Final Nail Placed In Kingswood's Promotion Campaign Coffin

With last weeks disappointing defeat behind them, Kingswood travelled to Hallen to face Old Elizabethans, a team they have already played and beaten twice this season. Kingswood's absentee list increased this week with Mike Oakley missing from the front row and Ian Kirley, Paul Bennett and Derek James missing from the backs. Kingswood started with 2nd Row & Prop Replacement, Mark Oakley, in the Centre and Scrum Half, Dave Vince, at Full Back.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Kingswood made an excellent start to the game with some good early pressure, although their penalty count was slightly high and this allowed the impressive boot of Old Elizabethan's Fly Half to clear any danger.

Despite the early pressure, it was a Kingswood mistake that lead to the first points of the game. A lineout in Old Elizabethans half was spilt by Kingswood and E's No. 10, who I don't believe played in the previous two games this season, was on hand to pick up the loose ball and weave in and out of some attempted tackles before setting off downfield. Whenever an attempted tackle was made, E's sent a quick pass to the support and the move ended with No. 7 crossing the line. No. 10 added the two points and Old Elizabethans held an early 7-0 lead

Kingswood came back stronger from the restart and played the next 15 minutes in the Old Elizabethans half but the finishing was not quite there and Old Elizabethans managed to protect their line.

There was an early set back for Kingswood as well when a recurring back problem meant that Ben Phillips had to come off and it was an early introduction for young Anthony Davies.

The game then became a midfield battle but Dean Stephens boot was giving Kingswood occasional attacking opportunities which included an excellent kick to touch from the half way line which secured a lineout for Kingswood 5m out.

Kingswood then suffered another setback when just after the half hour mark, some strong referring lead to Kingswood being march back twice which allowed No. 10 to convert the penalty kick and give Old Elizabethans a 10-0 lead.

And things went from bad to worse as Kingswood were adjudged to have been offside from the restart and from the resulting scrum, another Old Elizabethans break downfield resulted in a deft little kick through before No. 12 got down on the ball to give Old Elizabethans a 15-0 lead.

Right on the stroke of half time, Kingswood were awarded a penalty and Dean Stephens grabbed their first points of the game from the boot and Kingswood went into half time 15-3 down.

Half Time: Old Elizabethans 15-3 Kingswood

Kingswood started the 2nd half the brighter of the two teams and showed their intent with an excellent rolling maul which was clearly pulled down but the referee didn't see anything wrong and Old Elizabethans escaped.

An injured Alex Green then made way for Neil Ward.

With 12 minutes gone of the 2nd half, Kingswood were awarded another penalty and despite now kicking into the wind, Dean Stephens added the 3 points and Kingswood had clawed their way back to 15-6.

Old Elizabethans were starting to show signs of tiredness which was allowing Kingswood to create more attacking opportunities. Dean Stephens this time with a lovely downfield run and despite appearing to ground the ball, the referee strangely awarded a 22 drop out to Old Elizabethans.

Kingswood were now making good inroads and a try looked on the cards, more importantly for Kingswood, Old Elizabethans, even with the wind, were appearing to struggle to get out of their half.

There was then more confusion for Kingswood as 4 attacks in the Old Elizabethans 22 ended in penalties but no penalty try, fortunately for Kingswood however, Old Elizabethans resistance was broken down just after the hour. Another Kingswood scrum 5m out was picked up by Mark McGarrigle who sent a quick pass out to Steve Ridgeway who in turn fed Anthony Davies on the wing and his strong running took him over the line to grab Kingswood's first try of the game. Dean Stephens was unable to add the conversion but Kingswood were now only 15-11 behind.

Kingswood continued to control the game and once again crossed the Old Elizabethans try-line but again the referee determined the ball was held up, much to the disbelief of the Kingswood players.

With the final few minutes approaching, Kingswood found themselves once more deep in the Old Elizabethans 22. A few more penalties got them to within a matter of feet of the try line before Steve Ridgeway took the quick tap penalty and gave the ball to Dean Stephens who rounded off his man of the match performance by slipping through the Old Elizabethans defence to grab Kingswood the lead for the first time in the game right at the death. Stephens's conversion was good and Kingswood now held a 15-18 lead with one minute left on the clock.

Just when everyone on the side line thought the twists and turns in the game were over, there was once more to be had. Old Elizabethans placed Kingswood deep in their half with the restart but Kingswood managed to secure the ball. A few phases of crash ball edged Kingswood closer to the half way line and more importantly, over the 80 minute mark. But agonisingly for Kingswood, the referee deemed the manner in which the ball was sent out of play was illegal and Old Elizabethans were awarded a penalty. Kingswood thought they had escaped when Old E's decided to tap and run the penalty, but worse for Kingswood was when the referee decided they had not retreated the full 10 and awarded Old Elizabethans another penalty much closer to the posts. No. 10 stepped up and sent the ball through the uprights to bring the scores level at 18-18 just as the referee sounded the final whistle.

So despite deserving the win, especially on the 2nd half performance, this result makes it no wins and two draws in the last 3 games for Kingswood. With Chipping Sodbury in the cup next Saturday and then a crucial league match away at Ashley Down the week after, Kingswood are hoping that their poor run of luck is over for the season.

Full Time: Old Elizabethans 18-18 Kingswood