Ivybridge U15s 5,
Kingsbridge U15s 14
Kingsbridge prevailed by two tries to one in a closely contested game in the mud of Ivybridge.
Very heavy conditions meant this was always going to be an attritional forwards’ battle and so it proved.
There was no lack of commitment from either side but Kingsbridge were slightly more intelligent in their use of the ball – kicking well to clear their lines and chipping through well to create space midway through the first half for Kingsbridge to open the scoring.
Initially too tentative at the breakdown, Ivybridge grew into the game and were in the ascendancy when deep in Kingsbridge’s half they lost their own line-out and Kingsbridge counter-attacked swiftly to go two tries up.
Stirred into action, Ivybridge rallied and their forwards gained hard yards up the hill.
The ball needed to be moved wide but this didn’t quite happen. The influential Finn Taylor-May did cross the line to reduce the arrears, but this was not enough and Kingsbridge emerged narrow winners.
The building blocks are in place and the Ivybridge boys need to work on decision making in key areas of the pitch to do themselves justice.