Two matches, one match report.

King’s 2XV 30 Law Society 17
Rosslyn Park 8 King’s 2XV 15

Despite several hints, new 2XV coach, James (Woody) Wood didn’t fall for writing match reports as well as helping with the team. However there can be no doubt that we won’t push the point as his influence and enthusiasm has had a huge impact on the team in winning their last two league matches.

The two games had a certain similarity. Both featured some stout defence by King’s especially in the shape of Max RR in both games and Greig Blackie against Law Society. Both featured a rash of yellow cards against King’s for minor infringements that just about merited the sanction. King’s finished the game v Law Society with just 12 men and managed to all but repeat the trick at Park playing a patch with 13. Both games were notably good King’s wins.

The Law Society 2XV featured some strong running forwards and without good defense King’s would have been over run. However the forward defense gave the backs room to weave some magic. Tries were scored by Greig Blackie, Robin Cumming, George Lane and debutant Mike Jelly who’s speed and elusiveness brought a real edge to the teams attack. Neil Williams added the other 10 with two penalties and two conversions. Alex Murray and Tom Nicol had good debuts and thanks are due to Old Blues and primarily Eric Gimber for giving us a front row and some subs.

The Rosslyn Park game was played on Park’s impressive and huge new 3G pitch. It is a delight to play on and just walking on the surface is a joy, Questions remain about the potential for catching your studs and twisting knees and ankles – the game sadly featuring one Park player doing just this, we wish him well – but the benefits of a perfect and clean surface probably outweigh this. Maybe the boot manufacturers need to work carefully on the perfect stud for the surface.

King’s were missing our Scottish contingent for the Park game, who were away for the 6 Nations, They have been a huge benefit for the team this season and seem to multiply each week. Their absence would normally have been felt keenly by the side but by adding Sam Harrison, Chris Breslin, John Walton and a cameo from Jonny Kiddle the team did not suffer. Indeed it was Sam who scored our first try and then making the second for evergreen Fraser Houlder who Sam said was “the best 7 he’d played with all season”!!. 10 to nil at half time became 15 nil as Mike Hill sped over. Then came our yellow card patch and Park came right back into it. We should have scored more tries and maybe even did score one when Kiddle was penalised for a double movement no one, including the ref, saw. Mentions to Yohan Tesfai, back in his favoured centre slot and Ed O’Callaghan who plays everywhere and anywhere and to debuts form the Ben Redmond Roche (the youngest of the RR brothers), Joe Campbell and Cai Richards.

Well done to all involved in both games.