Match Report

League Match

Kingswood Vs BAC

Kingswood were hosts to BAC this week in a match that Kingswood again needed to win.  Kingswood won the previous encounter by only 2 points thanks to a last minute try, so they were prepared for an intense battle on the park.

Like last week, it took Kingswood a while to get into the game and although they had most of the possession, they were unable to convert this into tries thanks mostly to some determined BAC defending.  It was in the scrums and mauls though that Kingswood looked the stronger team and on the 14th minute a rolling maul from a lineout steamrolled towards the BAC try-line and Mark McGarrigle dropped over to give the game it's first points. 5-0

From the rain during the week the pitch started to cut up almost right from the off and this was making fast rugby very difficult for both teams.  On 27 minutes, Kingswood secured a lineout and setup another rolling maul and some good ground was made before Ben Phillips took the ball and sent a lovely kick up field that fortunately for Kingswood was knocked on and they were awarded a scrum 5m out.  A smart piece of thinking from Liam Stinchcombe to draw the BAC winger right out to the touchline meant Mark McGarrigle had an easy pickup and run-in over the BAC tryline. 10-0

Kingswood now seemed more relaxed and there was some excellent rugby on display, especially in the rucking which was powerful and solid.  On 34 minutes, BAC were awarded a lineout but Kingswood competed well and it was stolen by Ben Voke who went on an excellent break, making some great ground before a supporting Mark McGarrigle received the pop pass and had an unchallenged passage over the tryline to grab an impressive first half hat-trick.  Ian Kirley converted to give Kingswood a healthy lead. 17-0

The remainder of the 1st half saw BAC have a good spell of possession but Kingswood held out to go in at half time with a clean sheet.

Half Time: Kingswood 17 - 0 BAC

There was a slow start to the 2nd half with neither of the two teams getting any real scoring opportunities and despite Kingswood having most of the possession, again they couldn't capitalise on it.  An early substitution for Kingswood in the 2nd half saw an injured Alex Green being replaced by a slightly less injured Mark Oakley.

The 2nd half was sadly not the spectacle that the first half was, with the pitch making very hard work for the players.  It was a long 24 minutes into the 2nd half before the game saw anymore points and fortunately for Kingswood, it was they that grabbed them.  Kingswood were awarded a penalty but Ian Kirley was unable to convert and BAC restarted the game from the 22.  The drop kick fell nicely into Mike Oakley's hands and he set off on a lovely run before being slowed up by some strong BAC defending.  Steve Trevelyan was on hand though to grab the ball off Oakley and set off on a powerful run of his own before popping to Mark Oakley who finished off an excellent Kingswood move under the posts.  Ian Kirley had an easy conversion to make, and he did. 24-0

Ben Phillips then made way for Matt Bryant and Ian Kirley was then replaced by Ben Lambert.

With only a few minutes left on the clock, Kingswood were seeing out the game in control and they had one more try up their sleeve.  Kingswood secured a scrum in their own half and with the wind behind him, Dean Stephens sent an excellent kick down field but due to the boggy pitch the ball seemed to stop dead in the mud which caused confusion in the BAC defence and an advancing Ben Lambert made it to the ball first and sent a lovely kick into the BAC try area and Jon Bogan was on hand to fall on the ball to give Kingswood a 5th try. 29-0

Injury time saw no real scoring chances for either side but was there was time for a crunching tackle from Ben Lambert who seems to be relishing his chance to be playing in the first team.  The final whistle went and Kingswood had claimed their 13th win of the season to keep promotion chances alive.

  Full Time: Kingswood 29 - 0 BAC

Quote of the Week: "Remember Paulo, It's Right Handed Drinking Only Tonight" - Mark Oakley