It’s been a tough start for Kingswood so far this season. Despite an excellent home win against Gloucester Old Boys in Week 2, a series of injuries has seen Kingswood struggling to recreate the form of last season that saw them finish in 5th place.

This week, there were additional issues to contend with. Team Captain and Scrum-Half, Ben Phillips was unavailable along with Fly-Half Dean Stephens. Also unavailable was Paul Allen at Outside Centre and Nathan Pratt at Full-Back. This complete destruction of the Backs meant that Kingswood were forced into a major reshuffle. Mark Oakley moved from Hooker to Centre and Kingswood’s danger man, James Willmott was moved into Scrum-Half. Joe Jones-Griffiths then moved into Fly-Half. In the Forwards, the absentee list now stood at Vince, Tomlin, Green, Lewis & McGarrigle as a patched up Kingswood team took to the field.

Incredibly, despite the major reshuffles, Kingswood made an awesome start to the game, controlling all the possession and territory, eventually leading to an early try from Prop Mike Flook. Newent then woke up and their Backs were on top form as they pulled a try back.

Both teams then exchanged penalty kicks to make the score 8-8.

Newent then retook the lead with a converted try, before Kingswood responded with an excellently worked lineout try in the corner from Damien Crosswell. Joe Jones-Griffiths was unable to convert and the teams switched around at half time with the score at 13-15 to the visitors

As if all the injuries weren’t bad enough, Kingswood then suffered a huge blow to their front row when Mike Oakley was forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury. Later, brother Mark also suffered a bad knock, fortunately he was just about able to continue.

The remainder of the game was an excellent midfield tussle which Newent edged thanks to another try from their Backs to take the score to 13-20.

Both teams were reduced to 14 men after an altercation before Newent were reduced further to 13 men when their No. 8 was also binned. Kingswood used the extra man well and controlled the final 8 minutes, but they were not clinical enough within the opposition 22 and wasted a few equalising opportunities as Newent clung on for the victory.

So another bonus point keeps the wolf from the door for Kingswood and despite the 4 defeats, their points difference only stands at -3, showing that with a little luck on the injury front, this team are more than capable of turning things around with their attacking ability.