Kingswood 1's vs Avonvale 1's - away

Kingswood started their season with an away fixture to Avonvale - having played at the start of last season they were keen to put away the 55-5 drumming they received last time with a 1st/2nd combo - they did.

The match started as quite a close affair with neither team really combining well. Kingswood, it is safe to say, didn't really gel as a team until after 20minutes. With the Avonvale fly half controlling the game well with his boot, dictating the pace and kicking two fine penalty attempts to put them 6-0 up after around 20mins.

Kingswood did well to stop the pick and go's the Avonvale forwards had started to adopt, with the backs providing some nice defense whenever they spread it wide - notably a fine tackle by Paul Allen which resulted in a split lip - bless him.

Kingswood started to come together after a fine run off the wing from Liam Stinchcombe. With his trademark stepping and pace he gained the yards for the backs to put together a well rehearsed move with a miss pass out to James Wilmott who strolled in for the try.

The second try, signalling the end of the half, was a pick and go by Ben Phillips at 9 who found the space to kick through for Dean Stephens to follow up, pick up and break two tackles to fall over the line.

Half Time - 10-6 to Kingswood

Following some words from the club coach Kingswood started to play some expansive rugby, throwing the ball this way and that to open the Avonvale defense. A lovely up'n'under by Ben Philips almost found Dean clean through - except he knocked it on.

Avonvale were still playing hard and had one missed penalty attempt, but a number of front row changes meant they lost the edge they had in the scrum. A number of subs came on for Kingswood. The next try was a - not so planned - mis-pass to Paul Allen who collected on the angle to run in his first try of the season.

The fourth try was again a simple expansive move from the backs, which saw Dean Stephens cross for his second, working a bit harder for this one by having to cross with a couple of - the smaller - Avonvale players attached to him. Ian Kirley converted this one.

The fifth and final try came once again from James Willmott. After a line-out, which had worked a treat for Kingswood all game, on the far side James took the ball at pace to step his opposite man and run through a gap generated from the confusion of the Avonvale players to touchdown.

Final Score - 6 - 27 to Kingswood.
Man of Match - R Lamb
Ass of Match - D Stephens
Next week at home to Old Elizabethans.