Keyworth 1st XV win against the odds with only 14 men!!

The Keyworth 1st XV travelled to face a strong Meden Vale side with only 14 men, due to an administration error, but showed all of the grit and determination which we have all come to expect from this band of mighty warriors.

The game started slowly and both sides seemed to struggle to come to grips with the blustery conditions. Although the home side had a man advantage, they struggled to make it count until the 15 minute mark, when some neat interchanging in their backline enabled them to exploit the man advantage, scoring a converted try under the posts (7 – 0). After 25 minutes, and several scrum collapses, Meden Vale were awarded a penalty which they duly kicked (10 – 0), for Keyworth deliberately pulling the scrum down. The decision was hotly disputed, and considering the Keyworth 1st XV have 3 of the strongest, athletic, good looking, and honest front row players across this land, I see little reason to disbelieve them.

With 5 minutes left before half time, the Keyworth pack began to dominate the upfront battle. Some strong driving from Johnson, Ransom, Parnham and Parker enabled Keyworth to make some great strides in attack. The defence also improved, partly due to some great work from Kieran and Severn, showing their expert abilities at slowing the opposition ruck. This extra pressure resulted in a well deserved Keyworth penalty in the centre of the pitch, 20 metres out, which “Mr. Trusty boot” (Richo) drove through the sticks (10 – 3).

The second half saw Keyworth down by 7 points, playing up hill and straight into a strong head wind. The conditions were against them, but these lions were still up for the fight. Bugden and Scott began to pick and drive, and Phillips was playing the perfect combination of scrumhalf come flanker! As Keyworth began to assert themselves, disaster struck. A free flowing backs move which saw the ball move across the backline through the hands of Richo, Clark, Gregs, Halpin, and Birch resulted in an exotic overlap on the wing. Unfortunately the final pass held up in the strong wind, which enabled the Vale outside centre to gather and score once more under our posts (15 – 3). Try was also converted (17 – 3)

This score was quickly followed by another Vale penalty taking them into a 20 – 3 lead, with barely 20 minutes to go. Lesser men would have crumbled, but not this lot!! Led on by their superb skipper Clark, they composed themselves and then went for the jugular.

Some strong running from Gregs and Halpin, gained Keyworth a lineout on the opposition 22. Kieran through a superb accurate 4 ball, which Parker gathered with his usual ease, and the pack began to march. As the maul spun, Kieran drove forward stopping 4 yards short of the Vale line. Some great support from Bugden and Parnham, enabled Johnson to pick and drive for the line, scoring to make it 20 – 8. Richo made no mistake with the conversion, once again splitting the uprights (20 – 10)

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Robert Severn, rolled back the years and set off like a gazelle down the Vale wing. With pace and agility that belies his appearance, Severn took 3 men to ground with him. A quick recycling of the ball saw snake hips Richards dive for the try line, touching down with 2 men on his back (20 – 15).

The clock was running out on our boys, but they still kept going. The tackles were flying everywhere, with some absolutely monster hits going in from Ransom (biggest hit I’ve ever seen!!) and Bugden. Gregs was smashing everything near him, and Jedward were causing mayhem! As the clock ran out, the referee called “last play” as Vale prepared to take a line out on their own 22. The ball was challenged and ended up in the Vale hookers’ hands, who threw it into touch! The referee quickly called a penalty to Keyworth. Quick thinking from Phillips saw him take a quick tap; he fed Johnson, who bulldozed his way through the retreating defence to score a sensational try and his 2nd of the game, to bring the score level on 20 – 20 with the conversion left to come.

There is nobody else in this world who you’d want on your team at this moment, and sure enough, with all the calmness in the world, Richo stepped up to claim a Keyworth victory (22 – 20)

A great win, which shows the togetherness and unity of this special band of brothers. Let’s repeat the trick next week and claim the double over Castle Donington, although my legs are telling me we should try to do it with 15 men next week!!

Report by Richard Johnson