KRUFC

MATCH REPORT

 

 

 EDF Junior Vase 3rd round

 

Biggleswade 13 - 20 Kempston

 

In a day where the underdog is the crowds favourite even on  away turf from RWC to Junior vase rugby there were no expectations. With inform players holding down there jerseys and consistent performances meaning an unchanged back line reshuffled to take on the opposition this was always going to be a hard fought tie.

 

With K's kicking to Biggleswade, Biggie set their stall out with attacking running rugby from there own 22 for the first 10 minutes, with the K's forwards having to readjust to the tempo of the Biggie pack who were well drilled and always in numbers. The Biggie 10 often throwing inside passes to forwards challenging our resilient three quarter defence line of James Bayliss, Tim Argent and Wayne Botha. The ball was carried and attacked at the fringes testing the Biggie defence and in a game where turnovers at the breakdown would prove to be costly in the later stages.

 

K’s put the first points on the board through a James Bayliss penalty from offside play from the Biggleswade pack. In reply to this Biggleswade gained advantage and territory through indiscipline and handling errors which enables the Biggleswade fullback to slot a penalty from the far left 3-3 evens. Kempston responded immediately in the next passage of play with the backs and forwards rucking and releasing quick ball from the side line for James Smith to score to the left of the posts with James Bayliss adding the extra’s for a 10 – 3 lead.

 

When the K’s backs did run the ball with moves called upon quick ball centres Tim Argent and Wayne Botha punching holes in the Biggleswade defence. Biggleswade would often rely on the boot to kick out of K’s half and after some wayward kicking and good returns by Jim Smith and Paul Leggott by linking up on the counter attack to keep testing the Biggleswade side. The last score of the half going to Biggleswade for a penalty from their fullback after Stuart Cameron was deemed off side even though K’s had won the ruck ball. K’s responded with a penalty of their own 13 – 6 half time.

 

Biggleswade started as the stronger team and after only 2 minutes scored a try through their number 8 breaking 2 half tackles and the Biggleswade fullback adding the extra’s for a 13 – 13 level scores.

 

After testing the wing and fullback numerous times with wiper kicks from James Bayliss causing several knock-ons from the left winger which meant a decent platform for K’s to operate with. Backrow generated runs from Simon Ward, Dan Hawkins and Rich Lovesey often put Biggleswade on the backfoot and created much needed territory for the backs to operate with. With the chances going a miss with the odd knock on and passes adjudged to be forward by the referee, Tim Argent followed James Bayliss in support after a clean breech of the Biggleswade defence and took the well timed pass to touch down and give James Bayliss a successful kick gaining the extra’s to create a 20-13 lead. Biggleswade threw everything they could at a gallant K’s defence. 20 – 13 final score.

 

Special mentions must go to Andrew Stock and Richard Dell for their boiler house performances and the calm nerves of James Bayliss with an 80% kicking rate that proved all important in the final result. Mentions also to Jamie Steele, Jim Barry, Tom Trinder and Simon Ward for continued show of commitment and support to the counter ruck and defence area’s.

 

Looking ahead to the 4th round against Market Harborough