GRITTY DERBY CLASH ENDS IN STALEMATE

Daventry endured a miserable first-half conceding too many penalties and making too many errors which allowed Bugrooke to control territory.

Bugbrooke grabbed a deserved lead when scrappy play from Daventry gifted the fly-half the easiest of interception tries.

Daventry did have a couple of opportunities to get back in the game but they did not take them and they paid a heavy price.

The most notable chance was a driving maul which was clearly brought down two yards from the line. Bugbrooke pack then drove Daventry over to put them 14-0 up going into the break.

In the second half, Daventry still struggled for fluency but looked more hungry with Duncan Green and Adam Seamark putting in impressive performances.

A terrific show and go from Alex Rose brought the Blacks back to 14-7 but once again poor discipline meant Daventry never had a grip of the game.

Bugbrooke fought back from a driving maul which was made to look easy by a well-drilled and cohesive home pack to take them into a 19-7 lead.

Daventry showed glimpses of what they could achieve and a couple of driving mauls led to a five- metre line-out from which Trevor Hewitt squeezed over in the corner to pull the score back to 19-14.

Bugbrooke will regret missing two kickable penalties which kept Daventry in the game but to the Blacks' credit they never gave up and scored an outstanding try to grab a point.

Started by Rick Haynes and Joe Draper on the left, the ball was spread wide to Adam Whitehead who burst through the defence before passing to Lee Collett who shrugged off two players before putting supporting No 8 Alistair Brighton in under the posts.

Daventry will face Shipston upon Stour on Saturday in the Powergen Intermediate Vase.

Daventry Seconds 26
Old Northamptonians III 7
Daventry faced strong opposition from a team positioned in the league above but were not fazed.
From the start Daventry's backs were able to put a well-worked move together to see R Ogden score, converted. With ONs looking fazed by the score, Daventry took advantage by gaining good ground into the opposition's half.
After some good defence work by ONs, R Mansell found space to go over and score, which was converted, ending the half 14-0.
In the second-half, Daventry started slowly and while under pressure let ONs come back, score and convert.
This seemed to wake Daventry up and in a solo effort up the wing R Ogden scored. ONs refused to give up, and both teams had to work hard in defence.
Daventry ended the game with M Hewitt scoring and converting.
Tries: R Ogden (2), R Mansell, M Hewitt; Cons: R Mansell (2), R Ogden; Man of the match: R Mansell.
Rushden and Higham 10 Daventry Colts 74
Daventry's Dan Kalleen scored early on in the corner. The forwards dominated and Nick Begly (2), James Littlewood (2) and Nick Smith's converted six points gave the Colts a comfortable half-time lead.
In the second-half Rushden scored two tries and futher tries came from Daventry's Christian Jacob (2), Shaun Taylor (1), Shaun Marcus (1), Dan Kalleen (1), James Frost (1) and captain Ryan Lamb (1). Nick Smith converted a further eight points.
Man of the match was Jason Mills.