Brilliant Boston back on top after win in crunch match

After a week off, Boston were raring to go and surged to a 21-7 win to inflict only the third defeat of the season on the visitors, whom they meet again in the return fixture this Saturday (kick-off 2.15 pm).

The sides are level on points at the summit of the Midlands 4 East (North) division in the National League, with third-placed Meden Vale breathing down their necks in third, just five points adrift.

It was an absorbing and competitive encounter, and quite a match for Jack Wright to make his first-team debut in at centre in the second half.

Boston started strongly with their forwards playing a tight driving game in the loose, and the returning back row Marc Miles leading the tackle count. It took only ten minutes for the deadlock to be broken as a clever kick from centre Jamie Jenkins split the defence open, enabling winger Jaron Cowern to pick up the ball and use his strength to squeeze over the line.

While Boston had the upper hand in the scrum, opportunities for scoring were limited. Reftord’s defence and discipline saw few penalties conceded.

However, on 35 minutes, John Hummel scored Boston’s second try, the result of good accurate passing and a final ball by William Scupham to put Hummel into space and make the score 10-0.

The last few minutes of the first half saw a further converted penalty by Scupham and a try by Retford as they upped their tempo.

The second half opened with Boston 13-7 up, and it replicated the first. The hosts had a couple of early penalty opportunities, which they could not convert, before coach Ash Coates started to use the bench to send on fresh legs.

On 60 minutes, winger Cowern scored Boston’s third try, again after good handling and offloads by Scupham and James Griffin, to extend their lead 18-7.

A further penalty by Scupham saw the squad close out the action, with the man-of-the-match award shared by back row Sam Lempard and Jenkins.

BOSTON LINE-UP -- Hough, Scupham, Griffin, Eldin, Deane, Lempard, Miles, Manning, Cook J., Mason, Cook C., Jenkins, Hobbs, Hummel, Cowern. Replacements: Beard, Buckberry, Sharp, Johnson, Wright.

Elsewhere, the Boston Development XV lost 21-7 away to a strong Skegness 2nd team, but Boston Ladies enjoyed a hard-fought 7-5 win away to Hill Lionian, with captain Hannah Booth scoring a converted try.