1XV
Matches
Sat 26 Nov 2016  ·  London 2 South West
Portsmouth
25
27
King's Rugby - KCS Old Boys RFC
1XV
Tries: T Dugarin, W Kibblewhite, H BinnianConversions: R Jones, T Dugarin (2)Penalties: T Dugarin (2)
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

Tom Moore29 Mar 2017 - 15:44
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In an entertaining example of Level 7 rugby, 52 points were scored including six tries, but it was King’s third and a last minute conversion that was the difference.

On the back of a narrow but gratifying win over Camberley a week earlier, King’s made one of their longer away trips of the campaign to Portsmouth RFC the side who finished 5th, one place above them, in 2015-16. The same time last year the teams could not be separated drawing 24-24 in New Malden, although Portsmouth won out 37-20 on the South coast in the Spring. After an uncertain start ‘Pompey’ have found a vein of improved form and came into the game on the back of three successive wins, two achieved away from home, and last month put 32 points on Cornish, albeit in defeat, which few sides will manage this season.

In what was a refreshing change, King’s were able to name fifteen of the eighteen who overcame Camberley for today’s game, although there were changes to the arrangement of the personnel, Guy Tyler returning to the backline and Jonny Kiddle and Barry Williams stepping up from the bench. Joining the fray at fullback was Nick Burberry bringing the number of club captains past and present on the pitch to three and swelling the KCS Wimbledon alumni in the squad to 11.

From the off the healthy crowd was treated to two teams both eager to impress their game upon one another and the action had notable tempo. Although Pompey had the better of the possession in the opening exchanges, they were not able to gain the corresponding territory and from a lineout close to halfway they were turned over. Wasting no time Joe Mason broke the line before feeding Tom Dugarin who linked with wing Luke Minors before he offloaded to Will Kibblewhite. In that moment it appeared likely the ball had been lost forward but the referee was content to play on and Tom Dugarin was not going to decline the gilt edged opportunity to open his side’s account. Rory Jones was grateful for the simple conversion; 0-7.

Portsmouth and their supporters were plainly aggrieved although their mood was somewhat improved by their first points of the day, a penalty for not rolling away; 3-7. King’s were soon back in the Pompey half although they were met with resilient defence and as King’s more than once squandered good positions it seemed that perhaps the home side had weathered the storm. At this time King’s were not helped by the withdrawal through injury of Rory Jones, prompting a reshuffle in the three-quarters as Michael Hill came on at right wing, Luke Minors going to 12 and Tom Dugarin to fly-half. Defying the inevitable disruption King’s struck next, and when Will Kibblewhite hit an aggressive line Pompey could do nothing as he swept though to dot down beneath the posts, Dugarin adding the extras; 3-14.

In the second quarter the scoring slowed, Portsmouth adding a penalty before King’s added one of their own; 6-17. Pompey had one further chance to close the gap from the tee, but the effort drifted wide and not much later the whistler blew for oranges.

HT: 6-17

Followers of King’s felt a mix of satisfaction and trepidation at the interval, they were worth their lead on the basis of the incisiveness of their back play but news that lock Jack Denison would not be returning for the second half due to a head injury was troubling; in his place came Daniel Redmond Roche prompting further adjustments in the pack. Buoyed by the rest and perhaps stirred by their coaching staff Pompey started the half with purpose and as the penalties against them mounted it was perhaps no coincidence that King’s were reduced to 14. Soon after the numerical advantage told as the hosts’ openside crossed for his team’s first try, the conversion from wide right was missed; 11-17.

The momentum was with the home side and the hefty boots of Tom Dugarin and Nick Burberry were called upon time and again to get King’s out of danger. Indeed the team went one better than just clearing their lines, earning themselves a penalty which Dugarin knocked over; 11-20. The game was well and truly alive and Portsmouth’s omnipresent No.7 once again found himself in the right place to receive a long looping pass before running round to score; the conversion, a snatched drop-goal, went over; 18-20. Pompey were pressing hard and King’s defence was being given a stern examination. As King's drew breath thinking they had perhaps passed the test, the hosts swung the ball through several attackers’ hands close to the line, the last pair knocking the ball on in the act of attempting to scoop a pass from the floor. If King’s had been fortunate with their first score then the hosts certainly had their own stroke of luck when the official awarded the try. The difficult conversion was good; 25-20.

From Kelvin Walton…

…. With 7 minutes to go as Danny RR succumbed to injury, your original correspondent was rudely snatched from the touchline, to make his first appearance for the 1st XV for over 5 years. Tom Moore fulfilled his vital mission with a competent display, twice securing possession for King’s in broken play situations which might well have developed in Portsmouth’s favour. In the event, the game was finally resolved in injury time, when a champagne cork imitation by second row forward Henry Binnian saw him bursting through a gap in the lineout and racing to touch down out wide on the right; 25-25. Skipper Tom Dugarin calmly slotted a far from routine conversion to edge King’s into the lead, and a botched restart ended proceedings.

FT: 25-27

King’s celebrations were rightly joyous, and the Portsmouth team, officials and spectators deserve much credit for their sporting acceptance of the final result of an intense, physical and pulsating encounter.

So I now hand back the keyboard to super-sub Tom, hoping he survived the journey home and the bottle of port contributed by El Presidente Darryl – who was really looking quite cheerful at the end.

Thanks Kelvin for your generous assessment of my fleeting contribution and for taking us to 80mins.

King’s can reflect with some pride on getting the better of hosts who are significantly stronger than their league position would suggest and who will continue to trouble teams home and away. The hospitality offered before and after the game was splendid and gratefully received and we shall look forward to welcoming Portsmouth to Motspur Park at the end of March.

A week off awaits for London 2 SW before the last round of the ‘out’ leg of fixtures. King’s will host Andover who recorded a big win over Warlingham today which will have done their confidence a power of good. Although the ‘All Blacks’ are yet to win away from home this term, the Old Boys would do well to remember the 0-47 hiding the same visitors dispensed back in April, and with this in mind King’s should be in no doubt that a motivated opposition will await them.

Tries: Dugarin, Kibblewhite, Binnian

Cons: Jones, Dugarin x 2

Pens: Dugarin x 2

Match details

Match date

Sat 26 Nov 2016

Kickoff

14:15

Meet time

11:00

Competition

London 2 South West

League position

4
KCS Old Boys
9
Portsmouth
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Our own 7s Beer - Prawn Juice Beer
Whole club - Doddlecover