The KXP boys had plenty of time to eye up their opposition this morning, having been made to warm up for nearly half an hour in the pouring rain whilst their younger counterparts, the KXP Bears, played out their game. During this time, they couldn’t fail but notice Brotherton Bulldogs three man mountains who wouldn’t have looked out of place in an open age team but to their credit and for the vast majority of the game, KXP managed to nullify the obvious threat posed by these freaks of nature and finished the game ruing a missed opportunity to beat a team whose goal difference from their opening two games was a staggering + 86!!!

Brotherton got the game underway and it was clear from their first play who their ‘go to’ players would be and in all honesty why wouldn’t they look to capitalise on their size advantage but to their credit, KXP’s defence was again up to the challenge. Similarly to last week, KXP’s defence kept them in the game during the first half today, as offensively they were poor with too many dropped balls and unforced errors. There was a small improvement during the first half, as I think I counted two completed sets of six today, as opposed to last week’s first half effort of just one but on the whole, KXP were again proving to be their own worst enemy.

KXP’s defensive line was finally breached when Brotherton’s dummy runner attracted our lads inside, leaving Brotherton with a plethora of opportunities out wide with which to score……and they did. Brotherton led 0-4.

The referee blew his whistle for half time and it presented coaches Waddy and Zak, with an opportunity to praise the team’s defensive effort and highlight their offensive frailties.

Louis Inman got the second half underway. The ball was well collected by the Brotherton winger who fed his centre, who then cruised down the wing before touching down underneath the posts. A successful conversion and KXP were down 0-10 within a minute of the restart.

Yet despite KXP having no real leaders or anyone who’ll raise their voice louder than that of a field mouse, the boys as team clicked into gear and similarly to last week, the opposition rarely ventured into the KXP half. Both Mackenzie Fielden and Dylan Oakes were gaining valuable yards with strong running, ably assisted by debutant, Sammy Hopkinson who looks like he’ll be a great addition to the team and it was their strong running that took KXP well up the field and presented Tyler Brocklehurst with an opportunity to score, which he duly accepted. The trusty boot of Louis Inman narrowed the gap further still and Brotherton’s lead was reduced to 6-10.

KXP were now in the ascendancy and in all honesty, they looked the team most likely to score next. Their job was made that much easier when one of Brotherton’s giants was sin-binned with ten minutes remaining for an ‘accidental elbow’….easily done?!?!? Ted Grogan demanded the ball from the resultant tap and his run took KXP to within a yard of the Brotherton try-line. Yet more excellent defensive pressure forced the error and KXP gratefully accepted the ball two yards out with a full set of six to play with. The lads couldn’t have put themselves in a better position if they’d tried. Yet seemingly devoid of ideas, KXP failed to take advantage of this last gasp opportunity and with it, narrowly lost a game in which they fully deserved to win.

KXP’s second half performance left coach Waddy beaming from ear to ear and with daughter, Lily, away on a Scouting weekend, it seemed that he wouldn’t be the only one with a smile on their face today…..Maxine.

Opposition Man of the Match: Tyler Brocklehurst
Top Defensive Performance: Mackenzie Fielden
Man of the Match: Tyler Brocklehurst

Match Report by Graham Smerdon