Match Report

League Match

Kingswood V Tetbury

The final league game of the season finished with a top of the table clash between the leagues two best teams, Kingswood and Tetbury.  Kingswood had already secured 2nd place in the league along with a playoff match with Gloucester III North runners up, Westbury on Severn. However, a win would revenge the 5 - 25 defeat inflicted by Tetbury earlier in the season, whilst destroying Tetbury's 100% win rate in the league.

The game started off with both teams having good possession, however Kingswood inflicted the first blow when a fine passing move was finished off by Dean Stephens and Kingswood were 5-0 up after just 9 minutes.

However, 5 minutes later and Tetbury equalised after some poor tackling lead to No. 7 bursting through the Kingswood defence before going over, levelling the match at 5 all.

Both Kingswood and Tetbury stepped up a gear and there was some excellent tacking and defensive play on show.  However, Tetbury again found a hole in Kingswood defence when they went over 20 minutes later to make the score 5-10.

Dean Stephens then converted a penalty kick to make the score 8-10 before Tetbury grabbed another try right on the stroke of half time to make the score 8-17 at half time and leaving Kingswood a big challenge for the 2nd half if they were to get anything from the game.

 Half Time: Kingswood 8 - 17 Tetbury

Despite going in at half time with a big points difference to recover, Kingswood started the 2nd have with excellent determination and pulled a try back with only a few minutes of the second half played when Stan Bailey went over to make the scores a little closer at 13-17.

The next quarter of an hour was played evenly between the two teams and both defences stayed firm and the scores remained the same.  However, Kingswood found that all important 3rd try when a catch and drive from a lineout was finished off by Damien Crosswell and Kingswood had amazingly taken a 18-17 lead.

But as quickly as it came, it was lost, Tetbury yet again exploited a gap in the Kingswood defence and ran the ball for almost the whole of the Kingswood half before a couple of quick passes saw them go over for their 4th try of the match to retake the lead.  The conversion was missed and Kingswood found themselves 4 points behind at 18-22 with only a few minutes left on the clock.  The Tetbury fans were running up and down the sideline shouting as they felt their team had done enough.........but had they?

A nail biting finish ensued, a Kingswood penalty was kicked to touch by Dean Stephens and Kingswood had a lineout just metres from the Tetbury try-line.  The suspense was immense as the lineout was taken.  Al Green leapt from the lineout like a salmon (had to get it in one match report this season - thanx Dixie) and secured the ball for Kingswood.  The ball was taken into the maul and Kingswood pushed forward and drove closer and closer to the Tetbury try-line.  Time seemed to stand still as Kingswood crept forward, roars from the crowd were pushing them on and after what seemed like an eternity, Mark Oakley went over to give Kingswood their 4th try and to put them 1 point in the lead.

The referee agonisingly allowed 3 minutes for injury time but Kingswood stood firm, Dean Stephens kicked the ball into touch and the final whistle went to end what was a awesome win for Kingswood and what rounded of a brilliant season.

Full Time: Kingswood 23 - 22 Tetbury

Quote of the Week: "If they have the audacity to stand on the same pitch as me, I cannot be held responsible for my actions" - Paul Allen