South go down narrowly at Kettering

This game was a complete reflection of how inconsistently South have played throughout this season. For all the great things they did throughout the game (and there were many instances!) the same old failings of not being able to hang on to possession in contact, not being clinical in finishing off well made chances and some poor individual decision making were to the fore. The set scrummage was variable, but the lineout went well with good "off the top ball" being delivered to the backs. However, it was a game South lost rather than Kettering won as the home side were allowed time and space to take the game in the last quarter. South again failing to close out a game!

Although Kettering came out all guns blazing South weathered the physical storm and returned with interest with Mark Lord scoring a penalty, a try and conversion to open up a ten point lead by the half hour mark. A number of other chances were spurned with a wrong option or a poor final pass negating scores that South's uncompromising play deserved. South failed to press home the advantage by not using the blustery wind to gain ground and Kettering scored a penalty through Tim Jones and an unconverted try by Paul Gibson. Tom Armstrong was harshly sin binned by referee Paul Baynes as South fought to keep Kettering out.

With the half time score 10-8 in South's favour they now had to face the tricky wind, but scored a great try with forwards lead by Sam Badham on the rampage and Lord throwing out a long pass to give Rich Lang the chance to burn around his marker and score left of the posts. Lord failed to convert directly into the wind.
Lord delivered a penalty to take the score to 18-8 on the hour, but then injuries to Chris Bale replaced by Steve Harris and Rob Sands (probably South's most influential forward along with Mike March) replaced by Wes Cartwright along with the equally harsh binning of centre Keiron Collins changed the complexion of the game.
Kettering scored two tries in that period through scrum half Darren Etheridge and prop Phil Yorke the latter converted by fly half Tom Bridgeman to take the home side into the lead for the first time. South tried desperately to get back into their opponents half throughout the last minutes and were rewarded as Kettering lock Martin Roberts was eventually binned. Unfortunately, Lord couldn't convert either of the penalties subsequently awarded against the now tiring home side.
As they had done in the home game Kettering hung on to win by the narrowest of margins.

Men of the Match: Rob Sands and Mark Lord.

Team: Lang, Martin, Armstrong, Collins, Nicholson, Lord, Stevens, Bale (Harris S), Sands (Cartwright), March, Matthews, Badham, Bayley, Green, Mark M.

Unused replacement: Rich James.

Match report:Phil Lord