A GRITTY performance helped Market Rasen & Louth RUFC to emerge from their own Battle of Bosworth with a long-awaited victory.
After 11 defeats on the bounce, the Red and Greens finally tasted that winning feeling by beating Market Bosworth 1sts, 13-6.
Rasen took to the field on a chilly afternoon with veteran forwards Dean Hutchinson and Dave Mawer among their ranks.
Their inclusion brought a wealth of experience that was to prove invaluable in a victory founded on stoic defending.
Market Bosworth made a bright start to and soon had Rasen deep in their own twenty-two.
After five minutes, the visitors looked to have prised open their opponents' defence as flanker Josh Devlin crossed the line to dot down under the posts – but an earlier infringement for crossing ruled out the score.
The Bosworth boys continued to maintain the pressure and were soon rewarded with a sequence of penalties in quick succession.
However, resolute defence kept them at bay and, after 20 minutes, Rasen had hardly ventured out of their own half.
That all changed as number eight Hutchinson rolled back the years and powered his way into Bosworth's territory with a devastating run.
The ball was then worked back and fly-half Jake Goodison, standing mid-way between halfway and the visiting twenty-two, launched a superb drop-goal that sailed between the uprights to give Rasen the lead.
Bouyed by that score, the Red and Greens tore into their opponents again and were soon back within sight of the Bosworth line, courtesy of a 'touch-kicked' penalty.
The throw didn't go to plan as the intended jumper was missed, but Rasen still retained possession and began their push for the line.
A series of drives took the play infield as the forwards moved towards the line before scrum-half Jack Noquet, inset, spied an opening and sniped over.
Hooker Tom Alldridge strode up to take the kick and bisected the posts with precision to increase Rasen's lead.
Market Bosworth restored some calm with a 33rd minute penalty from Harding to open their account for the afternoon.
The half finished with Rasen soaking up pressure, but still retaining their 10-3 advantage.
It was 21 minutes after the restart before Harding scored with a penalty to push Bosworth three points closer, but Alldridge cancelled this out three minutes later with his second successful kick of the game.
Despite a high penalty count, Rasen withstood everything that was thrown at them.
However, with five minutes remaining, all their good work was put at risk when a home scrum put-in was converted into a Bosworth penalty. The visitors opted for the touch kick, but Rasen continued to defend well from the line-out and drove Bosworth back, forcing them to concede a scrum from a knock-on.
Rasen finished with a flourish as centre Adam Dearden made a break that took Rasen deep into Bosworth territory.
The pack continued to drive the ball up the pitch. They were only thwarted when Market Bosworth conceded a penalty, and, with time up, Rasen were delighted to secure a long-awaited win.
On Saturday, Rasen have another re-arranged home fixture, this time against Spalding, as they look to continue their upturn in fortunes.
