Kingswood Lose Out In The Final Minute In The Combination Vase

Despite their historic league season not starting for another week, Kingswood didn’t have to wait to sample the standard of opposition they’d be facing, as the Combination Vase threw them into a first round away tie against fellow Gloucester 1 rivals, Ashley Down.

It’s fair to say that Kingswood’s Forwards have taken a battering over the summer break, with numerous changes having occurred since their last game. However, this meant that Kingswood were proud to give 1st team debuts to Dan Watts and Alistair Lewis.

Kingswood’s Backs however have had a nice turn of fortune during the summer, with some excellent signings joining from local teams. One of which, Ashley Honeywell, started in the Centre alongside Paul Allen.

The game got underway with Ashley Down playing down the slope. It was clear in the opening minutes that both teams were a little rusty to begin with, with knock-ons and missed passes, as they desperately tried to get back into the swing of things. In the one area in which they envisioned struggling slightly, the scrums, Kingswood were more than holding their own, giving the Backs an excellent platform in which to build their attacks from.

The first real chance of the game fell to Ashley Down when a quick hands move left their Centre with a one on one with Kingswood Full-Back, Joe Jones-Griffiths, but as usual, Jones-Griffiths snuffed out the danger with an excellent tackle. Soon after, Ashley Down were awarded a penalty, but their Full-Back was unable to convert.

Both sides continued to attack well and an excellent contest was developing. It looked as though Kingswood were going to keep a clean sheet going into half time, but they were finally undone in the 36th minute. With Kingswood attacking, an attempted grubber kick through the defence was unable to break the Ashley Down line and the ball was swiftly kicked down field and a quick counter attacked ensued. Keeping the ball in Kingswood’s 22, Ashley Down had several attempts at breaking the Kingswood line, before their No. 12 finally went over. No. 15 converted and Kingswood trailed 7-0 going into half-time

Half Time: Ashley Down 7 – 0 Kingswood

Kingswood knew from their performance in the 1st half that they were very much in with a chance of getting back into the game or indeed stealing a victory. With only 4 second half minutes on the clock, they did just that. Kingswood started by turning over the Ashley Down put-in at the scrum, before solidly defending their own. Ben Phillips spun the ball out to the Backs and a finely executed Backs move saw Lewis Voisey break clear down the wing before diving over the line. Ben Phillips was unable to add the conversion, but Kingswood had their foot in the door again. 7-5.

One try was a good start, but incredibly, Kingswood then went and grabbed a 2nd straight from the restart. The kick-off was secured by Kingswood and the ball spun back to Fly-Half, Dean Stephens. Spotting the space out wide, Stephens sent a huge cross-field kick over towards Ian Kirley on the wing. The Ashley Down Winger was under the ball first but lost the ball after a good challenge by Kingswood’s Joe Jones-Griffiths. Ian Kirley scooped up the loose ball before spinning it out wide to new signing, Ashley Honeywell, who powered downfield before diving over the line. Ben Phillips added an excellent touchline conversion and Kingswood had the lead. 7-12

Before the restart, Kingswood replaced Steve Trevelyan with Mark McGarrigle.

With Ashley Down quite clearly rattled by the first 6 minutes of the 2nd half, they then conceded a penalty about 40 metres out and this in turn led to the games most controversial moment. Having banged over a 60 metre conversion in the warm-up, Kingswood handed the ball to Ashley Honeywell to further extend their lead. Honeywell struck the ball well and it sailed above and past the posts. Our linesman gave it, their linesmen did not. The referee looked on in confusion before deciding not to award the kick.

Kingswood then seemed to take their eye off the ball, no doubt due to the frustration caused by the previous decision and Ashley Down capitalised by clearing their lines and holding on to possession. On 53 minutes, Ashley Down were awarded a penalty kick, but No. 15 put the ball wide and into the arms of Ian Kirley, who cleared the danger.

On the hour mark, Kingswood made a 2nd substitution, with Dan Watts coming off and Dave Vince coming on. 5 minutes later and Kingswood made their final substitution as Lewis Voisey was replaced by Adam Morris.

Kingswood were now just 3 minutes away from claiming a much deserved and impressive victory, but then Kingswood suffered another controversial moment. With Kingswood defending their territory well, Paul Allen chopped down another Ashley Down ball carrier but was penalised for some unknown reason, to make matters worse, Allen was then shown a yellow card and sent to the bin. It is still unclear as to what actually happened.

Even so, Ashley Down pumped the penalty kick up field and used the extra man well as they repeatedly smashed the Kingswood defence, who were holding on well. Kingswood fell foul of the referee once more and conceded another penalty, this time, just 7 metres from their line. The penalty was quickly tapped and No. 4 managed to wriggle over the line to tie the scores. Kingswood’s fate was in the hands of the Ashley Down Full-Back, but sadly he had not read the script and he slotted the kick between the posts. 14-12.

Now in injury time, Kingswood knew that they needed to secure the restart in order to have any chance of reclaiming the lead. Ben Phillips’ kick hung in the air long enough for Ian Kirley to leap up under it, but as he landed, he disturbingly dislocated his knee. The game was halted, Kirley was removed from the field of play, the scrum was awarded to Ashley Down and Kingswood had to finish the game with 13 men.

Ashley Down secured the ball, kept the ball in the Forwards until time had elapsed, before the ball was cleared to the touchline to send Kingswood out of the Combination Vase.

One man not too worried about the result though was Kingswood Coach Mike Jones, who reminded the team that the result just goes to prove how much they have come on as a squad and that a last minute defeat to last seasons 8th placed finishers is not to be sniffed at.

Kingswood’s season starts for real next week as they face Bream at home. Big attendance needed to cheer on the guys people!

Final Score: Ashley Down 14-12 Kingswood

Quote Of The Week: “I’m a legend” - Mike Jones