KRUFC

Kempston went to the unknown today with an away game at Anstey for the first time in the clubs history. The pitch was a sloped pitch with a gradient difference of 2 metres from one set of the posts to the other. Which for a home side must count as the 16th player. Terry won the toss for K's and elected to play down the hill and with the wind on our backs. we received the kick off and in the swirling wind clean catches were an art on their own.

The first wave of attack was met by sheer force from the Anstey forwards and after 5 minutes and great forward team work K's made in roads through our back row and particular, flankers Rich Lovesy and Terry Stokes. Coupled with the industrious centres of Wayne Botha and Tim Argent and the counter attacking prowess of Adam May and Stu Cameron. Anstey were forced to play most of their rugby at the bottom of the hill. For the first 10 minutes the line seemed to elude K's, first a knock by the winger with the line in sight then an out standing run from inside centre Tim Argent, making a break from outside the Anstey 22 and beating 4 men to go over the try line only to drop the ball before placing it. Eventually though the Anstey defence was breached with Wayne Botha beating his opposite man (physically at times as well with solid tackling) and the winger, and the fullback, and the centre as well as a backrow player to make it a very industrious score for K's, James Bayliss added the conversion. In as many points as minutes, Bayliss then added a further penalty for a sturdy 10 - nil lead.

The next try to be scored was down to the forwards and back row attacking the fringes with Tony powering over in the corner. Again shortly after that score an infringement by the Anstey pack meant that James Bayliss could add a further penalty to build an 18 - nil lead for halftime. Though not that impressive considering the about of possession K's had.

Anstey started well knowing they now had the elements and how to play their own pitch. K's were forced to defend there 5 meter line time and time again and then try to climb up the pitch to break out of their half. Eventually Anstey pressure paid off and jumping on spilt ball they were able to become the first team to score a try against K's in this league. The conversion was missed, wake up call for K's

K's then rallied together and took the game to Anstey, though with the slope this was hard work. Jim Barry, got 10 minutes rest for repeated infringement for coming in at the side and collapsing the maul and Anstey kicked the penalty. With Jim off the pitch and stand in prop being Richard 'old man' Dellie, K's did not want to many scrums. From the restart K's chased the kick and started to put Anstey under pressure in there half for once by picking and driving round the rucks, Anstey did not know how to handle this attack and K's were able to play on the flat surface of Anstey's 22. Drawing the big Anstey forwards in enabled the the ball to be moved to the backs when space became available. Adam May was rewarded for his faultless performance and used his dummy to open a hole in the defence and score to the right of the posts, Wayne Botha added the conversion. After a series of quick tap penalties Tim Argent made amends for his knock-on earlier and scored in the corner as one of the final moments of the game.

Anstey gave us a good game, best in this league so far but K's were wiser and did not lose sight of the ultimate aim of winning