Try scorer Jack Cope.

TRURO 31 points KINGSBRIDGE 10

Two late tries condemned Kingsbridge to their fifth league loss of the season when they travelled to face Truro on Saturday.

Despite holding a 5-7 half time lead, courtesy of a Jack Cope try and a Matt Barlow conversion, the visitors were unable to prevent the hosts from overturning the deficit during the second half.

Kingsbridge’s only points in the second half came from the boot of Barlow as he added a penalty. Kingsbridge trailed 19-10 during the final quarter but were then sent crashing to two late tries that saw them return home from Cornwall pointless.

Matt Barlow scored a penalty

This Saturday sees Kingsbridge face their toughest test yet as they entertain league leaders Bideford at High House at 3pm. Kingsbridge A XV are also in action at home as they entertain Bideford II’s in the Merit Table on the Longfield Pitch at 2.30 pm. Kingsbridge Colts travel to face Tavistock in the Devon Colts Merit Table.

Kingsbridge came up just short of causing an upset on Saturday when they entertained high flying Torquay at sundrenched High House on Saturday in the Western Counties (West) league.
Cheered on by a large contingent of past players, who had been enjoying their annual lunch and get together at the club, the hosts soaked up early pressure from the ‘Tics’ before taking the lead in the 10th minute with a try that will take a lot of beating this season.
After the hosts had missed with a penalty kick at goal, Torquay restarted with a long drop out that sailed into the Kingsbridge 22. The ball was fielded by number 8 Jack Cope who opted to run the ball back out of defence. Cope weaved his way through the advancing Torquay defence on a stunning 50 yard break before offloading to winger James Trout near the Torquay 22. He in turn found vice captain Matt Gibbens in support and he rounded the superb move by scoring near the posts. Scrum half Matt Barlow added the conversion to put Kingsbridge 7-0 ahead.
Torquay reduced the deficit with a penalty on 13 minutes and then took the lead with an opportunist try as having given away a penalty near half way the Kingsbridge defence turned its back allowing a clear run through to the line. A further converted try on 24 minutes gave the visitors a 7-15 lead which they carried into half time.
Barlow reduced the deficit with a penalty early in the second half to make the score 10-15 before the hosts levelled the scores with a second try of their own. A loose Torquay kick was fielded by full back Ben Newman and he found support from centre Ed Lennon and fly half Tom Speechly who in turn put winger George Eynon-Lewis away on the overlap to score in the corner and make the score 15-15.
Stung into action Torquay came back strongly and took the lead again with a penalty to make it 15-18 and then they scored their third try of the afternoon to make it 15-25. Their fourth try of the game, which earned them a bonus point, came six minutes from time and extended their lead to 15-30.
Kingsbridge however weren’t going to lie down even at this late stage and were rewarded for their hard work by scoring a third try with two minutes left. A quickly taken tap penalty from Barlow was taken on by Cope and he found Gibbens in support who in turn sent Eynon-Lewis in for his second from ten yards. Barlow was successful with the conversion to reduce the deficit to just eight points but there was insufficient time for the hosts to reduce the deficit further.
Whilst this may have been their fourth loss in five league matches this season, the young Kingsbridge side can take a number of positives out of the performance and this will hopefully stand them in good stead for upcoming matches.

This Saturday sees Kingsbridge travel to face Truro in the league. The A XV will be entertaining Brixham III’s in Devon Merit Table 2 at High House at 3pm. The Colts are currently without a match this weekend.
Saturday morning will again see the clubhouse open for breakfast when England will face France in the Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals at 8.30 am. The match will be broadcast on the big screens in the clubhouse for members and visitors.

As stated the Kingsbridge club held its annual Past Players Day on Saturday with 60 players attending an excellent lunchtime meal in the clubhouse prior to the league match with Torquay. Those attending this event has steadily increased in numbers over the past couple of seasons and, this year saw a number of ex players travel from around the country for a reunion with past team mates. In all there were ten past 1st XV captains in attendance and representatives of the past six decades of Kingsbridge teams.

A converted try with one minute remaining on the clock saw Kingsbridge finally record their first league victory of the season on Saturday when they travelled to East Devon to face Tiverton.

Last weekend they had lost the match, to St Ives, in the dying minutes whereas on this occasion they were the ones to inflict the same onto their hosts. The Blue and Whites probably just about deserved their victory but they certainly went about achieving it the hard way and kept their supporters on the edge of their seats right up until the final whistle.

Matt Barlow who scored 17 of Kingsbridge’s 27 points

The hosts had taken the lead in the 3rd minute when unsurprisingly Kingsbridge had given away a penalty in their own 22 and Tiverton gratefully accepted the offer to take the lead. Kingsbridge then missed the chance to level the scores on 5 minutes when they were off target with a penalty of their own.

On 12 minutes however Kingsbridge took the lead when a scrum deep in the Tivvy 22 saw number eight Jack Cope draw the defence and offload to scrum half Matt Barlow to scooted over to touchdown. The conversion went wide but Kingsbridge led 3-5. A Tiverton penalty 2 minutes later saw them retake the lead again before the Blue and Whites went back in front again on 16 minutes.

A superb counter attack from the visitors took play from the Kingsbridge 22, courtesy of a searing 50 yard break from centre Ed Lennon, deep into the Tiverton half. With excellent support from winger Jim Trout and Captain Neil Darke, they were able to send scrum half Barlow into the corner to score his second try of the half. The conversion was missed and another penalty went wide shortly afterwards but Kingsbridge still held a narrow 6-10 lead.

Tiverton crossed over for a try of their own to take the lead for the third time at 11-10 before Barlow took over the kicking duties to score a penalty and put Kingsbridge back in front again at 11-13 after 32 minutes.

Kingsbridge still had time remaining in the half to score their third try as number 8 Jack Cope picked up from the base of a five metre scrum and power over from short range. Barlow added the conversion to see Kingsbridge lead 11-20 at the interval.

One of Kingsbridge’s let downs so far this season is seeing a half time lead overturned during the second half – and this match proved to be no exception. Poor defending close to the line saw the hosts add their second try, which with the conversion reduced the deficit to 18-20. Two more indiscretions from the Blue and Whites also saw the hosts add two more penalties to put them into a 24-20 lead with play into the final quarter.

With time running out Tiverton set up camp deep in the Kingsbridge half, looking to extend their lead further. However Kingsbridge turned over possession and scrum half Barlow found himself in acres of space pursued by the Tiverton defence. Looking odds on to score Barlow was unlucky to be held up over the Tiverton line. Thankfully the visitors were able to take swift possession from the ensuing scrum for the back line to combine to put centre Lennon in near the posts to score with one minute remaining on the clock. Barlow’s successful conversion put Kingsbridge 3 points clear and the team were able to keep possession direct from the kick off to run out narrow winners.

This Saturday will see Kingsbridge entertain local rivals Torquay, in the league, at High House at 3pm. The game will be preceded by this year’s annual Past Players Lunch which will be held in the clubhouse at 12.00 noon. 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.

The A XV travel to face Torquay 3rds in the Devon Merit table whilst the Colts entertain Tavistock Colts on the Longfield Pitch at 2.30 pm in the Colts Merit Table.

Saturday morning will again see the clubhouse open for breakfast when England play Scotland in the Rugby World Cup at 8.30 am. The match will be broadcast on the big screens in the clubhouse for members and visitors.