Tribute Western Counties West
Kingsbridge 25,
Truro 27
KINGSBRIDGE came up just short in their final league match of the season as they entertained fourth placed Truro at High House on Saturday.
Kingsbridge held a three-point advantage over third-placed Tiverton going into the final round of matches knowing that any victory would secure second place and send them into the end-of-season play-offs.
Although they lost, Kingsbridge secured two bonus points meaning that Tiverton had to win at 10th-placed Wellington and gain a try bonus point in order to overtake the Blue and Whites and claim the play-offs themselves.
As it turned out, Tiverton lost heavily, meaning that Kingsbridge's result became immaterial.
A bumper crowd for the final game saw Kingsbridge open the scoring in the 20th minute courtesy of a Tom Putt penalty, awarded following a high tackle on number eight Jack Cope.
That 3-0 lead was increased on 29th minutes as Kingsbridge implemented their tried and tested catch and drive at a line-out in the Truro 22.
Having taken the visitors back over their own line, hooker James Westlake was credited with the touchdown that made the score 8-0.
Back came Truro on 26 minutes as they opened their account with a penalty to make it 8-3 before Kingsbridge pulled away again shortly before half time.
With Truro looking to launch an attack from their own 22, they were caught in possession by Kings captain Ben Glover, who ripped the ball and fed flanker Jack Fergusson who was able to run in under the posts unchallenged. Putt added the simple conversion for a half time 15-3 lead.
The start of the second half could not have started worse for Kingsbridge as a two-minute spell early in the half saw them go from leading comfortably to falling behind.
On nine minutes Truro had a scrum five metres from the Kingsbridge line and with the visitors looking likely to score, the hosts killed the ball leading the referee to award a penalty try.
The simple conversion was added to reduce their deficit to 15-10.
Immediately from the restart, Kingsbridge failed to put the kick-off beyond the 10-metre line and then did not challenge for the ball, which the Truro hooker collected and ran 50 yards untouched to score under the posts.
Again the conversion was added as Truro took the lead at 15-17.
On 20 minutes Kings retook the lead as they stole the ball at a Truro line-out and their catch and drive saw hooker James Westlake cross over for his second try of the afternoon and put the hosts back in front at 20-17.
Back came Truro again as they added a converted try four minutes later, through a rolling maul, to retake the lead at 20-24 entering the final quarter.
Kingsbridge had another catch and drive effort ruled out after the ball wasn't grounded with 10 minutes remaining and the visitors managed to clear their ground before landing a long-range penalty to extend their lead to 20-27 with six minutes left on the clock.
In the dying minutes of the game Kingsbridge fly-half Ben Newman broke clear in the Truro 22 but was tap-tackled short of the line.
However, from a penalty shortly afterwards Kingsbridge crossed over for their fourth (and bonus point) try courtesy of another catch and drive move from the line-out. This time the scorer was prop Jake Vincent.
The conversion went wide and time ran out before Kingsbridge had the chance to overturn the two-point deficit.
This weekend will see the 1st XV travel to face Newent in Gloucestershire in the play off for the final promotion place to the South West One league.
The team will leave the quay at 9am and there is limited space (bookable in advance through the club secretary) to travel on the bus.
Kingsbridge Colts wind up their season with a trip to face Sidmouth Colts.