Sat 28 Mar 2026
Peterborough RUFC welcomed Oadby Wygges in their last league home game of the season looking for a bonus point win to secure a promotion play off spot. Although it was not the most attractive game of rugby Borough went on win a very tight contest by 28 points to 27zsecuring the play off spot in the process.
Borough kicked off into a very strong wind and soon found themselves under pressure as Oadby used the conditions to keep the home side pinned deep in their own half. Oadby scored first when one of their forwards forced his way over but as Borough tend to do they got into their work and flanker Alfie Lewis scored after some repeated charge's at the visitor's try line. With Byron Van Uden converting Borough were now in the lead by 7-5. But any thought of a easy afternoon for Borough were soon dashed when after some poor kick chase Oadby had their second try when their winger grounded a kicked through ball first. Not to be out done Borough scored their second when in a repeat of their first try Alfie Lewis barged his way over, Van Uden converting. Using the wind at their backs Oadby continued push Borough back and with so much pressure Borough conceded a penalty which the Oadby kicker converted to leave Borough trailing at half time 15-14.
Borough now had the wind at their backs but were failing to put it to good use. Once again Oadby scored after a nice backs move that had their centre scoring under the post giving their kicker the easiest of conversions to extend their lead to 22-14. Any thoughts of securing a play off spot were now out the window as Borough had a mountain to climb. As had been the case all season the last 20 mins usually see Borough play their best rugby and this game would be the same. Now camped Oadby's 22 Borough through themselves repeated the tryline and despite some courageous defence from the visitors went in for 2 more tries. First Mooki Tshepo went over wide finishing off some slick handling and Captain Luke Swindells smashed his way over through tired defence also out wide. With Van Uden off the pitch up stepped young Harry Anderson to take over the kicking duties. Borough had now need to worry however as Anderson slotted both conversions, reading the gusting wind to perfection. Any thoughts of Borough cruising to a easy victory though were soon smashed as Oadby scored with the last play of the game to give their kicker the conversion to win it. Luckly for Borough the conversion was missed and they had the most slender of wins by 28-27 which also was enough to guarantee them a play off spot with neighbours Stamford suffering a defeat at home to Broadstreet.
Director of Rugby Shane Manning's comments"it was an ugly game to say the least and full credit to Oadby who came to play. We made hard work of it but we are now in the play offs which was our goal at the beginning of the season. We have a week off now before we travel to Olney which will be good to play having no pressure on the lads. We will look to rest a couple lads for that game as some of the lads are carrying injuries but we definitely are going to Olney to win. We want to go into the playoffs with as much momentum as we can so its important we come away with win".
