. KCS scored 33 unanswered points for a comprehensive victory and Winchester were taught a lesson in playing with pace, physicality and aggression.
Winchester had had a good week’s training and welcomed back captain Todd Duncan for his first start since recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in October. However, it took less than 5 minutes for KCS to score their first try. Winchester inexplicably lost possession from a driving maul on the halfway line and KCS walked through some paper thin defence to score in the left-hand corner. The conversion was missed but Winchester’s confidence seemed to take a severe dent not helped by Duncan having to leave the field with a calf injury.
10 minutes later Winchester were 10 - 0 down when veteran Matt Woods, playing full-back this week, saw his clearing kick charged down allowing a surprised, but grateful, KCS flanker to chase through and dot down. Panic now spread through the Winchester ranks and they were unable to settle into their patterns. Any ball that was won was soon wasted as mistakes accumulated. Winchester's lineout, led by Tom Pervin, was functioning well and Campbell Ettinger, filling in at loose head prop, was doing his best to shore up Winchester scrum, but nothing came from this foundation. There seemed a lack of direction in Winchester's play and a lack of intensity at the breakdown.
KCS looked vastly improved from the side Winchester beat back in October. They ran hard and from depth and smashed into the breakdown to ensure a constant stream of quick ball. They were prepared to attack both directly through their strong pack and out wide through their pacey backs. Winchester's weak tackling allowed them to stand and offload and constantly change the point of attack. Winchester had the league's best defensive record going into this game but their performance this week lacked fight. Players looked to grab shirts rather than hit low and hard. A further try and two penalties saw KCS going in at half-time with a thoroughly deserved 21 – 0 lead.
While Winchester performed marginally better in the second half they continued to be taught a lesson. They managed to gain some semblance of territory and field position but the KCS defence proved far stronger than Winchester's. Injuries started to mount with Woods and prop Danny Waite both having to leave the field. KCS held out and on 60 min went over for their fourth try. They were now able to indulge in some showboating which pleased the partisan crowd. A fifth try followed for a one sided 33 – 0 victory.
Winchester head coach Andy Fields was stunned by Winchester's abject performance. ‘It reminded me of the bad old days of two seasons ago. Poor communication, weak tackling, panic and an ability to blame and wind up the referee rather than focus on their own game contributed to our worst performance of the season. I know these players and I know they are much better than that. We need to refocus and prepare for our home game against Old Freemans on Saturday and get back to winning ways’.