A break from league action this week for Kingswood and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Joe Jones-Griffiths, Tom Jones-Griffiths, Paul Allen, Ian Kirley, Alex Green, Dave Tomlin, Dave Vince and Ben Phillips were all unavailable for selection, so Kingswood were glad they weren’t trying to maintain their current league form. Sadly, they still had a tricky fixture, as for the 2nd time this season already, they faced Ashley Down in the cup. The last fixture finished 14-12 to Ashley Down, and with Kingswood having so many people out, there was certainly a degree of trepidation within the Kingswood camp.

Spirits were raised slightly when Kingswood saw the Ashley Down side warming up, they certainly looked a different side to the team they played at the start of the season, but with so many Kingswood players missing as well, it was difficult to see how this game was going to pan out.

Kingswood gave starts to Alex Evans and Dan Watts in the Forwards, whilst there was a new centre paring of Ashley Honeywell and James Willmott. Top try scorer, Lewis Voisey, was required to play at Full-Back for the first time in his life. Matt Bryant started at Scrum Half. It wasn’t all absenteeism for Kingswood though as they welcomed back Anthony Davies after a long injury. There were places on the bench for Chris Beynon, Rich Caines & Stu Wright.

Kingswood made a good start to the game and within minutes almost grabbed the first try when James Willmott broke the Ashley Down defensive line just 5 metres out but his pop pass back inside to Ashley Honeywell was knocked on and the chance went begging.

With 8 minutes on the clock, Ashley Down then got the first points of the game after Kingswood were penalised for coming in at the side of an Ashley Down rolling maul. Down’s Fly Half kicked the penalty and Kingswood trailed 0-3.

It was clear from the opening exchanges that Ashley Down were keen to keep the ball with their lumpy Forwards, rather than spinning the ball out to the Backs. With 14 minutes gone and after keeping the ball up their jumpers, Ashley Down then secured a lineout through a penalty kick before they steamrolled a rolling maul over the Kingswood line for the first try of the game. No. 10 added the extras and Kingswood found themselves 0-10 down.

Kingswood had a chance to pull some points back but a long distance effort from Ashley Honeywell just drifted wide. On 27 minutes though, Kingswood finally got points on the board when Dean Stephens slotted over a simple kick after Ashley Down were penalised for being offside. 3-10.

With 3 minutes of the first half remaining, Ashley Down found themselves deep in their own half but with the put-in at the scrum. The ball was spun back into the try area for the clearance but the youthful Alex Evans charged down the kick excellently with his face. Slightly dazed and confused, Evans lost the battle to ground the loose ball to Scrum Half, Matt Bryant, who dived on the ball to secure Kingswood first try of the game. Ashley Honeywell put over a lovely kick from out wide and an entertaining first half finished all square. 10-10

Half Time: Kingswood 10-10 Ashley Down

The 2nd half started as the first half finished, with Kingswood making good ground in the Backs and with Ashley Down trying hard to keep it tucked up in the Forwards, and that they did, for the opening 10 minutes. It was a great defensive display by Kingswood, as Ashley Down continuously picked and drove. Fortunately, with Ashley Downs Forwards only having one call, “Blue Ball”, Kingswood were able to pre-empt the attacks and keep Ashley Down at bay. Kingswood defensive efforts led to the ‘Down Fly Half sending a ball over the top of the defence, James Willmott cleared the danger, but Ashley Down were awarded the lineout on Kingswood’s 5 metre line. Defending the pick and go’s were one thing, but Ashley Down’s rolling maul was powerful from the lineout and eventually Kingswood cracked as No. 7 went over the line after 51 minutes. No. 10 added the conversion again and Kingswood trailed once again. 10-17

Finally clear of their 22, Kingswood set out to tie the match once again. Anthony Davies was making some impressive runs on his return from injury, but his time out meant although his strength was just as astonishing, his pace was ever so slightly lacking and on a couple of opportunities, Davies was caught before the try line.

With the hour mark just gone, Kingswood then made their first substitution, with Stuart Wright coming on for Alex Evans.

With 64 minutes on the clock, another run from Davies eventually saw Ashley Honeywell dragged into touch with the ball. Down secured the lineout and cleared the danger, but the ball landed, once again, in the hands of Anthony Davies, just outside the 22. Davies started his run towards the line, stepping inside one challenge, before stepping outside another. By now, Davies was 6 metres from Ashley Down’s try line, when another challenge came in, this time, Davies rode the challenge before spinning away with a lovely pirouette before crashing over the line for an amazing solo try. Ashley Honeywell added the extra 2 points and the scores were level once again in this incredible match. 17-17.

Kingswood knew that Ashley Down would tire soon as Kingswood began to get more time on the ball to run the opposition Forwards all over the pitch. With 75 minutes on the clock and with extra time fast approaching, Dean Stephens then breached the Ashley Down defence and make excellent ground before offloading to Steve Trevelyan. Trevelyan lost the ball in contact and Ashley Down were awarded the scrum, just outside their 22. Down’s No. 8 broke up the blindside but was pounced upon by Stu Wright with an excellent Flankers tackle and Steve Trevelyan was on hand to turn over possession to Kingswood. Ashley Honeywell then received the ball in the Centre and smashed his way towards the line before an opportunistic Robert Lamb, picked the ball up from the resulting ruck and crashed over the line underneath the posts to give Kingswood the lead for the first time in the game. Ashley Honeywell converted once again and Kingswood now led 24-17.

During the celebrations, Kingswood then brought on Chris Beynon for Nathan Pratt.

Straight from the restart, Kingswood were awarded a penalty and Dean Stephens secured the territory for Kingswood from the boot, placing a lovely kick deep into ‘Downs half. The lineout was secured and Stu Wright crashed the ball forward before Steve Trevelyan once again secured the ruck for Kingswood. The ball was then spun out to the Backs and a clever little move allowed James Willmott to break through the defensive line before excellently offloading out of the tackle to Mark Oakley in support. Oakley bashed his way through one attempted tackle before a lovely dummy pass threw the defence into chaos, allowing Oakley to spot a gap and run over the line with Ashley Down’s No. 10 on his back for an excellent try. Ashley Honeywell made it four from four and Kingswood’s victory was now secure. 31-17.

A closely fought encounter then came to an end and Kingswood progressed through to the next round, somewhat against the odds.

Due to the number of photos kindly taken by Mrs Honeywell, they have been split in to two albums. The pictures below are from Part 1, for Part 2’s pictures, just click here: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/kingswood/?section=videos_photos_view&album_id=76334

We also have highlights of the game here: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/kingswood/?section=videos_photos_view&video_id=9790

And, new this week, is the top 5 big tackles from the game: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/kingswood/?section=videos_photos_view&video_id=9810

As usual, a DVD is available to purchase and we will be watching the highlights after training on Tuesday evening.

Congratulations to Kingswood and well done to those who played out of position, had debuts and to our front row replacement who never made it on, Rich Caines.

Kingswood are home AGAIN next week as they face a tricky encounter from Spartans of Gloucester.

Final Score: Kingswood 31 – 17 Ashley Down