Boro register first win of the season!

Week 2 and a visit from Old Scouts

This week saw Wellingborough host local rivals Northampton Old Scouts at Cut Throat Lane. There were a number of changes this week with Matt Ellson and Ben Morton-Bright coming back into the front row after getting married, in the second row Adam Fuller made his debut after switching from Rushden and Higham. In the back row Charlie Frankham partnered Joe Staden. The backs also underwent a number of changes, Andy Seaton went back to the 9 shirt, Harry Bryan after impressing from the bench started in the 13 shirt and a re-jigged back three saw Tom Mair move to the wing and Dale Love make his league debut at full back. On the bench Ryan James stood to make his return...and so to the game.

1st Half
As expected the game started off in a feisty manner as you would expect from two close rivals and two teams looking for this first win. Early pressure from Old Scouts saw them rewarded with a penalty which was duly converted (Boro 0v3 OS). Boro tried to impose themselves on the game but due to ill-discipline Old Scouts were allowed to keep Boro from getting a foothold. The lineout functioned well with ball being stolen from Old Scouts and on their own ball Boro could set a solid platform to attack.

Some strong defence from Harry Bryan saw Boro go on the attack and eventually the pressure told with an Old Scouts player being sent to the bin to cool his heels. Although the penalty shot at goal was missed, it wasn't long before another presented it self which Pete Vickers put between the uprights (Boro 3v3 OS). The kick off was well collected by Dan Pateman but a mistake saw Boro on the backfoot and it took some strong defence from Pete Vickers to put Boro back on the front foot. One attack saw Shaun Mackie make a break, his interplay with Chris Shipman took Boro close to the Old Scouts line, the overlap was spotted out on the wide right and a wide pass from Pete Vickers to Harry Bryan saw the outside centre dart over for a try (Boro 8v3 OS). Boro now had their tails up and the front row of Morton-Bright, Ellson and Mackie pressurised and disrupted the Old Scouts scrum but the half ended with a Old Scouts on the attack and it took some good defence from Kieran Checkley to prevent a score.

HT Score
Wellingborough 8 v 3 Northampton Old Scouts

2nd Half
The second half started in a scrappy fashion and it was Old Scouts who scored first with a penalty (Boro 8v6 OS). Old Scouts seemed to be in the ascendancy and it took some strong defence from Pete Vickers and Harry Bryan to prevent a score. A quick turnover saw Kieran Checkley put into space and he put on the afterburners, he chipped over the covering defence but the race looked lost until an error saw Andy Seaton dive on the ball to score the try, this was converted (Boro 15v6 OS).

The preceding minutes seemed to be punctured by errors with neither team taking a foothold, a strong attack from Boro saw the ball dropped and this high error count continued through the remainder of the half. Old Scouts did put together some phases towards the end of the match and the pressure on Boro took its toll with Chris Shipman sent to the bin. Old Scouts took full advantage and were rewarded with a try after some strong defence initially prevented the inevitable try (Boro 15v11 OS).

There was still time for Kieran Checkley and Andy Seaton to combine and get Boro into the Old Scouts 22 but a series of penalties saw Boro put themselves under pressure. The final moments saw Old Scouts attack the Boro try-line and it took some brave, resolute and strong defence from all the players to prevent the score. Unfortunately passions overflowed as the final whistle blew and Tyler Ramoo was red-carded but this didn't take the shine off a strong Boro performance from all of the players.

FT Score
Wellingborough 15 v 11 Northampton Old Scouts

Boro needed a win to get the league campaign kick-started and they did. The game was littered with errors and certainly highlighted additional areas for work but one positive was the sheer doggedness of the team to prevent the final moments of pressure from Old Scouts. Next week sees Boro make the short trip to Bugbrooke looking to build upon this performance.