Kingswood Win Opening Game Of The Season Against League Newcomers

After missing out on promotion last season by an agonising 3 points, Kingswood started this seasons campaign for promotion at home to newly promoted Smiths Industries. The weather was scorching and there was hardly any wind, which meant it was going to be hard work for the first competitive game of the new season.

Kingswood started well and forced Smiths back into their own half straight from the kick off and continued to pressurise the Smiths pack deeper into their 22. Dean Stephens setup Kingswood's first chance of the game with a chip over the top of the defence into the try area, but Adam Morris was adjudged to have knocked on during his dive for the ball.

However, Kingswood's pressure paid off in the 9th minute when Smiths were penalised after handling in their own scrum and Ben Phillips converted an easy penalty kick. 3-0

For the next ten minutes the match was contested in the middle of the park but Kingswood were ultimately seeing most of the possession. On 19 minutes Kingswood were awarded a free kick from a scrum which Ben Phillips took quickly and made a break downfield before passing the ball to Mike Oakley. The ball was then given to Paul Allen who broke through the Smiths defensive line and ran in for the first try of the game. Ben Phillips added the conversion. 10-0

On 24 minutes, Smiths were awarded a penalty for Kingswood holding on and they opted to go for the 3 points which No. 10 converted. 10-3

Kingswood kept the pressure on Smiths for the remainder of the half but handling errors and penalties were preventing them from gaining anymore points before half time. Just before the whistle, an injured Ben Phillips was replaced by Derek James.

Half Time: Kingswood 10 - 3 Smiths Industries

Kingswood started the 2nd half well and it only took them 5 minutes before they made their pressure pay off. A lineout by Smiths was spoilt by Kingswood and Steve Trevelyan pounced on the bouncing ball first and broke through the Smiths line making great ground before being confronted by the Smiths Full-Back. Some quick thinking by Trevelyan saw him send a cross field kick into the far corner and Paul Allen was on hand again to pick up the ball and cross the Smiths tryline for his, and Kingswood's, 2nd try of the game. Dean Stephens added the two points. 17-3

5 minutes later and Kingswood were now playing with the confidence they showed at the end of last season. Smiths were awarded a scrum but the Kingswood pack drove well and caused a spillage at the back from which Steve Trevelyan was on hand once again to pick up the loose ball before sending the ball to the backs. Paul Allen received the ball and with a lovely dummy pass he created a gap in the Smiths defence which he exploited before running the ball in for his hat-trick. 22-3

Smiths did have a chance to double their tally when they were awarded a penalty on 54 minutes, but No. 10 was unable to convert. The last half an hour was played out without any more points being scored, but a plus for Kingswood was Vice Captain Mark Oakley playing out the last 10 minutes after recovering from a back injury.

So despite not playing at their full potential, Kingswood secure a convincing win and with 4 first team regulars coming back in the next few weeks, things are looking good for another promotion push this season.

Full Time: Kingswood 22 - 3 Smiths Industries

Captains Analysis

A very solid performance by the boys in defence, but in attack we made a few simple errors in critical areas of the park. Like, the last pass going astray and trying to off load the ball out of the tackle when maybe we didn't really need to. Only small things, which I'm sure we'll work on and put right this week in training. On a positive note though, the lads showed great character and signs of a good team by winning convincingly when really, we weren't playing at our best.