Sat 7 Dec 2019
Kingsbridge travelled across the Tamar last Saturday for their next fixture in Devon Merit Table 2 South West to play Saltash IIs for the first time in a few years.. With it being their last away match before Christmas the club had put on a bus for their 'Christmas Jolly'. Unfortunately when the game started the away side heads still seemed to be on the bus and within the first 10 minutes they found themselves 12 - 0 nil down following 2 tries,1 being converted by the home team. the second try seemed to wake the A XV up into action and they started to get into the game, Kingsbridge thought they had scored when veteran fly half Dale Jefferies kicked a grubber through on the Saltash 22 and Max Bewley sprinted through to attempt to score but the ref adjudged that there had not been any downward pressure. This was the closest Kingsbridge came to score in the first half, and when Saltash scored their third try (their second from a catch and drive maul) Kings new they were in for an uphill battle in second half trailing 17 - 0.
That hill got even steeper in the second half when due to some missed tackles Saltash managed to run the ball out of their own half and score a converted try. Kingsbridge then started to up the tempo by taking quick tap penalties and this tactic gained them good ground, they eventually found themselves with free kick on Saltash's 5 metre line and opted for a scrum. No 8 Lake picked up and drove closer to the try line and after a number of pick and drive phases got closer and closer to the try line, the ball finally crossed the line with James Lake scoring, Sam Jones converted. Kingsbridge were the better side in the second half but as most rugby enthusiasts know the score puts pressure on the team trying to catch up, and with the A XV trying to force the game unfortunate mistakes were happening. However they didn't give up and when man-of-the-match Will Haddy made a break in the line passed to Sam Jones and his well timed pass sent Bewley over the try line uncontested. this was the final score of the game which meant Kingsbridge had secured a losing bonus point. A disappointing result for the A XV but it was soon forgotten with the 'Christmas Jolly'.
A XV Squad away to Saltash IIs: Dave Evans James Lake Will Haddy Joey Gloyn James Baker Nick Bidwell Dale Jeffries Brecon Trigger John Tucker Ben Jarvis Chris Jarvis Joe Dixon Sam Darke Harry Usher Max Bewley Sam Jones Callum Holbrook
Christmas attire was worn and a few bevvies were drunk the only downside to the evening is that reports have reached me that a certain player (Ben Jarvis) will not be able to play for a few weeks as he managed to break his ankle dancing at the local nightclub. Hopefully this was the only incident and the A XV will have a full side to face Plymstock Albion Oaks this Saturday at High House.
