Tribute Western Counties West

Kingsbridge 1st XV 53               

Penryn RFC 20

KINGSBRIDGE put the disappointment of losing last week's opening league match at Okehampton firmly behind them as they turned on the style at a sun-drenched High House on Saturday for the visit of Cornish side Penryn.

The visitors were relegated back into the Western Counties (West) league at the end of last season following a single year in South West One, so this was always likely to be a tough first match at home for the Blue and Whites.

The hosts opened the scoring in the seventh minute as the visitors were penalised for offside right in front of their posts. Home fly-half Sam Parsons slotted the kick over with ease for a 3-0 lead. The Blue and Whites extended that lead in the 13th minute as a break from number eight Jack Cope saw him get the ball away in the tackle to centre Ed Lennon, who raced in along the touchline to score and take the score to 8-0.

Kingsbridge then extended that lead still further as a break from left wing Tim Parsons, who had switched over to create the extra man on the right, saw the ball switched to Cope, who again put centre Lennon in the clear to race in and score his second try. Fly-half Sam Parsons converted to take the score out to 15-0. On 25 minutes that increased further still as Kingsbridge crossed over for their third try. The hosts turned defence into attack from deep in their 22 as breaks from Lennon and Sam Parsons saw Parsons draw the last defender to put right wing James Trout away to score. Parsons again converted to make it 22-0.

Penryn finally got themselves on the scoreboard with a penalty before Kingsbridge's fourth try shortly before the interval gave them the bonus point. A five-metre line-out catch saw the Kingsbridge pack drive the visitors back over their own line and flanker Ali Hamilton touched down among the pile of bodies. Parsons added his third successful conversion to make it 29-3. Despite the visitors adding a converted try on the stroke of half time, Kingsbridge held a commanding 29-10 at the interval.

Kingsbridge opened the first half as they had finished the first, as a ruck in front of the Penryn posts saw a delayed pass from Cope and a great line of attack from Sam Parsons result in Parsons crossing over for Kingsbridge's fifth try. The conversion of his own try saw Parsons take the score out to 36-10. Parsons added a penalty mid way through the second half to increase the lead still further to 39-10.

Penryn added a try (from a blatant forward pass) to slightly reduce the deficit to 39-15, before Kingsbridge pulled away again during the final 15 minutes. Further tries were added by full-back Ashley Treeby and scrum-half Tristan Couch, who went over off the back off a five-metre maul and both tries were converted by Parsons to take Kingsbridge past the half-century mark at 53-15.

The visitors added a late consolation try right on the final whistle, but the hosts were not going be denied a thoroughly deserved victory that delighted new head coach Nick Burnett on his first outing at High House. 

This week sees Kingsbridge travel to face current unbeaten league leaders St Austell.

Kingsbridge A XV will entertain Newton Abbot III in the Devon Merit Table at High House at 3pm, while Kingsbridge Colts entertain local rivals Totnes on the Longfield Pitch at 2.30pm in the Devon Colts Merit Table.

Advance warning to all interested parties is the annual past players' lunch, which this season will be held on Saturday, October 6, at noon and will be followed by the 1st XV match against Truro.

Tickets can be booked by contacting the club chairman Phil Darke on 01548 561089 or club secretary Martin Newman on 01548 853976.