North Hykeham lose a thriller in the final minutes
The final game of 2007 saw North Hykeham play hosts to Kettering. Both clubs are seen as " big hitters " within the women's and girl's game in the region having supplied between them amost half of last season's 30 player East Midlands squad that reached the National Final against the South Of England.
The match started off at a frantic pace and it was Kettering who opened the scoring. National Talent Development Group fullback Lizell Heather was given far too much space by the home team back line as she powered in to score from 30 metres.
Undaunted North Hykeham regained the lead thanks to centre Mica Grosett. She set off on an outside break and then stepped inside Heather to score unopposed under the posts to make the conversion a certainty.
A further three scores by Kettering left Hykeham with a mountain to climb. They reduced arrears just before half time to reduce the vistors lead to 24 - 14.
Captain Phoebe Nicholls half time team talk to the North Hykeham Girls asking for even more effort must have had the desired effect as incredibly the hosts scored two further converted tries in the second half to lead 28 - 24 with seven mintes remaining.
Just as it looked as if North Hykeham would go on to win a game that seemed beyond them just before half time Kettering rallied. From a scrum in the hosts 22m area East Midlands Nicola Hudson picked up from number 8 on a blindside break and brushed past two North Hykeham tackles to score. A few munutes later Heather scored to take Kettering 6 points clear.
I was now do or die for Hykeham and from a scrum deep in their own half in the penultimate play of the game Grosset made a superb outside break. She in turn fed winger Mc Connell who was bundled into touch just a few metres short of the try line. From the resulting line out Kettering kicked the ball dead to win a pulsating game that did credit to both teams.
