Bideford 21

KINGSBRIDGE were left devastated by this result against league leaders Bideford on Saturday, where they had the win cruelly snatched from their grasp deep into second half injury time.

While the hosts may have picked up a losing bonus point, they deserved so much more for their efforts after they had led the match from mid-way through the first half right up until the end of normal time.

Recent results and form dictated that the Blue and Whites, eight places behind the visitors in the league table, would struggle to come away with anything from this game, but the grit and determination shown by the young Kingsbridge team made the late loss all the harder to bear.

The visitors had taken the lead in the fourth minute with a penalty after Kingsbridge had been caught offside.

But they levelled four minutes later as full back Ashley Treeby scored Kingsbridge's first points with a penalty after Bideford were guilty of a side entry at the ruck.

Kingsbridge took the lead for the first time after 22 minutes as scrum possession deep inside the Bideford 22 saw the ball moved out to the backs for fly half Ben Newman to dummy and side step and stroll over toscore near the posts.

Treeby converted to give the home team a 10-3 lead.

The visitors added two further penalties on 29 and 32 minutes to reduce the deficit to 10-9 before Kingsbridge pulled away again with their second try shortly before half-time.

With forward possession won on the Bideford 22, fly half Newman spotted space out wide and chipped, inch perfect, into the corner.

Winger George Banfield took the ball on the full and raced into the corner to score and take Kingsbridge into a 15-9 interval lead.

The second half was a very tight affair with both teams strong in attack – and also stretched in defence.

There was no further addition to the score until 10 minutes from time when Bideford scored their first try wide out.

The conversion was missed and Kingsbr-idge entered the dying minutes holding a narrow 15-14 advantage.

During the closing stages Kingsbridge had to be defiant in their own 22 as Bideford strived to gain the win they needed to stay at the top of the league table and the hosts battled bravely to stem the flow of attack after attack.

As everyone was waiting for the final whistle to be blown the visitors launched one final assault into the Kingsbridge half.

On this occasion the pressure told with Kingsbridge's defence tied in and the visitors exploited the overlap to score wide out.

The conversion was added to be followed by the inevitable final whistle, dealing a cruel blow to a team which had battled so hard to secure victory.

Kingsbridge scorers:– Ben Newman (1 try), George Banfield (1 try), Ash Treeby (1 penalty, 1 conversion).

Kingsbridge A XV suffered their third successive loss when they travelled to face Plymouth-based OPM's on Saturday as they went down 19-31.

This week sees Kingsbridge travel to face Bude in the league.

The A XV entertain Cullompton at High House in the Devon Merit Table.

Kingsbridge Colts are also in action at home.

They welcome Okehampton Colts in the Colts Merit Table.