Sat 8 Feb 2025
Peterborough RUFC returned to winning ways on Saturday at a wet and cold Fortress Fengate against Market Bosworth. Borough ran in 5 tries to 2 against a side that had beaten them earlier in the season.
Borough dominated from the out set but with the wet conditions found it hard to give finishing pass on a number of occasions. But when the passes were sticking Borough played some good rugby. After a period of sustained pressure wing Lawrence Teague scored the first try of the day scoring in the corner. Borough soon had their second when Fullback Nick Langton put a huge tackle on a Bosworth forward causing him to lose possession, Openside Flanker Alfie Lewis picked up the loose ball and scampered in to score. The rest of the half saw Borough create chances but fail to capitalise. Bosworth to their credit never gave up the fight and managed to score with the last play of the first half. Despite leading by 10-5 at the half time break Borough were frustrated with not finishing a number of chances and needed to simplify their play in the wet conditions.
From the start of the second half Borough began to find holes in the Bosworth defence, in particular Centres Mooki Tshepo, Murphy Hill and Second Row William Manning direct running punching holes. The tries soon followed with Wing Tom Downer finishing off a break from Fly Half Aram Jones to score in the corner. More pressure on Bosworth soon told, after some forward drives young Second Row James Prewer crashed over for his first ever senior try. Then the most popular try of the day came when Borough attacked from well in their own half, another bulldozing run by Hill saw the ball shifted to Teague who after a great run passed to Blindside Flanker Josh Casbon who sold an outrageous dummy to fool the defence and run into score with several of his team mates patting him on the back. Bosworth then had their best period of the game launching wave after wave of attack to finally score their second try and bring a end to the contest. The win by 29-10 saw Borough stay in fifth position in the league and while they will be pleased to get the win they will know they need to make the most of any chances they create if they want to climb higher.
Director of Rugby Shane Manning's comments " it was pleasing to back to winning ways after last week. We weren't at our best and the lads know that but they deserved the win. I've said his name a lot this season but Mooki is playing his best rugby in my time at the club, we are a lot better team when he's on the pitch. We have the hardest part of our season coming up with games against 3 of the teams above us in the league starting with Market Harborough at home this Saturday. They are a well drilled side and we will need to play our best game of the season to come away with a win. They are a really physical team and we will have to match that."
