KINGSBRIDGE 15 points St IVES 16
It was again Kingsbridge’s high penalty count that cost them dear as a kick three minutes from time saw St Ives snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and deprive the Blue and Whites of what would have been their first league victory of the season.
The visitors had opened the scoring in the 10th minute when they converted a penalty for offiside, before the hosts came back to take the lead with a try from a five metre line out. With posession secured the forwards took play towards the posts and from the second maul, prop Mike Powell was driven over the line to put Kingsbridge 5-3 ahead.
The boys get ready for a scrum
The hosts then extended their lead on the half hour as another 5 metre line out saw a forward surge for the line draw the St Ives defence in and with the ball released to the backs, fly half Ben Newman exploited the huge overlap to put full back Jack Davey away to score wide out. Newman converted well to put Kingsbridge 12-3 ahead. A penalty from Newman on the stroke of half time extended the lead to 15-3 at the interval.
St Ives reduced the deficit to 15-6 early in the second half as Kingsbridge infringed again just inside their own half. With a long range kicker against them Kingsbridge would have done well not to give away so many kickable penalties. Fortunately for the hosts two further kicks in the middle of the second half were missed.
Kingsbridge had their chances in attack but on three separate ocassions during the match, penalties were given away whilst in possession close to the St Ives line and their chance to increase their lead evaporated.
The hosts had to be strong in defence in the second half as the visitors pressed to reduce the deficit. A large number of first time tackles were missed as the defence was breached but thankfully further cover tacklers were able to avert scoring chances.
With five minutes remaining however the Kingsbridge line was breached as another penalty was given away deep in their own 22 and the visitors took a quick tap and crossed over near the posts. The conversion was added to set up a nervewracking final few minutes with the scoreline at 15-13.
Looking back it now seems almost inevitable that it should be another penalty that would cost Kingsbridge the game as an offside infringement just outside their 22 saw St Ives steal the victory that Kingsbridge were so desperate to achieve.
This weekend sees Kingsbridge travel to face Tiverton in the league whilst the A XV will entertain Totnes II’s in the Merit Table at High House at 3pm. The Colts travel to face Plymstock in their Merit Table.
Saturday will again see the clubhouse open for breakfast when England play Romania in the Rugby World Cup at 7.00am. The match will be broadcast on the big screens in the clubhouse for members and visitors. England’s game will be followed by the hosts New Zealand against France at 9.30am.
A note for the Diary is the annual Kingsbridge Past Players Lunch which will be held at the Clubhouse on Saturday 1st October prior to the 1st XV’s home league match with Torquay. Tickets for the event are £10 each and can be booked by contacting the Club Chairman Phil Darke on 01548 561089 / 07803 709687 or Club Secretary Martin Newman on 01548 853976 / 07974 803735.
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