Stamford College Old Boys traveled to Keyworth RFC this weekend in the first round of the NLD Cup. Keyworth won the cup last season and finished the 2023/24 season as league champions after 19 unbeaten consecutive league matches. The Old Boys knew they needed to be on top form to challenge this top Keyworth side.

The College started the match with the sun in their faces and opted to kick off to get the game underway. A precise kick from fly-half Haydn Johns meant winger Carl Brierley-Lewis flew in with a big tackle on the Keyworth receiver - setting the tone for the afternoon. After another phase, Old Boys skipper Alex Walker folded himself over the breakdown - much like a tube man from a car dealership - to eke out the infringement from Keyworth for holding the ball on the ground. Haydn Johns stepped up to calmly kick for posts, delivering a 0-3 lead for the Old Boys.

A back-and-forth ten minutes followed. Both sides were demonstrating not only their attacking prowess but also their impressive defensive discipline. This was until Keyworth was awarded a penalty of their own in front of the posts for a high tackle from the College centre partnership. The home side's kicker delivered the points, much to the delight of the home crowd, and the scores were level at 3-3.

The remainder of the first half was one both defence coaches would be proud of, as it remained almost scoreless - despite impressive running from the likes of Jonny Beall, Sam Durman, and Alan Flanders. That was until a sharp run from Liam Greenslade saw the centre break through two tackles before eventually being brought down. In an effort to slow the ruck down, Keyworth went off their feet at the breakdown and the Old Boys were awarded another penalty.

Once again, Haydn Johns kicked the points and the College snatched their lead back at 3-6 going into the break.

Keyworth had momentum early in the second half, as their fresh legs quickly increased the speed of the game, moving them up the pitch. The change of pace saw the Old Boys defence slipping until they eventually infringed at the breakdown on their own 22-meter line, where the Keyworth scrum-half quickly tapped and went to glide in unopposed. The score was converted and Keyworth led 10-6.

Being behind for the first time of the afternoon, the College increased their intensity in attack and defence, pinning Keyworth deep in their own half for the following ten minutes. Eventually, the Keyworth fly-half opted to kick the ball away, which was collected by Jonny Beall, who offloaded to Haydn Johns.

After a short run, Johns saw space behind the home side's defensive line and chipped over the top. The ball was clumsily gathered by the Keyworth full-back who threw a loose pass that met the boot of Jimmy Twose who chased his own kick into the corner and dotted it down for the try. The tricky conversion was missed but the Old Boys reclaimed their lead at 10-11.

Fatigue began to set in for the Old Boys who eventually found themselves down to 14-men as Shane Pickerill received a yellow card for a high tackle. Keyworth kicked for posts from the subsequent penalty and led 13-11.

Five minutes later Keyworth scored their second try of the match, as their pack continued to punch holes through the tired College defence. Eventually, after another quick tap penalty, their prop broke the Old Boys defensive line to score under the posts. The conversion was good and Keyworth extended their lead to 20-11.

The College replied five minutes later. Off the back of a good scrum, Liam Greenslade once again crashed through the line before looking to offload to scrum-half Neil Bryant - but a Keyworth player instead swatted the ball away, ultimately receiving a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Haydn Johns once again stepped up to calmly kick the 40-meter penalty, and the Old Boys closed to gap to 20-14.

Despite the Old Boys building momentum, working their way up the pitch, and looking like they might score to secure late victory, it was Keyworth who had the final say of the afternoon. With two minutes left on the clock, College had moved the ball wide and looked to speed down the wing when a Keyworth player knocked the ball forward in a tackle.

The referee deemed it had come off the player's head, meaning it was not a penalty. Instead, the ball was gathered by a Keyworth player who ran it in to score under the posts. The kick was good and Keyworth extended their lead to 27-14.

Seconds remained on the match clock, so the referee deemed there was time for the restart. Keyworth quickly won a penalty for another breakdown infringement, which they opted to kick to finish the game. The impressive kick was good and the match finished 30-14 - a scoreline that does not reflect how closely contested this match actually was.

That concludes the Old Boys' competitive rugby for the 2023/24 season. Next weekend at 1pm the Old Boys will face a select Presidents XV at Welland Academy in their annual Memorial Day fixture which will be followed by the annual awards evening at The Black Horse at Elton.