What a start to the year Kingswood Knights have had so confidence was at a record high heading into the first tournament of 2023. It’s important to note that we headed to the tournament with twelve players which is enough to play but it meant we had no substitutes and a couple of the players were playing with injuries. Drawn in Pool D, we knew we would be against good opposition of Hucclecote, Old Patesians A, St Brendans B and Bredon Star. It was an early start for the team, having to rise on a precious Sunday morning between 6:30 and 7am to get to Drybrook for 9:15 to warm up on a bitterly cold March morning.

The Knights Team were as follows: Jayden, Joshua, Rocco, Samoree, Lucan, William, Yoshi, Jack, Charlie, Riley K, Wilf and Theo

First Game – Kingswood Knights – 5 vs St Brendans B – 10

Captain: Jayden

This was an evenly matched game which either team had the ability to win as there was very little difference between them. In the first half saw William driving Knights forward after seeing St Brendans start brightly in the Knights half. Wilf and Yoshi started how they meant to go on with tackling in our defence and we saw fierce rucking from Charlie. There was a charging run from Jayden and Joshua and a crunching tackle from Theo. The teams remained even at half time. Second half St Brendans early pressure resulted in a try. Samoree already playing injured, hurt his shoulder and went off. Jayden did one of his amazing breaks bursting through their defensive line to score a great try. Then we built the pressure again with Wilf and Jayden driving forward but Wilf went down awkwardly on his neck and went off injured. St Brendans capitalised by scoring the final try against a weakend Knights team and winning a close game.

Second Game – Old Patesians – 25 vs Kingswood Knights – 5

Captain: Yoshi

Wilf and Samoree showed their determination and support for their team members by coming back on the field for the second match. Something happened in the first half of the game as Knights didn’t play to the standard that we are used to seeing week in and week out. We started slow, not supporting each other, often watching the ball rather than moving to it, missed crucial tackles and were just off the pace of the game. Yoshi had a great game making tackles and breaks all over the pitch, Charlie did an amazing run before going off injured, while Lucan and Jack made some good tackles but the opposition scored two easy tries. Jayden was having none of it running the length of the pitch to score a great try but a disjointed Kingswood team let in another two tries before half time making the opposition look better than they deserved. Players heads went down and you could see the moral of the team drop. Luckily Charlie came back on for second half and the team rallied with much better play. Rocco stepped up Knights effort making some great tackles to keep Knights in the game. Charlie drove Knights to their score line but we couldn’t manage to get it over for a try. The opposition managed to score another try to put the game out of sight.

Third Game – Hucclecote – 45 vs Kingswood Knights – 0

Captain: WIlliam

Hucclecote were the best team in our pool and after losing two games, Knights weren’t feeling as positive as they should before coming into the match. A thing to learn is how you need to rally round as a team and you need to always think you can beat the opposition otherwise you have already lost the game before getting onto the pitch. In this match you could see Riley K, Theo and Lucan give their all. Joshua and Jayden made a few good runs and Wilf was seen battling in the midfield. But a well organised and confident Hucclecote team with strong rucking and passing out to the wings were just too overwhelming for our Knights team on this day.

Fourth Game – Kingswood Knights – 5 vs Bredon Star 30

Captain: Rocco

Its not the winning and losing that’s important in rugby but it’s the way the team plays. The last two matches Knights didn’t really play as the team we know and love but despite the score line in this game Knights did themselves proud. Right from the beginning Knights increased the intensity and took the game to Bredon Star. William, Yoshi, Joshua and Charlie did some good passing and broke through their defensive lines. Bredon Star passed along to their wing and scored but this time the team kept their heads. Jack and Riley K did some good tackles and Rocco broke, supported by Yoshi and Charlie who couldn’t quite make the try line. Bredon Star broke down the right wing and scored again just before half time. A nice kick and catch from open play saw Bredon Star score again but Jayden drove the Knights back with another great try bursting with his pace and dragging three of their defensive players over their try line. Wilf got hit in the face, don’t worry he’s got a strong chin, and the team stuck together gritted their teeth and fought back. Charlie and Yoshi made two try stopping tackles to keep the score line down. This was a much better all round team performance.

Special mention goes to Samoree who played four games with an injury. Also Wilf, Charlie and Jayden who all got injured and went back on the pitch to support for their team. That’s a great team effort. A massive well done to all the parents who huddled on the side lines with numb feet for five hours supporting the team. It was cold waiting between matches and it might not have been our best performance but the teams discipline and spirit of supporting each other was noted as one of the highlights of the tournament. Everyone got a medal at the end even Oli, who we saw smile. Thanks to Deej for coming and referring for the team.

Jayden – 3 tries

Players Drybrook player of the tournament – Theo

Coaches Drybook player of the tournament – Wilf and Yoshi