Tribute South West One (West)

North Petherton 33

Kingsbridge’s disappointing run of results continued on Saturday as they fell to their eighth league defeat of the season against a team that they would probably have hoped to overcome at home.

North Petherton were the visitors to High House and were placed immediately above the Blue and Whites in the league table – albeit 10 league points ahead – but they proved too physical for the hosts as they ran out winners by four tries to two.

The visitors opened the scoring in the second minute as Kings­bridge gave away their customary early penalty, which Petherton duly converted.

However, on four minutes the hosts were level as home winger George Jones replied in kind with his first successful kick to take the score to 3-3.

On 16 minutes Kings turned over possession near the visitors’ 22 and a delightful chip over the North Petherton defence towards the corner flag from scrum-half James Trout saw home full-back George Banfield win the race to the touchdown.

With the tricky conversion being missed, the try meant Kings­bridge now had the lead at 8-3.

Only four minutes later and the visitors had struck back with a try through their forwards, with the conversion putting them into an 8-10 lead.

A further try through a line-out catch and drive on 25 minutes, followed by a penalty in the 30th minute, saw the visitors’ lead increased to 8-18.

A third try on the stroke of half-time saw them pull away to 8-23 and left the hosts with a mountain to climb in the second half.

The opening period of the second half saw play become more even, with penalties exchanged by both kickers to take the score to 11-26.

The visitors then extended their lead when they crossed for their fourth try of the game on the overlap with 15 minutes re­maining. The conversion took them into a commanding 11-33 lead.

With virtually the final move of the match, Kingsbridge took a quick tap penalty from close range, where the ensuing ruck saw flanker Ali Hamil­ton cross over for the hosts’ second try of the game. The conversion from Jones closed the gap to 18-33, but it was a matter of too little, too late for the hosts.

Kingsbridge A XV had no match last weekend while the Colts went down 5-17 to Plymouth Argaum Colts at home in the Devon Colts Merit Table.

This Saturday sees Kingsbridge first XV travel to face Oke­hampton in the league while the A XV welcome Honiton IIs to High House in the Devon Merit Table. The Colts have no match this weekend.