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Western Counties West

Chard 13,

Kingsbridge 13

Kingsbridge travelled to Chard and came away with a draw in a tightly fought contest, but a game that will be seen as one that got away.

Handing a debut to Tom Leman and reinstating James Trout, they really ought to have put Chard away after a dominant performance in the first half. As it was it took a powerful last 10 minutes to ensure they came away with a draw at 13-13.

The game never really got going, with plenty of whistle from the referee, which resulted in few flowing patterns of play.

When it did flow both sides were guilty of bad last-minute decisions, balls not going to hand and wrong options taken. One thing Kings do need to curtail is back chat, as it cost them 40 metres from an officious referee.

Kings started the first half where they left off against Sidmouth the previous week, with the forwards dominant and the backs cutting some fine angles.

In the first five minutes, they were on the Chard line putting massive pressure only to see the last pass go straight into touch, but they kept up the pace and after 15 minutes Jack Cope made a great break down the blindside and with captain Ben Glover on hand to take the well-timed pass Kings scored their try.

The simple conversion was missed and that eventually proved costly. Chard came back quickly with a penalty which took the teams to half time with Kings holding a slender lead 3-5.

Against the run of play, with Chard pressing hard, Kings were awarded a penalty and Banfield slotted a long-range penalty to edge the visitors further ahead.

Back came Chard, whose scrum was now bossing Kings and they scored a pushover try which was converted to put them in the lead.

Kings, under pressure for long periods, defended well, but couldn’t keep from giving another penalty putting Chard into a 13-8 lead. Kings were penalised again for yet another high tackle, but the shot at goal was missed.

This seemed to spur on Kings, who came back strong and were soon back on the score sheet, a fine rolling maul which saw Winzer score in the corner. Chard losing a player trying to stop the try illegally. Conversion missed.

The last five minutes were frenetic and Kings came close to securing a win with one final rolling maul, only to see them stopped as the referee awarded another penalty for coming in from the side.

By the end two more players, one from each side had been binned for nothing more than old fashioned handbags. A hard-earned draw that should have been more.

Kingsbridge A XV entertained Honiton seconds in the Devon Merit Table on Saturday where they proved far too strong for the visitors as they crossed for 12 tries in a 78-5 victory.

The try scorers for the Blue and Whites were Sean Woodland (four), Jack West (two), Ted Lee (two), Michael Carson, Dave Evans, James Oggelsby and Matt Gibbens. James Baker kicked nine conversions.

This weekend sees the first XV return to action at High House for the visit of Paignton at 3pm while the A XV travel to face South Molton in the Merit Table. Kingsbridge Colts welcome Okehampton Colts to the Longfield Pitch for a 2.30pm kick off.