Boston second best despite late flurry

Player unavailability, with only six players from the previous week, forced coach Bray and captain Hough to field a much-changed team.

This resulted in several players having to play out of position, in particular Henry Betts at prop, Ste Kippax at fly-half and Lewis Eldin at number eight.

For a scratch side, Boston showed great spirit and determination, especially in defence.

The players to step up from the development team, emerged with credit, with special mention going to Alan Phoenix (hooker) and Nick Hall (prop), who put in a hard shift at the coal face.

In perfect playing conditions, Boston started well, but conceded two tries in as many minutes, which moved the scoreboard from 7-0 to 19-0.

Worksop added further points to leave the blue and whites trailing 34-0 at half-time.

An injury to Betts, saw Hall join the front row for the second half and he was immediately prominent in the loose. From a scrum inside the 22, Hough broke blind and sent a perfect pass to winger Kyle Turley, who sprinted over in the corner for Boston’s first points.

While Worksop scored two further ties midway through the second half, to lead 46-5, Boston never gave up and finished strongly in the last 10 minutes.

Centre James Andrew found the perfect line to break through the Worksop defence to score under the posts and, inspired by the try, second row Matt Coley produced a barnstorming run from deep inside his half, only to be tackled five metres short.

With time running out, a clearance kick from inside Boston’s 22 by Herbie Laidlaw, saw the ball bounce favourably into winger Jarron Cowern’s hands.

Cowern showed his pace to outsprint the defence, running the rest of the pitch to score under the posts.

The conversion by Laidlaw reduced the final deficit to 46-17.

○ This Saturday, Boston travel to East Retford in the league. Kick off 3pm.