Match Report

League Match

Kingswood Vs Old Elizabethans

After only a month since they last met, Kingswood had a visit from their Bristol rivals, Old Elizabethans, this time in a Gloucester 2 league fixture. The last time the two teams met, a late Kingswood collapse made the score line a lot closer than it should have been and Kingswood were determined to not let that happen again this week.

 The game started off quite slowly with neither team creating any real point scoring opportunities as both teams exchanged kicks to gain the all important territorial advantage.  The possession exchanged hands as first Kingswood put Old Elizabethans under pressure before they went off the boil and were placed on the back foot.

With very little happening in the first 15 minutes, the sideline was then woken as Gareth Pond broke through the Old E’s defence on course to grab his first try for the club, however he was tackled just short of the line and Kingswood were eventually penalised for holding on.

Kingswood were now getting into their stride after the slow start and in the 21^st minute they grabbed the lead as they were awarded a penalty and Ben Phillips slotted home the kick. 3-0

Lifted from the score, Kingswood continued to assert pressure for the next 5 minutes with a series of crash balls which made hard yards up the field.  The ball was finally sent back to Dean Stephens who sent a lovely cross field kick over to the far side of the pitch, Ian Kirley got to the ball first and with a deft little kick into the try area, he rounded his opposite number to dive on the ball and give Kingswood their first try of the game. Ben Phillips was unable to convert the tricky touchline conversion. 8-0

This was to be the last real action of the first half as Kingswood found themselves on the receiving end of some harsh decisions which meant they could not capitalise on their forward momentum as a flowing game was not allowed to develop.

 Half Time:  Kingswood 8-0 Old Elizabethans

9 minutes into the 2^nd half, Kingswood were forced into a change as an injured Alex Green was replaced by Mark McGarrigle.  McGarrigle’s first action on the field was a scrum from which he picked up the ball from his Number 8 position and set off on a powerful run, aided by Steve Trevelyan who was close in support. The two players exchanged passes brilliantly as they took the ball deep into the Old E’s 22. A ruck was formed and the ball was sent out to the backs where Paul Allen received the ball and with a lovely dummy, created space in the Old E’s defence to dive through and grab Kingswood’s 2^nd try. Ben Phillips could not add the extra 2 points. 13-0

There was then a double substitution for Kingswood as Ben Lambert made way on the wing for Brad Whiston and a few minutes later and injured Tom Lovell was replaced by James Thorne.

With 65 minutes of the game gone, Old E’s found themselves stuck in their half of the pitch as Kingswood pressed well to limit counter attacking opportunities.  The pressure was working well as Old E’s struggled to string passes together and an excellent Kingswood tackle forced the ball to run loose and Mike Oakley reacted first to boot the ball into the Old E’s try area and out pace everyone to get there first and secure Kingswood’s 3^rd try. Ben Phillips missed the conversion but Kingswood now lead 18-0.

Kingswood were now cruising and 10 minutes later found themselves deep in Old E’s 22 again as they searched for their 4^th try of the game.  Kingswood were crashing balls at the break down as they inched closer to the try-line but a determined Old E’s defence was trying its hardest to keep them out. Eventually though a chink in the defence was found as Steve Trevelyan powered through one tackle and pirouetted past another to fall over the line to give Kingswood their 4^th try. Ben Phillips added the conversion and Kingswood now had a comfortable 25-0 lead.

Kingswood saw out the game in control and as the final few minutes of injury time approached, they had one more attack when they were awarded a scrum just outside the Old E’s 22. Mark McGarrigle again picked up and made good yards before being tackled. Paul Allen was on hand to pick up the loose ball and make good ground before also being tackled. The resulting ruck was secured and the ball fed to Dean Stephens who sold a dummy to create a gap in the defence which he ran through to grab Kingswood a 5^th try. Ben Phillips converted with a cheeky little drop kick and Kingswood had increased their lead to 32-0.

The game was brought to an end a few minutes early by the referee after an Old E’s player suffered a bad injury and Kingswood had secured their 4^th league win of the season to keep themselves in 3^rd spot, level on points with 2^nd placed Old Cryptians.

Full Time: Kingswood 32-0 Old Elizabethans