1XV
Matches
Fri 19 Nov 2021  ·  London 1S
King's Rugby - KCS Old Boys RFC
1XV
Tries: J Birch (2), B Israel, J McGareyConversions: G Jones (2)
24
35
Cobham
Joy Comes In The Morning

Joy Comes In The Morning

Tom Moore24 Nov 2021 - 13:00
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But first darkness must come at night, and it did on an evening when circumstances conspired against the hosts who had to be satisfied with a try bonus point by way of reward.

A week later than scheduled after the unfortunate, and expensive, floodlight failure suffered seven days previous, Cobham once more made the short hop to Motpsur Park. After a sticky start to their season with just one success in five, the Surrey side’s results had improved with a win, a draw, a loss (by the odd point in 41) and 30pts put on high-flying Camberley, albeit in defeat, in a game they led 23-5 and on another day may well have prevailed in. The delay in proceedings certainly appeared to do no harm when it came to selection as the visitors welcomed back the influential Ryan Saunders to lead his team, which was looking to extend an already impressive winning streak against the hosts dating back to 2008.

Alas for King’s their skipper George Taylor, available last week, was not this time round – replaced at inside centre by Kristian Cook in his first game since January 2020, as Will Slater assumed the captaincy. Indeed it was to be an all new centre paring with Theo Alexis also ruled out this week, Ellis Hook taking his spot at 13 as Will Kibblewhite availed himself of the full-back shirt. On to the bench came Matt Buxton-Smith and a returning Jack McGarey, absent since GW5. Ollie Wicks was the man doing the whistling and at 1932 he invited Cobham to have the action begin.

As passive and portentous starts go, this was almost as bad as they come, Ryan Saunders (King’s MOM) allowed to stroll over from a 5m scrum with barely a finger laid on him; 0-5. King’s looked like they hadn’t realised the match had begun, their prospects of a renaissance not helped by the loss of Cook after 12mins prompting the first of several reshuffles. It was, therefore, to the surprise of almost all gathered that in fact the hosts were the next to score, a charge-down at the ruck recovered by Brett Williams who fed George Jones, the fly-half passing wide to Jacques Birch who first bamboozled then outstripped the defence to score from 40m+ out. Jones with the extras; 7-5.

Cobham wasted little time in bouncing back, their pack generating a steady stream of ball from a solid set-piece and bristling in the loose. With eighteen minutes gone their task got easier as Kibblewhite (Cobham’s MOM) was dispatched to the cooler for a tackle adjudged to be high, the visitors’ pack rumbling forward as No.8 Rodman dotted down with an easy kick adding two more; 7-12. Shorn of a man King’s didn’t grumble, and in fact went one better as scrum-half turned winger for the day McGarey scampered in wide right to level the scores – his first try for the club; 12-12. The lead lasted just 3 minutes however, a penalty for not releasing stroked over from in front of the posts, 12-15. By now King’s had emptied their bench entirely and the visitors sensed their moment might be now as they enjoyed the lion share of possession and chances in the time remaining. However, the dam did not burst as the home side battled manfully until the interval was signalled.

HT: 12-15

Just as King’s had slept-walked into an early deficit in the first half, so they were do so again. A defensive lineout 5m out was tapped back, the bounce could have gone anywhere but needless to say it landed in the arms of flanker Porter who needed only to fall over to score; 12-20. King’s needed some inspiration and the team combined to find it, a turnover won in the home 22, the ball fed to Ellis Hook who accelerated up and over halfway before his pass put the jet-heeled Birch into space, the defence left to watch on as he made it a brace; 17-20. If King’s thought the worm had turned, they were to be disappointed – a kick from outside the away side’s 22 sailing straight into touch, the visitors’ linesman erroneously signalling touch where it crossed the sideline - a decision met by with bewilderment from the hosts and embarrassment from the benefactors. The advance field position soon paid dividends, a penalty won moments later slotted to extend the lead; 17-23.

On an evening when it felt like King’s players must have walked under a dozen ladders en route to the game, their fortunes briefly threatened to change as first then impressive Saunders (tip tackle) and then prop Lippiatt (not retreating / obstruction) were both exiled for ten minutes. The two-man advantage almost immediately yielded results, prop Benoit Israel driving over before Jones put King’s into the narrowest of leads; 24-23. Cobham were not done though and with ten minutes to go a cute lineout move saw combative hooker Murphy barrel over down the 5m channel and into the corner; 24-28. It was now 15-a-side again and the dying embers were dynamically contested. Just when King’s supporters may have dared to dream as they steadily advanced towards the Cobham 10m line, fullback Penfold gambled on a death-or-glory interception which proved to be the latter as he enjoyed a long but uninterrupted run to the line; 24-35. King’s now needed a try to salvage a losing bonus point but despite their best efforts they were not get one, the ball lost forward in a tackle to bring about the end.

FT: 24-35

After the high of an away win on Friday night a fortnight ago, this time King’s had to take their medicine in a match when the stars steadfastly refused to align. All three subs on with an hour left to play and a third of the team playing out of position certainly didn’t help, but it would be remiss not to give credit, and congratulations, to Cobham who – aside from one unsavoury rush of blood to the head from two front rowers – were formidable at the scrum and lineout, took their chances and outscored their hosts 5 tries to 4. The away leg on 11th March will be another Friday night encounter, that a 1XV and 2XV double-header already one which King’s are looking forward to at Fairmile Lane.

The next challenge is a significant one as King’s must travel down the M3 to take on second place Camberley. With eight wins in their last nine – the sole defeat coming at the hands of league winners in waiting London Welsh – and fresh from a 0-89 demolition of London Irish Amateur, the magnitude of the task is clear. This being said King’s have had success on their last two visits to Watchetts and for those curious to see if the Old Boys can put the cat amongst the pigeons and find a way to record a hat-trick of away wins then be sure to be there for a 1430 ko.

Match details

Match date

Fri 19 Nov 2021

Kickoff

19:30

Meet time

18:00

Instructions

Club will be open early. Please get down as soon as possible after work.

Competition

London 1S

League position

5
KCS Old Boys
9
Cobham
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

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