Derby victory sees Boston Rugby Club sit 10 points clear at top of table

Midlands 4 East (North)

Boston 32 Skegness 0

Boston Rugby Club returned to winning ways with a 32-0 derby victory over Skegness.

Registering five tries and the bonus point, the team maintained their top-of-the-table position over nearest rivals Meden Vale by 10 points.

In true derby fashion, the first half saw lots of effort with little reward for the home side, the highlight being a try from scrum half Josh Cook.

Cook’s score followed a break from centre Harry Woods. Slick interplay and passing by a number of players and an off-load by prop Alex Hough put Cook into space to enter half time 5-0 in front.

With the advantage of the wind in the second half and a frank half-time talk from head coach Ash Coates, Boston emerged with greater urgency and control in their play.

Within 10 minutes they had been rewarded via a Matthew Bray penalty and then a try from number eight Pete Manning, following a scrum five metres out, to go 13-0 up.

Returning centre Jamie Jenkins was involved twice in a move with two deft off-loads before supporting back row Sam Johnson scored their third try.

Bray’s conversion made it 20-0.

Boston’s fourth try was secured by winger Jaron Cowern, who deftly picked up a loose ball on his own 10-metre line to outsprint the Skegness defence and score under the posts, Bray again converting.

Hooker Paul Beard finished off proceedings, scoring the team’s last try from a quickly-taken tap penalty, captain Lewis Eldin passing to Beard.

Boston’s man of the match was Josh Cook.

On Saturday Boston travel to play Sleaford in a league and NLD Plate double-header (KO 2pm).

BOSTON: Hough, Beard, Scupham, Eldin, Deane, Lempard, Stokes, Manning, Cook, Bray, Hummel, Kippax, Woods, Mason, Cowern; replacements: Buckberry, Johnson, Jenkins, Gray, Baldwin.

Friendly

Boston Development 5 Wisbech Seconds 50

Playing against a strong Wisbech side, Boston managed to score only one try through scrum half Rob Borley in a first half after which they entered half time behind 31 points to five.

The second half was a more even affair, but they were unable to score any further points.

On Saturday they entertain Sleaford Seconds at home (KO 2.15pm).

BOSTON: Cock, Fowler, Harmston, Lane, Coley, Philpott, Jones, Overton, Borley, Smith, Ruhier, Hobbs, Piggo, Abel, Hall; replacements: Samson, Felicio, Stevens, Paul, Lloyd.

NC2 North (East)

Boston Ladies 11 Sleaford Ladies 10

In an evenly-matched and keenly contested game, Boston managed to secure victory in the final 10 minutes through a try by winger Kirsty Hewitt, to record back-to-back victories.

In the first half, Sleaford’s territorial possession eventually reaped dividends when they scored a try to lead 5-0.

Two well-taken penalties by captain Hannah Booth, however, saw Boston enter half time 6-5 in front.

Playing against the strong wind in the second period, Sleaford scored a second try to regain the lead at 10-6.

With Boston struggling to get out of their own half, it would not be until the final 10 minutes when, from a scrum, number eight Hannah Dennis passed to winger Hewitt who, from outside the 22, outpaced the defence to score in the corner to seal victory.

The players of the match were forward Tash Champion and back Lycia Elston. The coaches’ player was Hannah Dennis.

BOSTON: Buckberry, Champion, Whittaker, Moxon, Mindham-Wright, Taylor, Dennis, Beard, Daubney, Donnelly, Elston, Booth (captain), Simpson, Hewitt, Elston; replacements: Griffin, Champion, Ridgewell, Wright.