Knights Show United Team Spirit in a Hard Fought Game

All the hard training sessions and the last three games had been leading to this match. 1 win and 2 loses meant an eager Knights Team made the away morning trip hoping for a much-needed win. Although the win didn’t materialise the Knights team put in their best performance of the season so far and played as a united team showing great team spirit by working as a cohesive unit.
It is only appropriate to mention all the players who put in a hard shift during the 60mins of the game. Theo, Lucan, Josh, Rilee, William, Wilf, Harry, Yoshi, Christian, Jayden, Charlie, Samoree, Riley, George, and Jack. You can hold your heads up high and you might be feeling sore as you head off to school on Monday morning.
So it was a gorgeous summers day as the Knights away team and support arrived at Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Club. Knights had a slight first half advantage of playing with the slope of the pitch and for the first time this season the Knights team exploded into action from the kick off. Showing their skills at the breakdown and ripping the ball from Nailsea saw three phases of play with the ball coming along the line with Jayden pumping his legs through the Nailsea defensive line for the first try of the game. Knights started how they meant to go on with strong tackles going in, quick to breakdowns and rucking the ball back. During the match Riley made two try saving tackles being a reliable last man in defence wearing the full back shirt, good work! Saving a try is better than scoring one and you kept your team in the match.
Next Yoshi was breaking through the Nailsea line after a number of phases of Knights play to dive over the try line for a try. Then Wilf ripped the ball from Nailsea and it was passed to Charlie who did an amazing run and scored a disallowed try due to running over the dead ball line. The referee explained the try line for this game was on the five metre line but the players hadn’t been told. This was a symptom of the match which was marred by quite a few poor referring decisions. This decision through the Knights concentration and then there was a scrappy patch of play and loose ball which Nailsea picked up and run in a couple of tries of their own.
Then we saw sublime skill by Yoshi who did a chip and chase catching his own ball on the bounce completely opening the Nailsea defence and when tackled did a lovely pop up to Wilf, who gave excellent support running off his shoulder, and he went over for a brilliant try. The coaches were getting animated on the touchlines at this point seeing the Knights giving 100% on the pitch. Christian came off with a bloody nose and George joined the fray. Just before half time Nailsea scored with a strong pack try pushing themselves over the line. Half time saw both teams at 15 points each.
Another element of the game was the forwards tussling with each other in the scrum. Nailsea started to dominate then the Knights pack wasn’t taking any of it and started to hold them back especially when the opposition had the slope as an advantage. This was a fiercely contested area of the game. Well done to all the Knights forwards for giving it their all.
Second half Nailsea pressed with the slope advantaged and put on early pressure on Knights. The defensive line was strong making crucial tackles soaking up the Nailsea attack but eventually they broke through for a try. Then Knights held their own scrum and Yoshi broke on the blind side passing to Wilf who ran through a host of Nailsea players to score a try. A lot of the second half was played in the middle of the pitch with neither team able to make progress until Jayden broke through and passed to Riley for a try. Knights were looking good to win the game, playing out the dying seconds of the game but the game went on longer than thought and Nailsea were given advantage after advantage. Big Knights defensive tackles went in and the best Nailsea player was carried off injured but they still pressed and went over the try line in the last play of the match. It was a spirted Knights performance with some excellent display of individual skills and tackling but most importantly they pulled together and worked as team even when referring decisions went against them. But they kept their heads down, didn’t complain and took the game to Nailsea on the pitch. Jack made a brilliant debut to the Knights team in the second half – we are glad you have joined the team.
Try scorers: Jayden, Wilf x 2, Yoshi and Riley
Tacklers of the Match – Riley and Jayden
Captain: Riley