifled the flowing rugby that both sides were intent on playing. The scrum was a mess on the Keyworth loose head/Moderns tight head side with constant resetting of the scrum or penalties being conceded.

The first half finished 5 – 5 and Keyworth found themselves playing into a strong wind. However, after the poor passing performance of the first half, this was probably a good thing. The game was there for the taking for either side but Keyworth’s defence and support play needed to improve dramatically if they were to be successful.

Time after time, Keyworth took the ball into contact and found themselves being turned over by the stronger, older, more wily Moderns Vets, who also used the conditions more effectively, putting the ball behind the visitor’s defence and making them turn. Aaron Browning was particularly effective in running the ball back at the home side and he made good ground on almost every occasion.

Keyworth took the lead once more on about 50 minutes when a loose pass in midfield by the Moderns backs was pounced on by Jason Holland who raced 60m to the Moderns line to cross, whilst being chased all the way. Sam Tilaks was able to add the extra points. Once again, Moderns came right back at Keyworth and were level within 5 minutes after a lineout 15m from the Keyworth line, with good interpassing between the forwards.

Both teams used their benches to good effect to give everyone who’d turned out a run. The third try from Keyworth came on 64 minutes when after good lineout ball, Alex Tsang, moving infield from his wing, got the ball about 30 m out and after an initial cutback, zigzagged his way to the line for a superb solo score, his ninth in 10 games this season. Again, Sam Tilaks slotted the conversion.

Unfortunately, Keyworth’s defence could not withstand the home side and for the third time they levelled the scores on 72 minutes when they crashed over from close range after the visitors were penalised in their 22. The final score of 19 apiece was a good result for both sides, each of whom had chances to do better and to win. The game was played in an excellent spirit with players exchanging laughs and jokes throughout.

Keith Scott’s 2nd XV were grateful for the support of 1st XV players, Phil Parnham, Stuart Johnson, Adam Budgen, Mark Carey and Stuart Clark. Commiserations go to Sam Tilaks, James Maddock and Jack Starr, all denied their chance of playing for the 1st XV by Creswell’s inability to fulfil the fixture. The latter putting in a great try-saving tackle on the Moderns winger late in the second half.

Other performances of note came from Jack Pitchfork who completed the entire game and Man of the Match was adjudged to be Aaron Browning for his aggressive running out of defence. Next week the 2nds face a trip to Southwell where the Red Men will provide another stern test but the spirit in Scotty’s Saracens remains high and the squad will be up for the challenge.