Sat 18 Jan 2020
Kingsbridge ran out easy winners against Bideford, who had put together some decent results since they were soundly beaten 29-0 at High House earlier in the season.
Kings should have won by considerably more points, but with underfoot conditions, the game was in jeopardy until Bideford’s local referee gave the all clear during the morning. Dogged play from the home side meant that Kings laboured to a 0-26 win. That they came away with a bonus point win and a clean sheet says much for the determination of the side, plus a standout performance from Captain Jake Vincent, scoring yet another hattrick. This was a game where Kings comfortably dominated the first and the last fifteen minutes.
Kings had potential to score in the first two minutes, when a great break by centre George Banfield saw the forward’s drive on only for the ball to be lost on the line. Kings prevailed in the set piece, and from a penalty into the corner with the resulting drive, hooker Vincent was on hand, as always, to power over. Fly half Ben Newman hit the upright with the difficult conversion.
Still dominating, Kings were soon back with another try when Vincent broke out of a maul to score under the posts. Newman successfully converting. The rest of the half was poor as both sides made mistakes, and no side got the upper hand, leaving Kings leading 12-0 at half time.
The first part of the second half was a mirror image of the last twenty of the first; both sides giving away penalties and failing to dominate. Bideford fell foul of the referee and at one stage had only thirteen on the pitch. It was only when Bideford were restored to fifteen did Kings really get back into the groove. Banfield scoring from a great angle from a well-timed pass from Newman, who also converted. Bideford again upset the referee, who marched them back into their 22, and from the ensuing penalty lineout, a great take by Dan Jarvis saw the visitors drive and put Vincent over for his deserved hattrick, to leave the final score 0-26.
A poor game, but any win on the road with a clean sheet and try bonus will do.
