Sat 1 Feb 2020
Kingbridge A XV travelled to Sandy Park (not that one) last Saturday to face the team that was one place above them in the Merit Table by one point. Although Kings had five recognised backs unavailable they still managed to field a squad of 16 thanks to three colts playing. Kingbridge kicked off the first half with the advantage of the wind and slope, however it was very much a stalemate in the first half with both teams making errors whilst in attacking positions. The A XV thought they had scored in the 25th minute when Joe Dixon broke through in the 22 passed the ball out whilst in the tackle to Joey Gloyn, he was tackled five meters short but managed to pop the ball up to winger Niall Marsh and he touched down in the corner, however the referee had seen a forward pass which negated the score. And with two difficult penalty attempts missed by James Ogglesby, the teams turned round at the half 0 - 0. Kingsbridge knew they would be under pressure now that they were going up the slope and had the wind in their faces. The second half started much like the first with both teams making errors whilst in the ascendency which gave the defences time to recover. Several times Kingsbridge broke over the halfway line with a good attack only for the ref to have seen another forward pass which halted the momentum. The deadlock was finally broken when Ogglesby kicked a freekick from his own half into the middle of the home sides twenty two, the pressure from the ensuing chase meant Kings turned the ball over in the Tavistock half and eventually centre Will Haddy managed to crash through a couple of tackles and then reach out and touch the ball down out wide, Ogglesby managed to convert despite the angle and wind to make it 0 - 7. Kings extended their lead a few minutes later when Ogglesby converted a penalty (against the wind) after the away side were awarded the penalty after some pick and drive phases by the forwards. With prop Buster James having to leave the field with an injury the game had to go to uncontested scrums, and after Kingsbridge had soaked up some attacks from the Tavistock forwards they managed to turn the ball over in their own 22, the backs looked to run the ball out, but again the referee saw a forward pass and awarded the home side a scrum, and from this uncontested scrum Tavi managed to score in the corner to close the gap to five points. Again Kings managed to rally and they were awarded a penalty in Tavis 22, which Ogglesby converted to give the A XV an 8 point cushion. This was to be the last score of the game as Kingsbridge's defence managed to hold out for the last five minutes. With the fact Kings were missing 5 recognised backs, and again 3 colts were in the squad stood up to the plate, this was a well earned victory for the A XV and moved them into second place in the Merit Table, 2 points ahead of their opponents. Colt Henry Rich was man of the match for both his defence and ability to gain yards when he carried the ball, but again this was a team performance as they managed to keep the home side to only one score and control the game despite the amount of 'forward passes'. On Saturday Kingsbridge welcome Brixham IIIs to High House looking to keep the winning streak going.
