Kingswood Bounce Back Against Bottom Of The Table Cainscross

Kingswood returned to their promotion campaign this week as they hosted bottom of the league Cainscross. It appeared during the week that Kingswood would field one of their strongest line-ups this season, however Kingswood unfortunately lost the services of Stan Bailey and Mike Oakley from the forwards come Saturday but they did welcome back into the centre Club Captain and top try scorer, Paul Allen. It was a bitterly cold afternoon and the pitch was showing signs of stress after the recent deluges of rain which was going to make things heavy underfoot.

Kingswood started the stronger team and held the majority of the possession but despite some sustained pressure, they were unable to find a way through the Cainscross defence. Kingswood did however take a 3-0 lead in the 12th minute when Cainscross were penalised for not rolling away and Ben Phillips slotted home the kick.

Kingswood continued to hold all the possession and the majority of the game was being played out in the Cainscross half of the pitch. It wasn't until the half hour mark however that Kingswood increased their lead. Cainscross were in possession of the ball but possession was lost during some impressive Kingswood rush defence play and the loose ball was gathered and a counter attack ensued before Rich Francis put in a lovely down field kick into the try area and Paul Allen marked his return by flinging himself through the air and securing the ball to grab his 12th try of the season. Ben Phillips missed the conversion and Kingswood now held an 8-0 lead.

There were large periods of the first half that were uneventful, thanks mainly to the pitch conditions and the high number of penalties that were awarded, the majority going to Cainscross.

Just before half time whistle sounded, Kingswood's pressure was still relentless and they were awarded a scrum 5m from the Cainscross try-line after a knock on. Kingswood secured the ball and a lovely switch run by Dean Stephens saw him take the ball blindside before passing the ball out wide to Ian Kirley who dived over in the corner. Ben Phillips was unable to add the two points and Kingswood went into the 2nd half 13-0 to the good.

Half Time: Kingswood 13-0 Cainscross

It only took Kingswood 2 minutes of the 2nd half before they increased their lead. A well worked lineout saw Steve Trevelyan break free before passing the ball to an advancing Dean Stephens who sliced open the Cainscross defence before popping the ball to a full paced Paul Allen who sold a lovely dummy pass to the full back before placing the ball under the posts for his 2nd try of the game. Ben Phillips added the two points and Kingswood now held a comfortable 20-0 lead.

One of Kingswood's main problems on the afternoon was the high number of penalties they were conceding which was allowing Cainscross to see more possession than perhaps they should have. On 54 minutes and with Kingswood pressing well, they conceded another penalty and Cainscross tapped quickly and broke up field. No. 11 set of on a long run before sending a high kick over the Kingswood defence and the ball landed nicely in Kingswood try area and No. 11 got down on the ball to grab the first points of the game for Cainscross. 20-5.

3 minutes later, Kingswood made their only substitution of the game when Derek James made way for Brad Whiston, who was also making his return after a couple of weeks off.

Kingswood then crazily let their comfortable lead slip further away on 69 minutes when an attempted long pass in the backs missed its intended target and No. 11 grabbed the opportunity to kick and run the ball all the way into Kingswood try area before getting the ball down for his, and Cainscross's 2nd try of the game to make the score 20-10.

Despite the lapses in concentration, Kingswood finished the stronger side and on 73 minutes, a Kingswood penalty was taken quickly and the ball fed through the hands of the backs before the ball found it's way to Brad Whiston on the wing and his blistering pace easily allowed him to bypass two attempted tackles before getting the ball down over the line. Ben Phillips was able to add the extra points and Kingswood had increased their lead further to 27-10.

The game was brought to an end and Kingswood had secured another league victory. The victory keeps Kingswood in 4th place for now and with all the top teams still to play each other, Kingswood are still on course for a promotion placed finish.

Full Time: Kingswood 27-10 Cainscross