Match Report

League Match

Westbury On Severn Vs Kingswood

A seriously depleted Kingswood side travelled up to Westbury On Severn this week for another league encounter.  The timing of this fixture couldn’t have been worse, with Kingswood missing several key players and facing a long coach journey, seriously cutting into their pre-match preparations.  Ben Phillips, Liam Stinchcombe, Ben Voke & Paul Allen the latest names joining the unavailable list and with several other players out on long term injury it meant a complete reshuffle of the first team.  The most notable change being Winger Jon Bogan putting on the scrum half shirt, a position he hasn’t played before.

With the home advantage, Westbury made an excellent start to the game and pinned Kingswood in their 22 and were awarded a penalty after just a couple of minutes but the kick just fell short of the uprights.  Kingswood did not look comfortable and Westbury continued to control the game and took the lead on 26 minutes when they were awarded another penalty and this time No. 16 was able to convert. 3-0.

With Kingswood now clear of their 22, they went on the offensive from the restart but Westbury seemed determined to protect their slender lead and did so for a while, however Kingswood did manage to score the games first try on 34 minutes when Westbury were awarded a scrum just 7m from their own try line.  Kingswood engaged well and took the scrum against the head.  Mark McGarrigle picked the ball up from the No. 8 position and popped it blind to Ian Kirley who made a few yards before acting Scrum Half Jon Bogan received the pass inside and despite some last gasp defensive shirt pulling from Westbury, he managed to fall over the line.  Ian Kirley had a stroke of luck when his conversion hung in the air for what seemed an eternity before dropping kindly onto the cross bar and fortunately for Kingswood, it fell the right side and Kingswood now held a 3-7 lead.

The rest of the half saw possession switch between the two teams but neither side could turn possession into points.

Half Time: Westbury On Severn 3 - 7 Kingswood

The start of the second half was still shaky from Kingswood who seemed to be finding it difficult to settle into a comfortable rhythm, which wasn’t surprising given the changes.  However, on 47 minutes Kingswood were awarded a penalty which Dean Stephens kicked to touch and Kingswood secured the resulting lineout.  Kingswood dug deep and pushed the rolling maul to within feet of the Westbury try-line.  Jon Bogan removed the ball from the maul and sent a pass to Dean Stephens who then sent a pass into the centre to an advancing Paul Bennett who only had one thing in his mind and a delightfully bone crunching hand off gave him an easy run in over the Westbury try-line.  Ian Kirley added the two points. 3-14.

It was then time for Westbury to launch an attack and they hit Kingswood with several rolling mauls and even a tap penalty 10m out, but credit to Kingswood they defended well and managed to come away without conceding any points.

Matt Davis then made way for Mark Oakley and shortly after JP Toffi came off and Matt Bryant came on.

On 71 minutes Westbury were awarded a scrum just inside their own half , Kingswood competed well and forced a fast pass from the Westbury Scrum Half to the backs.  An attempted clearance was charged down by Rich Francis and he managed to gather the bouncing ball and sprint into the corner to give Kingswood their 3^rd try of the game. 3–19.

All in all both teams would probably agree that it wasn’t the most glamorous game of rugby they had ever played but Kingswood did do well to come back from a long journey with another 2 points in the bag.

  Full Time: Westbury On Severn 3 - 19 Kingswood

"When I Received The Ball He Was Right In Front Of Me And As I Don’t Have A Side Step, Going Through Him Was The Only Option" – Paul Bennett on his his try.