Rugby try but fall to Kettering's coolness

A rare mid-week game for the Men's First XI, the first of two games this week, against Rugby and East Warwick. An even-rarer sight of a home crowd (on a week-day!) was waiting patiently for all the players (Ross) to arrive and the game to begin...
The first-half unquestionably saw Kettering's best hockey in the pre-season friendlies. That being said, Rugby scored first, with a forward scampering along the right-baseline and finding his accomplice on the penalty spot. 0 - 1. Kettering stepped up their game though, being patient and waiting for opportunities. Lewis Pywell's work in the 'D' was a constant source of threat and Jacques Lourens grabbed the first home team goal, smashing it through the lime-green goalie. Grant Carlin grabbed his own minutes later after a melee in the 'D'. 2 - 1. Kettering were never comfortable though, Rugby constantly challenged the defence - some good saves and tackles were required to keep the lead. New man AJ impressed with many a firm tackle and quick adaption to the Stopford Sandpit. Moreover, Lourens impressed all with speed that no one knew he had. A green card for the away team wasn't enough of an advantage for Kettering to snatch a third before the end of the half, ending 2 -1. The crowd had very little to moan about, entertaining hockey was being played by both teams and the game was still too tight to call.
The second half was an even tenser affair. AJ passed the ball straight to the Rugby centre-forward. 2 - 2. Then a Rugby short corner broke down and the ball was gradually worked back into the 'D'. 2 - 3. Ah. A period of intense pressure by Rugby began. Kettering barely got the ball out of their half for 10 minutes. Resolute defending kept the score as it was, though a great tackle was almost always followed by giving it straight back to the dispossessed player. Anthony Paton was given a two-minute rest for dissent. But, before anyone knew it, Pywell was driving along the baseline of the 'D', breezing past the defence and finding James Hogg in the crowd. Even a man with his vision couldn't miss from there. 3 - 3. Parity was retained with around five minutes to go! Kettering were not settling for a draw and pushed up the pitch; there were times when 21/22 players were in the Rugby half, the majority often in the opposition's final third. with less than two minutes to go, Kettering won a short-corner. Lourens shot, Pywell and the crowd cheered, and the ball was saved. Fortunately, Dom Cusk was there to pick up the rebound and slip the ball in for a last-minute winner, making the score 4 - 3. For a team with some players taught by Sellers, they were a good opposition.

MoM: Lewis Pywell

DoD: Jacques Lourens (for falling over and passing straight to the center of the pitch several times)