Kingswood vs tetbury

With the abscence of club captain Neil Ward, Ian Kirley and Joe O'Leary Kingswood stepped upto play rivals Tetbury. With the return of Rob Lamb and vice captain Dean Stephens stepping up to captaincy it was an eagerly awaited affair, least of all for the supporters who were standing in the rain (slight drizzle to start but it got worse.... bless em).

With uncontested scrums the order of the day it meant the pack was going to have to keep up in a high tempo game. First points went to Kingswood when a lovely break from Stan Bailey (distances range from 5m to 50m), off-loaded to Paolo who in turn off-loaded to Chris Philips on the wing. He stepped inside his man and into the middle of the field where Nicky Coe was running in support to take the pop and crash over for his first 1st team try.

The 2nd score wasn't soon after with a lovely overhead kick from Ridgway at the base of a ruck, stand in captain Dean Stephens ran through to collect and drew the full back to off-load to none other than Dave Vince running in support. Vincey threw off his zimmer frame and dove over the line for a score. Dean converted.

The weather really kicked in making the ball quite slippery to grasp - at least thats whats the backs said. Kingswood were keeping Tetbury in teh game with several penalties, the count was 10 in the first 20 minutes. One of which the Tetbury 10 made count and claimed three points early on.

The final score of the half came from a trademark one-two from Steve Trevelyan and Paul Allen. Dean passed out to Steve in the Kingswood 22, ran upto halfway past some beleagured Tetbury defence. He then kindly passed to Paolo in support who went around the winger and full-back to score in the corner.

One thing I will mention in the first half, other than Muttley needing to learn the meaning of 'get back ten' at a penalty, is what could have been the try of the season. Whilst hovering on the wing Liam Stinchcombe was given the ball from an overhead throw by Paolo. Now admittedly I was some way away, covering the left wing obviously, but I certainly saw Liam step past four of the Tetbury players with a mix of stepping and acceleration. Then as he came up to the full back a clever overhead kick saw the ball bounce down the wing for him to outpace everyone and score. In a moment of pure individuality from the team everyone celebrated, except for the ref, who dis-allowed the try as the ball was prevented from going out by being knocked back in field by the corner post. Unlucky Liam.

Half time score 17-3

The second half, despite some strong words from the Coach and Club Captain at half time, started much the same. Kingswood kept Tetbury in the game by giving away needless penalties and too many knock-ons giving them the advantage on the uncontested scrums.....to be fair the Tetbury back-line knocked on a fair few aswell.

The next points came after a raft of subsitutions by Kingswood (Crooky on for Muttley, Greener on for Stan and Philips on for Stinchcome). With Ben Philips now at the scrum half position Steve Ridgway out on the wing found himself on the end of a fluid backs move by James Wilmott to Paolo to Ridgway who scored. Ben converted.

The fifth try was a mis-judged quick line-out from Tetbury which once thrown in missd the intended Tetbury players, with Paolo picking up and off-loading to Ian Crook in support, who ran in under the posts. Ben converted.

Ridgways second try came about from Al Green fielding a kick, taking it up and passing out to Steve on the wing. Steve then ran past/though four of the Tetbury players between halfway and the try line which he duly crossed. Ben converted.

The final try, more once again born of mis-fortune from Tetbury. A clearance kick in the Tetbury 5 found Chris Philips on his own on the wing in their 22. With only one man to beat he stepped inside to score in the corner.

Kingswood won but felt as though it could have been more if they had kerbed the penalty count.

Final socre 43-3.
Man of Match - Robert Lamb
Ass of Match - Steven Ridgway

next week away to Tredworth.