Devon Shield Final

Teignmouth colts 17,

Kingsbridge colts 34

This was the last game of the season for the Kingsbridge colts and a return visit to play Teignmouth in the Devon Colts Shield Final.

The visitors won the toss and chose to kick into the wind, immediately putting pressure on the Teignmouth catcher, but the home team's intention was to move the ball wide using their strike runner and play maker Sam Simmons as the point of attack.

Within minutes, the home team had scored a converted try for 7-0. Once again off the kick-off Kingsbridge were put under more pressure, and were reduced to 14 men when Andrew Merrin was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.

Following good defensive pressure, Kings won a penalty and had the opportunity to start building a platform, a chance the forwards took.

This gave both the backs and forwards the attacking platform to move up field into the Teignmouth half, with Kellan Gorman making some of his trademark sniping runs around the rucks.

It was from one of the breaks that the home team gave away a penalty which George Banfield kicked for 7-3.

The visitors' forwards were starting to dominate the tight with Marcus Tooke, Tom Beattie and Will Hurst in the front row giving the Teignmouth front row a torrid time.

In the loose play, the pack were rucking tight and giving good ball for Matt Hodgson to use.

With the line-out working well and Kingsbridge using this to their advantage, they moved the play back into the Teignmouth half, driving the ball up field through the forwards with Marcus Tooke making some of his rampaging runs.

Eventually, the driving play made space for Gareth Townsend to go over and score following quick ball from a ruck, which Banfield converted, 7-10.

Kingsbridge were now dominating the play and started to put attacks wide and tight, with the forwards giving the platform for the backs to use the ball.

The visitors were eventually rewarded with a converted try from Kellan Gorman, twisting his way over the line to make the score 7-17. Following some missed opportunities for Kings to add more points, the half ended with Kingsbridge on top.

The second half started with the visitors using the wind to their advantage, camping on the Teignmouth 22-metre line. Once again Andrew Wheeler, Ashok Lynn-Bertoli, Louis Kirkup, Jack Phillips and Andrew Merrin were causing all kinds of problems for the home team, not giving them any room to play.

Following a ruck on the left side of the field, Kingsbridge moved the ball right with Rhys Lamble going over for a converted try and 7-24. Kingsbridge were now able to use their substitutes to good effect, with DJ Foale, on for Jack Evans, putting the Teignmouth back three under pressure.

Kingsbridge were now well on top of the play and it was Andrew Merrin who was next to score following good ball won from the forwards, George Banfield converting to make it 7-31.

The game was now out of the home team's reach and the introduction of James Barlow and Harry Pilling in the front row for Marcus Tooke and Will Hurst, who both had their best games of the season, did not give the home team a rest in the set piece.

Kingsbridge were now winning ball at will and were awarded a penalty for a Teignmouth infringement that earnt a yellow card and was converted by George Banfield to extend the lead.

The game was now coming into the closing minutes and Teignmouth's hard work was eventually rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts. Teignmouth then put together another wave of attacks and claimed the last score of the game, bringing the final tally to 17-34.

This was a fantastic performance by the Kingsbridge Colts, led by their captain Jack Phillips.

The forwards were outstanding, giving the home team no chance in the contest for the ball in all aspects of the game, not losing a line-out, winning the rucks and mauling the Teignmouth pack off the park.

The backs were no less impressive, working hard as a unit to make the most of the chances the forwards helped to create.

This was the first time that any colts team from Kingsbridge has won a trophy and thanks goes to all those club members who have helped throughout the season in training, the second team players who have joined in the training with the colts, which has been invaluables, and the coaching team of Tim Beattie and Ian Johnston.

This win is testament to the players' work ethic and mental attitude throughout the season.