Tribute Western Counties West
Kingsbridge 36,
Falmouth 0
Kingsbridge welcomed Falmouth to High House on Saturday for a rearranged Western Counties (West) league match from March 3.
Kingsbridge had to undertake some major reshuffling to their side due to a number of unavailable players, but this did little to hinder the performance of the team as they comfortably overcame their Cornish visitors by six tries to nil.
Little did anyone know once the early-morning decision was made that the pitch was playable that the game would end up taking place during a blizzard.
Huge credit to both teams, which battled valiantly throughout before the game was called off after an hour.
Kingsbridge, playing into the snowstorm during the first half, opened the scoring after 12 minutes as they elected to run a penalty from near the halfway line. Good handling saw lock James Palmer race in to touch down from 10 metres out. Fly-half Thom Leman added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
That lead was extended just three minutes later as a break down the touchline by Leman saw him find fullback Chris Canevali in support; he fed the ball back inside for prop Buster James to force his way over from close range. The conversion was wide, but Kingsbridge now led 12-0.
On 24 minutes, the hosts stole the ball at a Falmouth lineout just five metres from their line, where it was moved to lock Palmer, who forced his way over for his second and Kingsbridge’s third try to take the score to 17-0.
It was only a matter of time before the hosts scored the bonus point try and, fittingly, it fell to centre and captain Ben Glover, who rounded off a great move that had started with a promising break from the hosts’ own 22 from winger TJ Lang. This score took Kingsbridge to 22-0, where it stayed until the interval.
Kingsbridge were a little slower out of the blocks at the start of the second half, but they increased their lead with a pushover try after 15 minutes, with number 8 Jeff Merrin gaining the touchdown. Leman converted to make it 29-0.
Leman then latched on to a loose ball in the Falmouth half to hack it on over the Falmouth line and win the race to the touchdown for the hosts’ sixth try.
Leman’s conversion of his own try took the score to 36-0, at which point both teams agreed to call a halt to the game and retire to the bar.
This Saturday sees fourth-placed Kingsbridge welcome fifth-placed Wadebridge to High House in the league, with kick-off at 3pm, while the A XV travel the short distance to face Dartmouth.
The Colts, meanwhile, welcome Barnstaple to the Longfield pitch for a rearranged Devon Colts Cup Merit Table match.