Kingswood vs Old Elizabethans

Kingswoods first league game of the season was a match against Old Elzabethans, a side notorious for its differing team subject to the time of year.

After starting so well in the warm-up and with a general good feeling all round Kingswood shocked themselves by again not really entering the game until after half time.

In the first half it was much of a yo-yo affair with Old E's really living off the Kingswood mistakes. A simple knock on from the backs gave Old E's the ball allowing one of their players a simple run in for the first, and only, score of the half. With their number 10 converting.

The KRFC winger Liam Stinchcombe almost found a way through to score in the first half. After some simple hands the ball found its way to him and, after side stepping his opposite number, he proceeded to smash though the full back. He was then clear to score. However, the ref judged Liams hand-off as a forearm and called KRFC back for a penalty to Old E's.

The game was strewn with penalties from either side, although more so from KRFC, which after 30mins resulted in a sin binning for prop Rob Lamb due to an alleged late tackle. Old E's were unable to capitalise on their superior numbers and five minutes later the Old E's flanker was sin binned for stamping.
NB - special mention here to Dave Vince who came on as a front row replacement and performed extraordinarily well against a well drilled Old E's pack.

Half Time - 7 - 0 to Old E's.

Kingswood started the 2nd half with a bit more flair and started to close down the Old E's no. 10 who was then unable to control the game as he had been in the 1st half. Ian Kirley was able to draw three points back from a penalty after 5 mins, shortly after Rob Lamb thought he had made amends for his sin binning through a try, only for it to be dis-allowed.

This seemed to wake KRFC up and shortly after the forwards managed to work a close knit try into the corner for scrum half Ben Philips. Five minutes later the Kingswood backs showed what they could do after some lovely hands gave full back James Wilmott the opportunity to score. Score 15 - 7.

Shortly after KRFC made some wholesale changes, including captain Neil Ward who went off with a neck injury.

Old E's hit back virtually straight away from the kick-off. The blinding sun causing some confusion for the KRFC players, allowing the Old E's flanker to sneak in and reclaim the ball. Following some simple missed tackles later Old E's crossed the whitewash to make it 15 - 14.

Having allowed that simple score by Old E's KRFC pinned the opposition into their own half for the next 15 mins, with a try coming from a lovely backs move off the line-out. Giving former captain Paul Allen his second try in as many games. Score 20 - 14.

Once again KRFC were asleep on the restart allowing Old E's to score once again to make the final five minutes a close knit affair. Fortunately the Old E's no. 10 missed the conversion.

With some stout defence, including a lovely hit from Dean Stephens on the Old'S Tight head prop, KRFC held out for a win.

Final Score - 20 - 19
Man of Match - Steve Trevelyan
Ass of Match - Rob Lamb

Photos of game - to follow