Despite 5 weeks of the season still remaining, Kingswood hosted Greyhounds of Hereford this Saturday for their final home league game of the season. Kingswood were without Gareth Pond and Anthony Davies in the Backs, so there were call-ups for 2nd team Captain Lewis Voisey and Winger Adam Morris. Nick Coe in for Stan Bailey was the only change to the Forwards that finished up against Cotham Park two weeks ago.

Right, before we start, I have to make it clear that two of Greyhounds players suffered a car malfunction on the way down to Bristol and with no substitutes either, it meant Greyhounds were forced to play with only 13 men until the two guys arrived. But, as the saying goes, you can only play what’s in front of you, so Kingswood set out to put this one to bed early.

4 minutes in and Kingswood grabbed their first points of the half after a couple of penalties led to a lineout deep in Greyhounds 22. The lineout was secured and the Forwards crashed towards the line for a couple of phases before the ball was spun out to the Backs. With the overlap clearly evident, the ball was quickly sent out to Joe Jones-Griffiths who had a simple task of getting the ball down. Ben Phillips missed the resulting conversion. A video of this try is online. 5-0

8 minutes gone and Kingswood were on the score sheet once again when James Willmott was sent clear by Ian Kirley after Kingswood turned over possession at a maul and put together a quick counter-attack. Ben Phillips slotted home the conversion from an impressive angle. 12-0

12 minutes on the clock and it was clear where this game was going already as Ben Phillips broke clear with the ball to make good ground before he was halted and a ruck formed. The ball was then spread quickly to the Backs and Ian Kirley broke clear to eventually get the ball down under the posts. Ben Phillips again added the extras. 19-0

16 minutes gone and with a nice regular time pattern now forming, Kingswood scored once again. Greyhounds were attacking through the centre of the park but their progress was halted by Ian Kirley and Vince Murrell was first to the ruck to rip the ball back for Kingswood. Murrell quickly popped the ball to Dave Vince who then fed Ian Kirley and finally Lewis Voisey on the wing, who sped off to secure the try for Kingswood. A video of this try is also online. Ben Phillips’ conversion hit the upright. 24-0.

Sadly the four minute time pattern was ruined as Greyhounds were awarded a penalty and they opted to take the 3 points, which No. 13 converted. 24-3

Kingswood didn’t take too long to get back to scoring ways however as they crossed the Greyhounds line straight from the restart. Taking him longer than usual to get on the score sheet, Paul Allen got himself in on the Backs action after he sidestepped his way through the Greyhounds defence after good maul work from the Forwards. Ben Phillips made no mistake with the resulting conversion in front the posts. 31-3.

Kingswood then made up for the slowing try rate by scoring two in 2 minutes. Firstly Joe Jones-Griffiths grabbed his 2nd after good work from Paul Allen before Allen helped himself to a 2nd straight after the restart. Ben Phillips added both conversions. 45-3

6 minutes before half time, a long clearance from Greyhounds was secured by Full-Back Joe Jones-Griffiths, who went on an excellent solo run before creating a lovely overlap opportunity that Lewis Voisey took full advantage of to grab his 2nd of the game. Ben Phillips missed the tricky conversion. 50-3

With the half time whistle looming, the ball found its way into the hands of Ian Kirley. Kirley flew forward with the ball and into a pile of Greyhound players and it was hard to imagine him emerging with the ball, but emerge he did, much to Lewis Voisey’s surprise, who wasn’t keeping up in support on the wing. Instead, Kirley had to rely on reliable old Alex Green, who received the ball and dived over the line for his 2nd try…..of the season. This was a bad omen for Greyhounds as Alex Green’s only two tries of his Kingswood career have come in high scoring 3-56 and 74-0 wins over Tredworth. Ben Phillips failed to add the extras. 55-3.

That proved to be the last action of the first half and Kingswood had set the bench mark for a 3 figure full-time score, but with heavy, persistent rain now turning the ground to mush, and with the two Greyhounds players spotted arriving, would it be an achievable feat?

Half Time: Kingswood 55 – 3 Greyhounds

The half-time break saw Kingswood make their first substitution, as an injured Neil Ward came off for Damien Crosswell in the front row.

Less than 3 minutes after the restart, Kingswood bagged themselves another try. A scrum to Greyhounds on their own 5 metre line was strongly overturned by Kingswood and the ball was quickly given to Dean Stephens at Fly-Half. Stephens exploited a gap in the Greyhounds defence and powered himself towards the line before seemingly grounding the ball on the line. The referee missed the grounding so Kingswood rucked the ball back before Paul Allen flipped the ball out to Ian Kirley who had the simple task of diving over the line for his 2nd. A video of this try (with slow motion replay, oh yes!) is also online. Ben Phillips missed the conversion but Kingswood had the score board ticking over once again. 60-3

Another 3 minutes passed and Kingswood’s Backs were on the attack once again, this time assisted by Steve Trevelyan, on loan from the Forwards. Paul Allen, Trevelyan, Kirley and then James Willmott put together a flowing move that led to Willmott getting the ball down under the posts, also for his 2nd of the game. Ben Phillips added the 2 extra points. 67-3.

With Greyhounds now up to full strength, Kingswood made a double substitution with James Willmott and Steve Trevelyan coming off and Adam Morris and Nick Coe coming on.

Forgetting they were now against 15 men and with the double substitution breaking-up the flow of the game, Kingswood were then caught sleeping as they allowed No. 17 over in the corner. 67-8

The rain was now making handling very difficult for both teams, but at least with it being 15 a side, it was turning into more of a spectacle. With the hour mark approaching, Greyhounds were awarded a penalty which they kicked to touch to secure a lineout, 5 metres from Kingswood’s line. The ball came in and was completely over shot and it landed in the hands of Greyhounds No. 22 at the back of the line who had the easy job of falling over the line to secure Greyhounds 2nd try of the game. 67-13.

No. 22 then jogged back shouting that he couldn’t hear us singing anymore, presumably upset that we didn’t want to celebrate his try. Still, it raised a few smiles on the sideline.

Anyway, with Kingswood now back in possession, they went straight up the other end and scored again. A scrum 5 metres out for Kingswood was pushed over the line and Vince Murrell grounded the ball, but the referee deemed it to be held up. Kingswood tried once again and this time Murrell was successful with the grounding. A video of this try is online to watch too. The offer of free food from the Coach saw Ben Phillips send a beautiful touchline kick through the uprights. 74-13.

With the final few minutes approaching, Kingswood found themselves with a lineout 7 metres from the Greyhounds line. The ball was secured and a maul formed, but the slippery ground was making mauling tricky, so the ball was spun to the Backs who put together a great move that saw Joe Jones-Griffiths break towards the line before attempting a quick offload. The ball was spilt, but Nick Coe was on hand to scoop up the ball before quickly releasing Dean Stephens. Stephens dummied a pass out wide before slipping over the line to grab himself a try, and a bit of afters too. A lovely video of this try is also online, aren’t you all lucky! Ben Phillips made the conversion and Kingswood were now 81-13 up.

The referee then decided that he had had enough of the rain and brought the game to a close and Kingswood had made it 19 from 19 in the league.

So, a sterling result for Kingswood and some excellent jug avoidance work from the Kingswood Backs, with 5 of them finishing up with 2 tries, but no hat-tricks.

I apologise for the vagueness of some of the tries, this is due to a) so many tries being scored I cannot differentiate them all in my head and b) the bloody rain destroyed my pen and paper.

Kingswood now have a 4 week break from league action before they return for their final challenge of the season, a tricky away trip to Old Elizabethans on the 17th April as they look to finish the league season undefeated. In the meantime, Kingswood welcome 3rd placed Imperial of Somerset 1 next week.

Final Score: Kingswood 81-13 Greyhounds