Sat 26 Feb 2022
A glorious sunny day was the back drop to another high scoring game at High House on Saturday. Luckily for the home supporters the scoring was done by the home side !
Kingsbridge entertained another mid table team Bideford in a match rearranged from the end of January. The encounter between the teams when Kingsbridge visited Bideford back in October was a narrow victory for the home side and so everyone was expecting a close encounter. Kingsbridge, although missing a few regulars, ended up having too much fire power for the visitors and in the end ran out comfortable winners.
A brisk wind blowing across the field made it difficult to judge kicking so keeping the ball in hand seemed the better option.
Kingsbridge started brightly and were soon into the visitors 22. A forward drive carried Buster James over the line for the first try which was converted by fly half George Banfield (7-0). Banfield himself was the next try scorer touching down in Shutey’s corner. He was unable to convert so the score remained 12-0. Bideford had not come down to be swept aside and they spent quite a while in the home sides half. Their only reward however was a long range penalty to make it 12-3.
The home side were beginning to take control of the scrums and Bideford found themselves being pushed backwards from set pieces and in loose play. From a maul; near the visitors line, scrum half Jack Evans got on the score sheet burrowing over the line. Banfield’s successful conversion made it 19-3.
Kingsbridge were now dominating outside the scrum as well and a classic back line passing move saw the evergreen Ben Glover scything his way through the visitors defence to score under the posts. Banfield’s simple conversion made it 26-3.
Next on the score sheet was the ubiquitous Freddie Buckle. In the absence of other outsides, Freddie slots into the centre and his straight running was rewarded with a try well converted by Banfield (33-3). Buckle was back on the score sheet again soon afterwards running in from the 22m line. Banfield converted again to put Kingsbridge 40-3 ahead before Banfield scored his second try of the half with the conversion giving the home side a 47-3 half time lead.
Bideford started the second half like a different team pushing the home side around in the scrum and they were rewarded with a try which went unconverted.
That try seemed to wake Kingsbridge up again and soon after they were back dominating most phases of the game. Freddie Buckle was the beneficiary of this change as he was put clear to score Kingsbridge first try of the second half and his third of the game. Banfield’s conversion attempt hit the post so the score remained 52-8.
The game was definitely swinging back towards Kingsbridge and a lovely break from wing James Oggelsby saw veteran Dave Stephens cross the line for a fine try. Banfield converted again to make the final score 59-8.
Another excellent display from a team that is putting the stuttering start to the season way behind them.
They travel to face Falmouth in the league this Saturday whilst Kingsbridge Colts welcome Barnstaple Colts to High House in the Devon Cup Merit Table at 2.30 pm.
