Sat 18 Jan 2020
The A XV welcomed Plym Vic to High House looking for their third successive victory. With five of the Colts Squad volunteering to play, it meant the home squad had the luxury of 21 players. On a lovely dry day for rugby, Kingsbridge kicked off but soon found themselves under pressure with Plympton using their large forwards to pick and drive a number of phases which resulted in Kings conceding a penalty. From the ensuing lineout Plymton set up a rolling maul and with the advantage of them being a bulkier pack Kings could not hold them out, the try was converted and the home side found themselves seven points behind within the first five minutes. This lead didn't last long as Kingsbridge put pressure on Plym Vic from the kick off and managed to turn the ball over, they got the ball quickly to the backs and Full Back Billy Oram joined the line line to crash over and score. Kings then took the lead when Captain James Lake managed to cross the line after a number of phases in the forwards, James Ogglesby converted. Ogglesby was the next to score a try, when he was released by the backs passing it along the line and he was out on the wing took the ball and sprinted over from the twenty two. The next try went to the away side when again they took a lineout from a penalty, caught and drove over to cut the deficit to 5 points, This deficit didn't last long however as Oram scored his second try of the game when he joined in the line again and after some dubious tackling from the opposition found himself free and able to touchdown,securing the try bonus point in the process, again Ogglesby converted to make the score at half time 24 - 12. Plympton was the first to score after the change of ends, when they put pressure on a Kings scrum in their own twenty two, the ball squirted out from the back of the scrum and the Plympton scrum half pounced on the ball to score the try. This however would be the away sides last score of the game as the youth and fitness of Kingsbridge started to show. Centre Alex Canevali was the next on the score sheet as he crossed over the line after a number of pick and drive phases from the forwards gave the backs the room to carve through the defence, Ogglesby converted. The next two tries were carbon copies of each other, Jack West broke through the defence in his own half, sprinted through, and man of the match (and colt) Will Hollis was backing up to receive the pass around the twenty two and sprint to the line, Ogglesby converting both. Max Bewley was next on the score sheet with one of his trademark tries of out sprinting the covering defence once he was put into space. The final score of the day came when Oram scored his third try of the day (his second hat trick in three games) and Ogglesby converted to make the final score 57 - 17. Again this was a good team effort as all players in the squad had at least 40 minutes on the field, but special mention (and thanks) should go to Will Hollis, Joe Thomas, Niall Marsh, Ben Grose and Rylan Jackson the five colts who volunteered to play in their first senior game, and despite the size advantage Plympton had over them they all stood up to the plate and helped the side in the win. On Saturday Kings will hope to continue the winning start to the year as they welcome OPM,s to high House.
