Errors prove costly in battle for survival

Midlands 3 East (North)
Dave Cotton-Betteridge. Photo: David Dales.Dave Cotton-Betteridge. Photo: David Dales.
Dave Cotton-Betteridge. Photo: David Dales.

Boston RFC 12

Missed scoring opportunities and a disjointed second half performance would condemn Boston Rugby Club to a losing bonus point - in a game they could and should have won.

Yet again, due to a mixture of injuries and player unavailability, the coaching staff had to utilise their youth players, writes John Fletcher.

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Callum Lawson and Alex Roberts returned to the back row, and in the backs Henry Woods and Will Paul were promoted into the starting line-up.

The first half started at a frantic pace, with both sides looking to impose themselves on the game.

Ashfield’s scum half and back row would prove to be the key factor in their victory, as they frequently secured turn over ball in loose play.

On 19 minutes winger Jarron Cowern finished off a flowing move which began on the half-way line, to put Boston 5-0 ahead.

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A yellow card offence after 20 minutes saw the home team reduced to 14 men, and in that period they conceded a soft try, to level the scores at 5-5.

It was after this that the home side up their tempo to dominate possession.

An incisive inside run by winger Cowern saw him just stopped short of the try line.

From the resulting scrum, Herbie Laidlaw went blind to allow Will Scupham to crash over the line from five metres out on 34 minutes.

The conversion by Dan Halliday, moved Boston 12-5 ahead.

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In hindsight, Boston should have converted their pressure before half time and would rue missed scoring opportunities to extend this lead.

Boston commenced the second half poorly, conceding a try after eight minutes as the visitors gained the accendency.

Things only went from bad to worse as injuries to centre James Andrews and Alex Kemp disrupted the back line and forwards alike.

A third Ashfield try moved the visitors into the lead 12-15.

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Despite Boston having a few promising attacks, they were unable to either retain possession or their final pass went astray.

Next week Boston travel to play Aylestone St James (KO 2.15pm).

BOSTON: Lane, Dowse, Scupham, Eldin, Dean, Kemp, Roberts, Laidlaw, Halliday, Paul, Andrews, Cotton-Betteridge, Cowern, Wood; Replacements: Baldwin, Sharp, Jones.