Sat 5 Apr 2025
Peterborough RUFC played their last league fixture of the season at home to 4th placed Olney and came away with 34-22 win which secured 5th position in East Midlands Regional 2.
Borough started brightly going on the attack from the kick off. From a 5 metre lineout Borough set up a rolling maul and hooker Dewi Pearce scored the first try of the game. From the restart Borough scored again with Nic Langton finishing a Will Manning break. Olney were shell shocked with Borough's attacking intent. The home side continued to probe and from a scrum the Borough backs executed one of Backs coach Brendan Burkes set plays to perfection as wing Ian Williams went into score. Williams was soon over again latching onto a well timed off load from Pat Webb. Borough were now 22-0 up but we're soon brought back down to earth when Olney managed to score their first try went their prop forced his way over. Borough though kept playing and Webb scored his sides fifth try after taking a quick tap penalty outpacing the cover defence. Olney were never going to lay down and showed why they were 4th in the league and finished the half the better of the two sides running in two tries to keep the game alive. Borough went into the break with a 29-17 lead.
The second half was a lot tighter with Olney scoring first bringing them right back into the game with Borough's lead reduced to 29-22. The next 30 minutes were played at a cracking pace with both sides looking to move the ball. The turning of the game came with the Borough scrum completely destroying the opposition to earn a vital penalty. With 5 minutes left Borough had the match winning score . Manning made a break on the blindside, he offloaded to Williams who drew the last defender passing the ball back to Manning who sprinted clear from 30 metres to score, Harry Anderson added the conversion for a unassailable 34-22 lead. At the final whistle Borough were deserved winner's and they now focus on the Papa John's Cup competition first round.
Director of Rugby Shane Manning's comments " it was probably our best performance of the season and shows what we are capable of when we are near full strength. We targeted a mid table finish this season with a new team and the lads achieved that and considering we were in last position in late November I say we can be happy. Head Coach Sam Crooks, backs coach Brendan Burke and forwards coach Andrew Dewdney have done a really good job and got the side playing some good expansive rugby. The squad still has lots of growing to do and hopefully we can keep everyone together and recruit a few players who can add to the side. We now look to the Cup season and we travel away to Kettering in the first round, there's no pressure on the guys so they can go out an express themselves and let's see how far we can go."
