2nd's Match Report

Merit Table Match

Kingswood Vs Southmead

A chance to follow the Kingswood 2^nd XV this week in their Merit Table encounter with Southmead.  Conditions were perfect with little wind and no rain, so a good game of rugby had every chance of developing.

Kingswood started slowly and were placed under pressure from the start but Southmead’s discipline in Kingswood’s 22 let them down and Kingswood managed to clear their lines with a series of penalties.

With 13 minutes on the clock, Southmead were in control but a wayward pass lead to a knock on.  Ian Kirley scooped up the loose ball for Kingswood before releasing Alex Green in his new position in the centre.  Green made an excellent break downfield, even throwing a dummy pass before popping the ball one handed inside to Ian Kirley whose pace took him clear of a last gasp tackle to run clear and give Kingswood the first points of the game. 5-0 

For the next 10 minutes Kingswood’s defence was placed under pressure but they were holding firm against Southmead’s rolling mauls and crash balls until Southmead were awarded a penalty and No. 16 converted to make the score line 5-3

This score line only lasted 3 minutes though before a Kingswood lineout on the half way line was secured and an impressive rolling maul powered its way 25 yards into the Southmead half before the ball was released to Ian Kirley.  Noticing a lot of room behind the Southmead defence, Kirley sent a lofted kick over the top and ran through to drop on the ball in the Southmead try area to increase Kingswood’s lead to 10-3

5 minutes later and the game then swung in Southmead’s favour when they were awarded a scrum 5m from Kingswood’s try line.  Southmead then hit Kingswood’s defence with several crash balls and despite resisting several attempts, Southmead’s No. 5 finally crept over to bring the scores to a very close 10-8

Southmead then took the lead for the first time in the game with 37 minutes on the clock after No. 10 went over after a rolling maul, he also added the 2 extra points to give Southmead a 10-15 lead.

Deep into injury time and Kingswood were given a series of penalties 5m from Southmead’s try line. Kingswood opted to kick to touch and from the resulting lineout the ball was secured.  Kingswood rolling maul was quickly brought to ground and a ruck was formed. Dave Vince sent the ball out to Ian Kirley who sent it on to Alex Green and with a lovely hand off, Green dived over the line to bring the scores level.  Lewis Brain stepped up and his conversion was successful to give Kingswood a 17-15 lead with the last action of the half.

Kingswood 17-15 Southmead

It only took Kingswood 4 minutes of the 2^nd half to extend their lead when yet again a penalty was kicked to touch and a lineout was secured and a rolling maul set up.  The rolling maul made good ground before the ball was released to Ian Kirley and Mark Oakley ran a lovely line off his shoulder to break the Southmead defence and leave Kingswood with a 2 on 1 situation.  Oakley drew in the last defender before popping the ball inside to Mark McGarrigle who had an easy run in to extend Kingswood’s lead to 22-15

Kingswood then had another glorious chance to extend their lead when Mark McGarrigle made an excellent break downfield but the pass out wide to Dave Vince was incomplete a few metres from the Southmead line and the chance had gone begging.

 On 52 minutes Southmead then brought the game to within 2 points after No. 3 crashed over in the corner after some lengthy Southmead pressure. 22-20

Kingswood then made their first substitution as Matt Mould was replaced by Rob Edwards 

 The lead then switched hands again when straight from the restart Kingswood were caught napping and Southmead broke downfield and No. 3 once again crossed the Kingswood line in the corner 22-25

There was then a triple substitution for Kingswood with the 3 James’s, Dicks, Crabbe and Thorne coming off and Ben Feltham, Matt Brain and Sean Collins coming on.

The score line could have become worse for Kingswood as Southmead were awarded a scrum 5m out but Kingswood’s defence was like rock and a rolling maul was first halted then driven back before the referee rewarded Kingswood’s efforts with a scrum from which they cleared their lines.

Just after the hour mark, Southmead then increased their lead when No. 16 went over the line at the back of a rolling maul to make the score 22-30

5 minutes later however and Kingswood made it an exciting game once again when their home grown youngster and man of the match, Nicky Coe, went on an excellent run when he exploited a hole in the Southmead defence before releasing the ball which lead to some excellent support play between Stan Bailey and Mark McGarrigle before an obviously delighted Dave Vince crossed the Southmead line. Mark McGarrigle converted the easy kick and Kingswood had set up an entertaining end to the game by bringing the score to within 1 point at 29-30

After battling their way back into the game, there was then disappointment for Kingswood at the death when a Southmead lineout 5m out was secured and a rolling maul formed.  Kingswood thought they had escaped when there was clear knock on but unfortunately for Kingswood it was missed by the referee and No. 5 gathered the ball to grab Southmead another try with 2 minutes of time remaining. 29-35

The last few minutes of the game saw Kingswood pressing the Southmead defence in search from that all important winning try but unfortunately the ball ran loose and Southmead kicked to touch to end what was a highly entertaining game for everyone involved.

Kingswood 29-35 Southmead