Sat 11 Oct 2025
Peterborough RUFC played out a 17 all draw in their derby game against Stamford RUFC. Borough were hosting their annual Ladies Day which insured a bummer crowd at Fortress Fengate and they witnessed a entertaining game of rugby with the home side playing their first derby game in a few years after Stamford had won promotion the previous season.
Stamford started the brighter of the two sides and soon took the lead when their winger scored after relentless pressure. Slow starters Borough soon grew into the game and got onto the scoreboard thanks to flyhalf Liam Sheilds converting a penalty. Stamford's defence was proving hard to penetrate and against the run of play they took a 12-3 lead after scoring a converted try. Borough had gotten over the tryline a couple times but were either held up or forced into touch. With time almost up in the first half Shields again scored for Borough this time using footwork to get over the line and then converting his own try. At halftime Stamford had a slender 2 point lead with not much separating the two sides.
The second half kicked off with Borough straight on the attack and yet again they thought they had scored only for the ball to be dislodged from flanker Alfie Lewis's hands. Neither side seemed like they could finish off opportunities presented to them until Mooki Tshepo charged down a clearing kick from Stamford, regathered and scored, Sheilds added the conversion and Borough took the lead for the first time, 17-12. It was then Borough's turn to defend their tryline. Some huge tackles from James Prewer, Will Bell and acting Captain Rob Jacobs kept Stamford at bay. But just as Borough were looking like they were going to hold on with only three minutes left Stamford scored a try. With the conversion missed the sides were locked at 17 all. With time for the kick off both sides tried to find the game winning score but to no avail. A draw was a fair reflection on the game overall and both sides will be looking forward to the return fixture in January.
Director of Rugby Shane Manning's comments " it was a definite improvement on last week. Our Scrum was dominant and the lads played with a lot more physicality. Derby games like this are always tight games and both sides would be feeling that they should of won. Liam Shields had his first start at flyhalf for us after injury and controlled things really well. Next up for us is long time rivals Kettering at Fortress Fengate. They have been turning in some really good performances this season so another big game awaits."
