Kingsbridge RFC u15s 63 Honiton 0
Honiton were first time visitors to High House and came looking for revenge after the previous meeting of the two sides in last season’s Devon Cup. Kingsbridge were victorious that day and the story was to be no different for this match.
For a full ten minutes Honiton dominated possession and battered at the home defence through their strong running 13 and 8 but Kings passed this staunch test with distinction. Luke Musgrave turned the tables with a try after a superb passage of play that was the home side’s first attack of the game. The superb Jack Fergusson set up a maul upon which the might of the blue pack converged. Ever present Ben King emerged with the ball for Tom Putt. The fly half sent a miss pass out to the elusive Joe Banfield who set off like a stabbed rat. Michael Carson not only kept pace but kept the ball in play for George Rivas to offload to Musgrave. The giant lock took out one defender before cantering through the ensuing gap for a touch down that stunned the visitors and delighted the home crowd who were already warmed up on the excellent hot pork baps supplied by the club’s caterers.
Tom Putt converted what was a tricky kick in the conditions to rub in the impact of the try. Putt went on to convert 9 out of 9 conversions. Now that, like the annoying adverts that litter the Rugby World Cup coverage like a MacDonalds wrapper on beauty spot, is data worth sharing.
Kings now had their tails up and, bouyed by their fightback score, launched attack after attack fuelled by Freddie Buckle. The Kings number 8 was everywhere, winning lineout ball, rucks and making tackles. Fyn McCoy was always on hand with a new improved quick pass that fed his three quarters the fodder served up by the forwards.
The onslaught now began. Luke Musgrave scored again after forwards and backs alike shocked the senses of the visitors. The durable Greg Luckhurst, playing despite a bad collision in his mid week match, emerged from the base of a driven maul to score a try. Old fashioned but effective rugby, the touch down was on behalf of the mighty eight. Jack Fergusson scored next after the blue forwards pounced on the unlucky recipient of a Tom Putt clearance kick like dogs on a rabbit.
No one, least of all Honiton, expected to reach half time with the scoreline at 28 – 5. Was it the half-time Haribos that led Kings to up their game? The tasty treats were supplied by Sharon Putt but handed out by the team manager because Sharon was wearing flip flops and it was a bit slippy. Impressive referee Chris Leo helped himself and bore a smile on his face despite only getting the cola bottles that nobody likes.
Whatever the reason, Kings came out firing. The quickly improving Michael Carson scored a hat trick in what was his best game in a blue shirt since the last Honiton match. Joe Banfield set the game alight with searing, jinking runs that terrorised his opponents and saw him score a brace of tries. Seb Ansley made a great start to his season with his trademark game that both settles and tests the nerves of spectators. Dan Jarvis had a strong rucking game and the blue scrum was uttely dominant.
Honiton were not a bad side and contained both considerable size and talent amongst their ranks. They scored one unconverted try and kept battling to the end but could not live with Jason Putt’s young tyros who, strengthened by the arrival of Miles Fowler and George Rivas, look set for a strong season.
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