Rugby Lions 56 (Tries: Montague 2, Hyslop, Clements, Jackson, Douglas. Cons: Bond 3.). 

Market Bosworth 22 (Tries: Steele, Bosanquet, Johnson. Cons: Steele 2. Pen: Steele.). 

The Lions made a great start and were 17-0 up after 24 minutes running in three tries all through the backs as centre Ricky Hyslop, wing Simon Montague and scrum half David Jackson touched down and Glen Bond added a conversion.  .  

By half time MB had got back into it with Damian Steele slotting over a penalty goal and then converting a try from prop John Bosanquet to make it 17-10.

The home side move clear again in the third quarter when left wing David Clements and Montague touched down and Bond converted one of them to make it 29-10.

Flanker Wayne Johnson got the second MB try on 69 minutes and Steele again converted but the home side sealed the win in the 80^th minute when replacement back Tim Douglas went over for a converted try the visitors did get the final score with a try in injury time from Steele.

Scunthorpe 22 (Tries: Coult, Sewell, Penalty try. Cons: Robinson 2. Pen: Robinson.). 

Bedford Athletic 33 (Tries: P Elphick, Mitcherson, Botha, Roberts, Rudkin. Cons: Tapper 4.). 

Scunthorpe were blown away by Bedford Athletic in a 20 minute spell in the first half, during this spell Bedford scored 4 converted tries as the Greens just did not compete, from then on they were always playing catch up rugby.

It was Scunthorpe who made the best start when from a good kick-off from Tom Foster, Bedford scrambled the ball into touch. The ball was moved well from the ensuing line out and Foster cut through the defence, as the play slowed down Bedford could only stem the tide by giving away a penalty, which Tim Robinson gladly accepted and for the only time in the game Scunthorpe were in front. Bedford then began to build their game, using big forwards and fast, skilful backs they asked questions of the Green defence. These were questions were answered resolutely for 8 minutes and then the first try came from centre Phillip Elphick. The ball was won off the top of the line out five metres out, it went wide and a slick move saw a gap appear in the defence and Elphick strolled over, Ashley Tapper kicked the conversion to go 7-3. Three minutes later Scunthorpe gifted Bedford a try with an uncharacteristic mistake from Mick Dunk at No8, a scrum on the Green 5 metre line saw the ball shoot out and go over the try line, Dunk had it covered, stooped to collect the ball but it slipped from his grasp and the second rower Roberts collected the easiest try he will ever score, Tapper converted to go 14-3. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Scunthorpe, with nothing to play for but pride, Bedford were the ones who were determined to avenge the defeat against Scunthorpe in December. With their play-off game coming up the Ath were running through some of their plays and scored two more tries from Botha and Rudkin, both converted by Tapper. Coach Sidebottom had some stern words to say to his players as they gathered behind the posts after the fourth try and to their credit they responded in an effort to stem the tide, the last thing the Greens wanted on the first Saturday of the cricket season was a cricket score. This mini revival started when, from a Bedford line out close to the Scunthorpe line, Luke Scargall, ably assisted by his lifters, took the ball and the Greens cleared their lines. Scunthorpe were now beginning to build their game, they secured some ball and got the forwards taking the ball up to the opposition. From a scrum Ben Sherwood moved the ball wide Foster once again asked questions of the defence and cut through, the ball was recycled and forwards pressed the line. It was Micky Coult who took the final pass and drove over to collect the try, Robinson missed the conversion. Shortly before half time Scunthorpe scored another try this time it was prop Paul Sewell who collected the five points. It was the faithful catch and drive line out that resulted in the touch down, this time Robinson converted and at 15-28, things were certainly looking a lot better.

Unfortunately Scunthorpe could not maintain the improvement after the break, from the Bedford kick off the ball was safely collected and driven on, but poor ball retention saw Bedford come away with it. They kept up the pressure and on 47 minutes prop Mitcherson found himself in an overlap wide on the right against scrum half Leon Parratt he scored the try, Tapper missed the extra points. On 63 minutes Lewis Jones replaced Ben Sherwood and Martin Rodgers replaced Ben Fawcett. Scunthorpe seemed to gather some momentum and began to build once again. They were using the ball well and the backs were beginning click as they ran out of defence on several occasions. There were strong bursts from Jones, Vaimoso and Foster but they were held up well short of the scoring zone. They seemed to lack the confidence to beat the last man and instead looked for support, allowing the defence to recover. However the second half certainly belonged to Scunthorpe and the pressure paid off when on 64 minutes after a series of offences on the Bedford line the referee awarded a penalty try which was converted by Robinson. At 22-33 the Greens were now within two converted tries which seemed most unlikely earlier in the game, however there was to be no further scores as the game drifted away. The Scunthorpe team will be very disappointed with that 20 minute spell in the first half but they certainly recovered some pride and came back to make the score a little more respectable.

Walsall 25 (Tries: Marsh, Thompson, Turner, Merlin. Con: Wood. Pen: Wood.). 

Dudley Kingswinford 0 (). 

Walsall produced a workmanlike performance to secure a well deserved victory that ensured their position in Midlands One for next season. It was obvious from the kick off that the home team were committed to the cause. The visitors, however, were content to rely on their lineout superiority to create their attacking positions. The hosts took the lead after only three minutes. A strong drive from a lineout catch, saw No 8 Dave Merlin break clear and force his way over the line. Despite more opportunities the Delves Road team had to wait until late in the half before they gained their next points. Fly half Matt Wood putting over a short range penalty.

The second half saw Walsall continue to press home their advantage, and, as the game entered it’s final quarter the hosts struck again. Centre Daniel Thompson picked up .a loose pass, broke through two tackles to score under the posts. Matt Wood’s conversion extended their lead to 15-0 DK tried hard to break through with centres Davies and Port linking well with their backrow. But the home defence stood firm, and it was Walsall that finished the strongest. Skipper Richard Marsh finished off a sweeping attack, and then winger Andy Turner sprinted 60 meters after intercepting a wayward Dudley pass. The West Midlands team must be pleased with their end of season performances, and on this form could well be a force to be reckoned with in 2007!

Dunstablians 51 (Tries: Webb 2, Hattingh, Ellershaw, Hall, Morgan, Myburgh, Duckworth. Cons: Swart 2, White 2. Pen: Swart.). 

Bromsgrove 21 (Tries:  Dernie 2. Stockholm. Con: Summerfield 3.). 

Dee’s ensured that they kept their Midlands One league status with an emphatic victory in the final fixture of the season.

Dunstablians ran in 8 tries in perfect playing conditions and along with Bromsgrove provided an entertaining match with some outstanding attacking rugby.

The home side were just edging the opening exchanges when Bromsgrove surprised the home side with the opening score. The fly half Copson kicked into space over the Dee’s defence and the bounce dropped straight into the hands of the sprinting wing Stockholm. Summerfield struck the conversion and with it a 0-7 lead.

Dee’s responded almost immediately with a penalty from Swart and soon took the lead with a try from a catch and drive from a line out. Jaeson Duckworth touched down and Swart added the extras.

Further tries from Stuart Webb and James Ellershaw gave Dunstablians a healthy half time lead (Swart converting one).

The second half provided similar entertainment as relationships between the two sides began to deteriorate. Dunstablians lost James Algar to the sin bin for an illegal tackle and an exchange between the two Number 10’s saw Dee’s Gerhard Swart leave the field with a blood injury.

In between further tries were scored with Bromsgrove replying through Dernie and Stuart Webb scoring his second try for Dunstablians.

The up and coming scrum half Stuart Hall bagged a try under the posts for Dunstablians and substitute fly half Jon White added the conversion.

Dernie scored his second try for Bromsgrove before the move of the match gave Dee’s another try.

Fly Half Jon White side stepped the rush defence of his Bromsgrove counterpart and then with a deft pass found Laurence White. He took the ball at pace and carved through the Bromsgrove defence and with the perfect off load located the charging Ceri Morgan. Morgan touched down and firmly put the match out of reach.

Jon White added the conversion and with further tries from the impressive Francios Hattingh and Stef Myburgh Dee’s racked up the half century to end their league campaign in 8th place.

Burton 20 (Tries: Bartram, Ariss, Ashfield. Con: Porter. Pen: Bartram.). 

Kettering 37 (Tries: Prince 2, Baird, Davis, Stafford. Cons: Buoy 3. Pens: Buoy 2.). 

Kettering rounded of their league season with this excellent win at Burton, but must now await next weeks play-offs and decisions by the powers that be at Twickenham before knowing whether the victory was enough to keep the side in Midlands 1 or whether they will be relegated to Midlands 2 East.  So after Saturday’s victory there was euphoria at the win but when news came through that Walsall had beaten Dudley Kingswinford players and supporters were left in a state of limbo about the clubs fate!

The game kicked off in front of a huge crowd and both sides missed early penalty chances as the nervousness of the occasion took effect, but after ten minutes Burton took the lead with a penalty as the ‘Blues’ were put under pressure.  Then in the space of three minutes Kettering suddenly showed some of the sort of play that has been missing this season and they also saw what an acquisition young Aussie David Prince is if he can stay fit!  First after the forwards had done their work Prince was put into space and his pace took him to the line where he touched down under the posts to give Nicky Bouy an easy conversion, and minutes later he was over again, this time having to use his power and strength to get to the line, again Bouy added the extra points to give Kettering an eleven point advantage.

Burton though knew they had to win the game and after twenty minutes breached the visitors defence for an unconverted try and ten minutes later they were just a point behind as from a catch and drive they scored another try.  Kettering were now in a real scrap, but both sides were trying to play open rugby to try and get on top and it was the ‘Blues’ who opened up a small gap as the game went into injury time with a Nicky Bouy penalty.  So Kettering went into the break with a slight lead.

Half Time:     Burton  13   Kettering  17

Both sides new that the first score of the second half would be crucial to the games result and the fate of both sides, and it was Kettering who found the key, a penalty was kicked to the line and from the resulting line out a planned move saw Ryan James put through a gap to joyously score, Nicky Bouy again converting.  This gave the ‘Blues’ a little breathing space and suddenly their game came together and in a ten minute spell midway through the half they put the game out of Burtons reach with a flurry of scoring.  Chris Davis was on the end of sweet handling move to score a try, Nicky Bouy then kicked a penalty as the Burton defence found themselves being overrun, and to finish things off skipper Paul Baird at last got some space to score a typical try, Tim Jones this time adding the extra points.

The game was all over bar the shouting and Kettering looked to run down the clock, but Burton had the last say into injury time as Steve Freeman was sin binned and from the resulting penalty the home side scored a converted try which their efforts during a tense match had deserved!

So Kettering must now wait to learn their fate, but whatever it is, it is hoped that the current squad will stay together next season, and with this seasons long term injured hopefully back to full fitness plus some recruitment in areas where the club has no suitable strength in depth, which will again see the club contemplating promotion rather than fighting against relegation   

Luton 41 (Tries: .).