All moving parts came together for perhaps the first time in the latter half of the season in this often brutal encounter with Cheltenham Saracens. However, Kingswood’s dominance was never reflected on the scoreboard.

Undoubtedly it took a while for the home side to settle into the scrummage – bizarrely losing much of their own first half ball yet snaffling an equal portion of Sarries’. Nevertheless, a heartening display of unity and discipline, allied with ferocious defence, denied Sarries any try-scoring opportunities.

The sublime back-row combination of the raw brutality of skipper Coe, tireless tackling and groundwork of Josh Smith and the guile of Mark Oakley, ensured any go-forward ball Sarries did generate was butchered by their fly-half who was justifiably pre-occupied with self-preservation. Sarries’ pack generated plenty of lineout possession from a slick routine at the front of the lineout, but the lack of variety made it simple for the Kingswood defence to nullify Sarries’ threat in midfield and around the fringes.

Kingswood snorted and snarled to a meager 5-3 advantage at half time through a well worked try from busy flanker Smith. The second half introduction of Ryan England at loose-head had a significant impact. England’s scrummaging power broke the back of Sarries’ resistance, and he topped off an impressive 40 minute shift with a trade-mark try from a bullocking charge.

With the exception of a ten minute period of sustained pressure in Kingswood’s 22 from the visitors, Kingswood nervously but with some comfort closed out the game three tries to nil, in the final minutes uncertain whether to throw caution to the wind and go for a four-try bonus point at the risk of letting in the visitors. A well worked try in the left hand corner topped off a decent performance from Dean Stephens, playing in the unfamiliar role of centre.