Match Report

Kingswood V Old Elizabethans

Kingswood were at home this week and faced a challenge from the leagues top point scorers, Old Elizabethans.  With last weeks draw against the league leaders, it was vital that Kingswood returned to winning ways to help their push for promotion.

Kingswood, not the first time this season, made an excellent start to the game when they scored inside the opening 5 minutes.  Kingswood were awarded a penalty which was kicked to touch and the lineout secured.  Kingswood set up the maul and drove forward towards the Old E's tryline, the maul broke down but Kingswood retained the ball, recycling it well for a few phases before the ball made its way out to Paul Bennett who found a gap and slipped through to go over the line. 5-0.

  13 minutes later and Kingswood were awarded another penalty about 5m from the Old E's tryline.  Mike Oakley took the tap kick and went over alone to score his 4th try in 4 games to give Kingswood a 10 point lead. 10-0.

Old E's then had a good spell of pressure and were awarded a penalty, Kingswood were twice marched back 10m and found themselves defending on their own tryline.  Old E's passed the ball out wide but Kingswood defended well and Liam Stinchcombe drove the attack into touch to secure Kingswood a lineout from which they cleared their lines and relieved the pressure.

On 28 minutes Kingswood nearly bagged themselves another try but eventually had to settle for a penalty which Dean Stephens kicked to touch and Kingswood yet again had a lineout just short of the Old E's tryline.  A beautifully worked lineout seen the ball popped to Mike Oakley who powered over to secure his 2nd try of the game and Kingswood's 3rd. 15-0.

2 minutes later Kingswood had a scrum in their own half which they secured and Ben Phillips was in position to release the backs on an attack, he opted however to send a kick over the top of the scrum, sending the ball down field which Ian Kirley chased. Kirley's pace meant he got to the ball before the Old E's fullback and he kicked the ball into the try area before dropping on it to give Kingswood and impressive 20 point lead.

Old E's then went on the offensive and were pressuring the Kingswood defence and a try did look like it was coming, but Mark McGarrigle dropped on a loose ball before popping it back to Dean Stephens who cleared the ball and Kingswood went into half time 20-0 up.

Half Time: Kingswood 20 - 0 Old Elizabethans

Going into the second half without conceding kept Kingswood's heads high and they started the second half very positively with a good spell of pressure.  With 12 minutes gone of the 2nd half, Old E's were awarded a scrum on their own 5m line but a strong hit resulted in Kingswood turning it over.  Ben Phillips sent the ball out to Dean Stephens who switched the ball back inside to Paul Allen who slalomed his way through the Old E's defensive line and Kingswood grabbed their 5th try of the game. 25-0.

Ben Phillips was then sin binned somewhat unfairly after a misunderstanding with a decision and Kingswood were reduced to 14 men for the next 10 minutes and Old E's capitalised and had a good spell of pressure.

Dean Stephens was then replaced by Jon Bogan and shortly after, Stan Bailey and Damien Crosswell were replaced by James Dicks and Ben Feltham.

The rest of the half was evenly contested and both teams made a real competitive game of it, but neither side could create anymore chances and the game finished 25-0

  Full Time: Kingswood 25 - 0 Old Elizabethans