Greyhounds vs Kingswood

This weekend we travelled to Greyhounds. The last time we lost a game was at this very same ground and so we were quite eager to get an early start and be well prepared, remembering there were a fairly well drilled side.

To that end we met at 11am and left via mini-bus to arrive around 1, plenty of time for a warm-up. The only changes to the side were Damien, Adam and Lewis rewarded with starting berths. With Dave Vince, Matthew Perriman and, returning from injury, Neil Ward on the bench.

From the kick-off Kingswood had them pinned back in their half, with a combination of drives from backs and forwards alike we felt well and truly on top of the game. With the scrums going particularly well for the Big K we eventually forced a penalty, Ben Philips duly converted.

A mis-catch from the restart saw a Greyhound line-out in our half, after moving the ball wide Kingswood managed to clear the ball out from the tackle area, however in the process I managed to injure myself. Blessed with six front row players in the squad a quick re-jig in the front row saw Mark move to prop and Dave Vince squeeze in at hooker.

From the scrum we then worked our way upfield, with the backs really making headway (no names it was all of them really). A ruckus broke out during a maul, with Dave Tomlin being sin binned for unnecessary use of the boot (allegedly). With the man down Greyhounds looked to capitalise and that they did.

Although still able to hold them in the scrum I believe a series of mis tackles saw one of the Greyhound players through to score. 5 - 3 to Greyhounds. This is how it remained until the half.
One notable piece of play saw the Kingswood backs string a move together and a combination of strong running from Kirley, Pond, Goose and Jamma saw us cross the line. However the Ref deemed the touchdown a double movement and so no try awarded.

With some stern words from the coach at half time and having stepped back and taken a look at oursleves we started the 2nd half with renewed vigour.

From the re-start we used rolling maul after rolling maul to creep into the Greyhounds half and towards the try line. Once a large number of their players were sucked in quick hands across the backs saw us creep ever closer. From that a short ball to Steve Trevelyan saw him go over for the try. Ben Philips converted, 10-5 to Kingswood.

Greyhounds were learning to step away from the rolling mauls to enforce the 'truck and trailer' penalty, during one of these moves two front players, our Damien Crosswell and their no. 27, had a general disagreement and both were sin-binned. A further re-jig in the front row saw Dave Vince move to tighthead and Nick Coe step in at hooker.

The next 20mins or so were a hard fought affair from both sides. The Greyhounds no. 10 and no. 8 were making some hard yards, but some good defense play from Kingswood never really saw Greyhounds breaking through. Al Green went off with Muttley entering the fray.

Kingswood used their third and final which saw Neil Ward replace Damien Crosswell. Another new front row combination saw Mark, Dave and Neil.

The Big K were still punishing Greyhounds in the scrum and penalties for both sides became more constant in the 2nd half, especially feeding at the scrum by Greyhounds.

Ten minutes from time Kingswood were rewarded a try when a rolling maul from the line-out saw Steve Trevelyan take his second try. Ben was unable to convert, score 15-5 to Kingswood.

One of the final plays of the game saw the fresh legged Neil Ward make a lovely tackle on the Greyhounds no.10. With that we saw the game end 15 - 5 to Kingswood.

Man of Match - unknown
Ass of Match - unknown

NB - Greyhounds Coach, not team, is contesting the game saying we used too many subs. The Ref has signed both team sheets and told Greyhounds in no uncertainty that we only used three. However, as the home side call in the score it is recorded as a HWO for Greyhounds.
I understand their is an investigation into this and the verbal abuse one of our players suffered from the Greyhound supporters during the game.
I have recorded it as a win on our website because it was and the Greyhounds Coach can jog on.