Match Report

EDF Energy Junior Vase - Round 2

Kingswood Vs Old Elizabethans

Kingswood had a break from league action this week with a match in the EDF Energy Cup.  Kingswood were given a bye through the first round and joined the competition in the 2^nd round where they were drawn at home against their fellow Gloucester 2 opponents, Old Elizabethans.

The first 9 minutes of the game saw few point scoring opportunities, however Kingswood were seeing the majority of the possession.  It wasn’t long however until Kingswood did make their possession count when on 10 minutes Old Elizabethans were penalised for not rolling away and Ben Phillips slotted home the penalty kick to give Kingswood the first points of the game. 3-0

From the restart Kingswood continued to dominate the game and kept Old Elizabethans pinned in their half.  On 16 minutes, Old Elizabethans were awarded a lineout 7m from their own try-line but Kingswood competed well and managed to gather the loose ball. Kingswood then put together several excellent phases of crash balls gaining excellent ground with each one until Mike Oakley eventually powered with his way through the Old Elizabethans defence to grab Kingswood’s first try of the game. Ben Phillips was unable to add the conversion. 8-0

It wasn’t until the 20th minute that Old Elizabethans managed to play the game in the Kingswood half and a good run by the Old E’s winger saw them reach the Kingswood 22, but some excellent pressure by the Kingswood defence finally drove Old E’s back and eventually forced a knock-on just inside the Kingswood half.

On 25 minutes a long kick downfield by Dean Stephens was collected by the Old Elizabethans Full-Back but the attempted clearance was sliced and Stephens was on hand to scoop up the bouncing ball and run in field before sending a pass to Paul Allen who then made a short burst before dragging in the Old E’s winger and then sending a pass to Winger Brad Whiston who got the ball down over the line. Despite the difficulty of the kick, Ben Phillips slotted home the conversion from on the touchline to give Kingswood a healthy 15-0 lead.

36 minutes gone and Kingswood were dominating the game and still seeing all the possession.  Kingswood put together a lovely attacking move but had to settle for a penalty and Ben Phillips kept the score board ticking over with another 3 points just before half time. 18-0

Half Time:  Kingswood 18-0 Old Elizabethans

At half time, an injured Mike Oakley was replaced by Neil Ward

Kingswood placed Old Elizabethans under pressure straight from the restart and were awarded a scrum 10m from the Old E’s try-line.  A solid scrum by Kingswood gave the Kingswood backs a solid attacking platform and some fast hands saw Full Back Paul Bennett go over in the corner with only 1 minute of the 2^nd half gone.  Ben Phillips was unable to add the extra 2 points. 23-0

With 48 minutes on the clock, Kingswood put together another lovely flowing move in the backs that eventually lead to a break by Paul Allen but he was eventually tackled in the Old Elizabethans 22. Neil Ward was on hand from the resulting ruck to crash the ball to within inches of the Old E’s try-line but Kingswood were awarded a penalty and decided to take the 3 points from which Ben Phillips easily converted from in front the posts. 26-0 

With the game looking well and truly won by Kingswood, there was then a spectacular change in the story of the game.  On 52 minutes Kingswood conceded a penalty in their 22 and Old E’s took the tap quickly and sent the ball out to No. 14 who wriggled through some attempted tackles to give Old E’s their first points of the game. 26-7

Kingswood then suffered another loss through injury as Winger Rich Francis came off with a neck injury and Sean Voisey came on. 

67 minutes on the clock and Kingswood conceded another penalty in their 22 but despite an injury to Neil Ward, the penalty was allowed to be taken quickly.  Kingswood defended well but Old E’s were awarded another penalty and despite now having 2 injured players on the floor, another quick penalty was taken and No.6 managed to get the ball down over the line to give Old Elizabethans their 2^nd try of the game. 26-14

On 71 minutes Scrum Half Ben Phillips was replaced by Derik James.

With 5 minutes of the game remaining, Kingswood were doing their best to clear their lines and keep Old E’s from gaining anymore points. However they were still conceding too many penalties and No. 9 was able to slip over the Kingswood try line for Old E’s third try of the 2^nd half to amazingly bring the game within 7 points. 26-19

Despite the late collapse, Kingswood held on to remain unbeaten for the season and book their place in the next round of the cup.  Kingswood now face a top of the table clash against Cheltenham Civil Service in the league next week.

Full Time: Kingswood 26-19 Old Elizabethans