Sat 10 Jan 2026
Peterborough RUFC entertained Daventry RUFC at Fortress Fengate this past Saturday in one of only two games that were abled to played in the league with other clubs having to postpone due to frozen pitches. Much praise has to go to the clubs ground staff who have kept the pitches in tip top condition this season. Playing their first game of 2026 Borough came storming out of the blocks and hammered Daventry 80-0, scoring 12 tries with 10 being converted.
Borough got right into their work from the kick off and thanks to a dominate scrum were guaranteed a tonne of possession. Will Manning got the days first try from a nicely worked lineout move and quickly backed that up with another a few minutes later running through would be defenders from 40 metres out. Next on the score sheet was number 8 Will Bell who scored his first off the back of dominate five metre scrum and then his second after taking a short pass from scrumhalf Tom Kemp. With the flood gates open Borough kept the scoreboard ticking over with further tries from Nick Langton, Aram Jones and Kemp. The halftime whistle bought some temporary relief for the young Daventry side but with the 47-0 scoreline Borough were in complete control. Head Coach Sam Crooks emphasised to his players the need to keep the high tempo going but also for the importance to keep their visitors scoreless.
To the credit of the Daventry side they managed to keep Borough scoreless for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Borough had gone away from their structure for a time but once they returned the tries flowed again. Nick Langton went over twice more to give him 3 for the day and was joined by Will Bell in getting a hattrick of tries when he got his third on the back of some bulldozing runs from the forwards. A well worked lineout move saw Alfie Lewis run a try in from halfway, leaving 3 defenders in his wake. And then lastly a returning Ross Chamberlain playing his first game in a couple season's scored after some great footwork saw him in go in untouched to round out a great day for the Borough side. Byron Van Uden continued his great form with the boot kicking six conversions and Liam Shields kicked 4. As the scoreline suggest Borough were in complete control but are well aware that tougher opponents lay ahead starting this Saturday with a local derby just the up the A1 against Stamford.
Director Of Rugby Shane Manning's comments " as the scoreline suggest the game was basically over at halftime. It was a really good team performance. The tries are great but what's just as pleasing is the lads didn't switch off on defence and kept Daventry scoreless, the 3rd time they have kept a team to nil this season. We aren't getting ahead of ourselves though as Daventry were missing a few regular players so credit to their young lads for fronting up, we have been in that situation with injuries and unavailable players so know how they are feeling. Next up for us is a really tough away derby game at Stamford. We drew last time we played and know they would have improved since that game so its going to be a really tough. The lads are going to have to be really switched on for the full 80 minutes cause its going to be a tight game."
