Tribute Western Counties West

Torquay 3

It's not too long ago that the prospect of a Kingsbridge against Torquay league encounter would have been viewed as pie in the sky.

Following this result some may say 'how the mighty have fallen', while others will also stress how much Kingsbridge have improved this season considering they have now stacked up ten unbeaten league matches.

The hosts certainly had the better of the opening exchanges and dominated the forward battle especially.

However, despite also having the majority of possession, they were unable to convert it into points on the board. The visitors gave away a number of early penalties and in the strong wind Kingsbridge chose to kick for position rather than the posts.

The opening quarter saw Kingsbridge have two line-outs close to the Torquay line but strangely the normal tried and tested catch and drive move let them down on both occasions.

On 20 minutes Kings missed the chance to open the scoring as a penalty dropped short of the posts. The visitors then took their first chance on the half hour as they converted a penalty just inside the Kingsbridge half.

Almost immediately from the restart Kingsbridge forced their way upfield as fly-half Newman gave Kingsbridge an attacking position near the Torquay line and this time the catch and drive worked to perfection as prop Mike Powell gained the crucial touchdown and a 5-3 lead for Kings.

The hosts then extended their lead on the stroke of half-time as a quick tap penalty saw Hamilton held up just short of the line, but prop Powell was on hand again to cross over for his second try – and his sixth in the last three matches. Banfield converted and the hosts held a 12-3 lead at the interval.

Kings missed a penalty attempt early in the second half but soon after extended their lead when a break from centre and captain Ben Glover saw play taken deep into the Torquay 22.

The ensuing overlap on the right saw Glover and scrum-half Tristan Couch combine to put lock Deiniol Jones away to score in the corner to extend the lead to 17-3.

Kingsbridge were now increasing the pressure on the visitors and the demoralised Torquay forwards had no answer to the rampant Kingsbridge pack.

With a wheeled scrum on the top touchline, Couch broke along the five-yard channel and with support from prop Powell he put number eight Matt Hamilton away to score from close range and bring up the bonus point try. Banfield added the tricky conversion for 24-3.

Kingsbridge continued to dominate in both possession and territory during the closing stages as the forwards supplied an endless supply of ball for Couch to distribute to the backs.

Near the Torquay 22, Couch found centre Glover out wide on the left, who found a great line to slice through the Torquay defence before showing scintillating pace along the touchline to score in the corner. For a second time Banfield added the pinpoint touchline conversion to take the score to 31-3

The hosts still had time for one more score as a quickly taken tap penalty caught Torquay on the back foot and Glover again showed great pace down the touchline for his second score of the game.

Banfield brought the curtain down with another excellent conversion to take the score to 38-3. 

The Pizza Planet man-of-the-match was Hamilton.

Scorers – Powell (two tries), Glover (two tries), Jones, Hamilton, Banfield (four conversions).