Nuns fail to take advantage...

An unchanged Nuns side took to the Stadium pitch in perfect conditions to welcome newly promoted Kettering. Having won their opening game at Doncaster Phoenix, the Nuns were looking to consolidate their good start to the season. With 8 new faces in the starting line up, the home crowd eagerly awaited their home debut.

As early as the 4th minute the Nuns were threatening the visitors line and when a forward moving maul was brought down referee Josh Burgess reached for the yellow card it was prop Josh Cox who headed for the sin bin. Nuns, with the extra man, quickly took advantage. They created space down the right and full back Ben Cooper came into the line to crash over. Rickie Aley surprisingly hooked his conversion attempt wide - a miss that was to prove costly. Nuns continued to apply pressure but lost a line out in a good attacking position.

Undeterred by being a man short, Kettering counter attacked and No.8 George Newman went over for a try which full back Joe Daniel was unable to convert. Plenty of action in the opening 10 minutes and on 12 minutes Aley kicked a 45 metre penalty to put the Nuns in front 8-5. Newman then missed a penalty attempt for the visitors before Nemani Rayabo scored his first try of the afternoon. Chasing a through kick, Kettering’s defence failed to gather the ball and Rayabo pouched the bouncing ball to dive over for an opportunist try. Aley duly converted and the Nuns had a 10 point lead.

Back to 15 men the visitors tested the Nuns defence but a penalty allowed them to clear their lines. Kettering then declined a penalty kick at goal, preferring to kick to the corner. They lost the ball at the line out and the chance had gone. On 28 minutes the game took a turn which should have ensured a Nuns win. The visitors Josh Cox fell foul of the referee and was awarded his second yellow card of the afternoon, resulting in a red card. With a 10 point lead and 52 minutes remaining against 14 men surely the Nuns would go on to a handsome win?
The visitors, playing with a togetherness and spirit, continued to match the Nuns.

With the homeside defending, they were penalised for not releasing in the tackle and Daniel kicked the penalty to reduce the deficit to 7 points. More pressure from Kettering took them into the Nuns 22 and despite crossing the try line the ball was held up for a scrum 5. With No.12 Matt Nield joining the set scrum the visitors won a penalty. Nuns lost flanker Rob Turner to a yellow card and Daniel kicked the resultant penalty. It was the Nuns who were now a man short and in add on time winger Damian Comyard got over in the corner for an unconverted try to give the visitors an unlikely 1 point halftime lead - 16-15.

At the start of the second half Nuns replaced James Redman with Ben Holmes in the front row. Rob Turner did not return to the field after his yellow card - replaced by Arron Skryme. The Nuns were now playing with increased tempo and on 48 minutes Rayabo bagged his second try. Seemingly surrounded by defenders he dummied, side stepped and dazzled defenders to score a try which Aley converted. The Nuns led 22-16. There followed a powerful run by Elliot Brown which was only stopped by a desperate Kettering defence. Nuns were now bossing the game but lacking the control to turn it into points.

As we entered the final quarter surely the pressure of playing for a long period with just 14 men would tell on the visitors. In good attacking positions the Nuns gave away penalties failing to show the patience and control to take advantage. Kettering came back into the game and when the Nuns Arron Turner was yellow carded for not rolling away both sides were now playing with 14.The Nuns were now called upon to defend in depth and on 64 minutes only a clearance kick by Rayabo relieved the pressure. Kettering continued to play with energy and decisiveness and there was an air of inevitability about how they were going about their business.

With Turner back on, the game entered the final 10 minutes with all to play for. The Nuns were defending their 6 point lead until 2 minutes from the end. A surging run by Bruce Keir took him deep into the Nuns 22 and a neat overhead off load allowed centre Jordan Butlin to run in under the posts for a try. The conversion was added by Daniel and the visitors had a 1 point lead.

The Nuns surged down field from the restart and only a foot in touch denied them a scoring opportunity. It proved to be the last play of the game as the referee blew the final whistle.

A disappointing result for the Nuns, but take nothing away from the “new boys” they played with enthusiasm and energy and deserved their win.

Team: James Redman, Reece Harris, Ben Spokes, Tom Cheney, Arron Turner, Rob Turner, James
Lloyd, Liam Hucknall,
Tom Smitham, Rickie Aley, Jackson Hughes, Harry Key, Elliot Brown, Nemani Rayabo, Ben
Cooper.
Bench: Ben Holmes, Arron Skryme and Richard Johnston.
Scorers: Tries: Cooper, Rayabo (2).
Conversions: Aley (2). Pen: Aley.

Bob Hansford
@nker radio 1386am & Online