Sat 8 Mar 2025
Peterborough RUFC faced off against Daventry at a sunshine soaked Fortress Fengate in their latest East Mids Regional 2 fixture. Coming off a poor performance last time out Peterborough were eager to not have a repeat in front of a large crowed due to the annual ex players meal. The spectators were more than happy as a dominate second half saw Borough win by 45-25.
Daventry kicked off with the breeze at their backs and raced out to a 10-0 nil thanks to a converted try and penalty. Borough grew into the game and thanks to a dominate maul and scrum began to put pressure on the visitors tryline. Captain Luke Swindells leading from the front barged over after repeated pick and goes. With Byron Van Uden converting Borough were soon on level terms after he also kicked a penalty. Credit to the Daventry 10 however as he kicked three penalties from distance to punish some Borough ill-discipline and give his side a 19-10 halftime lead. Borough Coaches Sam Crooks and Brendan Burke spoke of upping the tempo of the game and playing what's in front them and to their credit the young Borough side did.
Now with the breeze behind them Borough were able to clear their lines with Van Uden constantly turning the Daventry side around with some excellent out of hand kicking. With territory in their favour Borough began to turn the screw and it wasn't to long before they had their rewards when Prop Stu Day crashed over next to the post which gave Van Uden and easy conversion. Showing they can score from any where young winger Michael Teague ran onto a ball at pace, slicing through the opposition defence and running 50 metres clear to score. Alfie Lewis was next to score, with their scrum going backwards Daventry were forced to try and kick clear which Lewis charged down and regathered to score. Van Uden then added a try to go with conversion and penalty kicks when running a ball from a five metre scrum he simply dummied the Daventry defence slicing through to score. Then some what against the run of play Daventry scored a good try when they found space around the outside of Boroughs defence. But with time almost up the home side would have the last score when Borough fullback Nic Langton fielded a wayward kick on half way and sprinted in,avading the chasing defence to score. Borough deserved their victory by 45-25 which sees them move back into fifth place with two league games left to play.
Director of Rugby Shane Manning's comments " it was a good game to bounce back after our last game. Our set piece was really good today and in the second half Daventry really couldn't get into the game. Callum Cruickshank had a great game at scrumhalf for us, he doesn't usually play there but with a late call off he stepped in and did a really good job. Also our openside flanker Alfie Lewis played his best game of the season, he's only in his first season of senior rugby but he looks like he's been playing for years. Another week off now before we have a really difficult away game against Oadby Wyggs, we are both fighting it out for 5th position so we are expecting tough day".
