Saturday was a full and varied day of rugby for KXSRFC, with action across all sides highlighting the depth, energy, and togetherness of the club. From a dominant home performance by the 1st XV, to a hard-fought away fixture for the 2s, a testing encounter for the 3s, and an encouraging interclub clash for the 4s, the weekend showcased both competitive edge and long-term development across the squads.

KXSRFC 1XV 72 - Harwich & Dovercourt 7
Saturday saw the 1st XV storm to success with a 72-7 victory against Harwich & Dovercourt at home in West Ham. The first try came within the first 10 minutes and continued to roll in from there. After a dominant set of plays scoring from mauls, hard lines and wide play, the team went into half time leading 36-0.

Without a minute to waste, the 1st XV opened the second half with a try and a conversion quickly raising the score 43-0. With a mix of forwards and back raising the score to 60-0, the game began to get scrappy. 20 minutes into the second half, a yellow card, and put under pressure from Harwich the Steelers conceded a try to bring the score to 60-7. But, the 1st XV weren’t done, ending on a high with two more tries the team brought home an epic victory.

Player of the match - Al Moore
Dick of the day - James Clemments

Barking 36 vs KXSRFC 2XV 12

The 2nd XV headed to Barking last week for our first game of 2026. There was a real sense of renewed energy in the squad after the Christmas break, but with no contact training since before Christmas, it was important we made the most of every minute of the warm-up.

The first half saw some decent possession from the Steelers, but Barking came at us hard in attack and we went into the break 24–0 down. Despite the scoreline, heads stayed high at the breakdown, as the game felt far more even than the numbers suggested.

At half time, after a few changes from the bench, the team were determined not to walk away without getting some points on the board.

A short kick-off from Barking led straight to a scrum. The backs moved the ball well, taking play down to the 22, before some strong pod work from the forwards gained more ground. This allowed the ball to go wide, where Jack Hughes, playing fallback, was rightly placed to score our first try of the second half.

That score brought some much-needed momentum and the Steelers really took control of the second half. Barking did come back with some pressure of their own, managing to score two more tries, but we stayed in the fight.

Jack Hughes added his second and came painfully close to a hat-trick during a three-on-one chance, which was unfortunately disrupted by a questionable kick (check the DOTD records for names).

More solid pod work from the forwards built pressure on the try line, with a clear gap spotted by Jean Hirst (6) and fly-half Nick Howell. However, as the scrum-half went to ship the ball out, he was struck with try-line fever, dummied, and took the glory for himself. The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that I was wearing number 9, I’ll accept the eye rolls. Nick Howell converted.

The game was wrapped up with a final try from Dani Cheng, who stepped up out of position, moving from his usual spot on the wing into the back row at flanker, a great forwards debut. Nick Howell converted.

All in all, it was a pretty heated game, and one the ref was probably happy to see the end of. The final score of 36–24 was followed by handshakes and a laugh with our Barking counterparts.

Player of the match -
Dick of the day -

West Country Wasps 94 vs KXSRFC 3XV 0

The 3s travelled to Teignmouth for a tough encounter against the West Country Wasps. The team showed great resilience against a much more experienced team. The team put in a strong and committed performance despite the challenge never dropping their heads and fighting until the final whistle.

Forward of the Match - Stephen Fox
Back of the Match - Adam Daniels
Debuts - Joe Savage

KXSRFC 4XV (Pink) 28 vs KXSRFC 4XV (Green) 12

The 4th XV played an interclub game welcoming the newly graduated Pathway to Rugby players into the team.

Team Pink came away with the win, taking their chances well and showing good organisation across the pitch. Their forwards put in a strong shift around the breakdown and in contact, while the backs communicated well and made good use of space. Jay led the backs with constant encouragement, adding a try and handling conversions in the cold, while Luke set the tone up front with strong carries, quick pod organisation, and a try of his own. Alfie and Gino also put in strong shifts, combining smart decision making with committed defence, with Gino getting on the scoresheet.

Team Green matched the intensity throughout and showed plenty to build on. Antonio impressed in the backs with strong runs and some solid carries, while Edo’s hard work stood out across the pitch, combining tackles, carries, and a well taken try. Energy remained high, communication improved steadily, and the group showed clear progress as the match went on.

While the scoreline favoured Pink, the match was played in great spirit and marked a strong start to the year for the 4s and the next wave of Pathway graduates.

Back of the Match - Jay Miller (Pink), Antonio Goodridge (Green)
Forward of the Match - Edo Vachez (Green), Luke Clinch (Pink)

Across all teams, there were standout performances, valuable learning moments, and plenty of positives to take into the weeks ahead. Whether battling experienced opposition, welcoming new players into senior rugby, or setting standards with commanding victories, the Steelers showed resilience, commitment, and strong club spirit throughout. A great way to start the next chapter of the season, with momentum building both on and off the pitch.

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