This weekend, Yate Rugby’s 2nd team made the short journey to Kingswood, eager to build on the momentum from their opening round win in the league. Both clubs, fielding genuine 2nd teams, showcased plenty of fresh talent – a positive sign for the local rugby scene, where many clubs have struggled to put out second teams.
With the sun shining on what felt like one of the last days of summer, a large crowd gathered to enjoy the spectacle and support their teams. Kingswood started strong, their young backs immediately threatening the Yate defence. It wasn’t long before their fly-half made a break, speeding past the last defender to score the opening try.
Yate responded quickly. After adapting to Kingswood's attacking threats, they began to build momentum of their own. The halfback duo of Jamie Brindle and Sam Manning directed play, setting up powerful runners Sam Adams and Ben Hayman to punch through Kingswood’s defence. The breakthrough came when Hayman crossed the line, grounding the ball for Yate’s first points.
Shortly after, Yate added another try. A loose ball on the right wing landed in the hands of Johan Curzon, who sprinted 50 yards with open field ahead to score under the posts. Kingswood answered with a penalty kick, narrowing the score to 12-8 with about 25 minutes on the clock.
As the first half continued, Yate suffered a blow when debutant Johan Heyns was forced off with a head injury, cutting short a promising start. However, Yate remained unfazed. Their forwards dominated the scrum, and a sustained attack led to another try by Hayman, who crashed over from short range, extending Yate’s lead to 19-8.
Kingswood struck back with a long-range try, despite a valiant chase from Yate winger Kelvin Bullock. As Kingswood closed the gap, Yate made a welcome substitution, bringing back club stalwart Craig Archer. And it didn’t take long for him to make his mark. Following a penalty and lineout in Kingswood’s 22, Archer powered over the line, dragging several defenders with him to score his 72nd try in his 72nd appearance for Yate. The halftime score stood at 24-13 in Yate’s favour.
Both teams continued to play attacking rugby after the break, with neither opting to kick away possession. Kingswood scored a penalty to inch closer and then capitalized on a well-executed chip kick to close the gap to 24-21.
Yate, as they had in the first half, lifted their game in response. A penalty kicked to touch put them in a strong attacking position, and Sam Manning’s clever inside pass found Craig Archer, who raced away to score under the posts, restoring Yate’s 10-point lead at 31-21.
Fatigue began to set in as both teams emptied their benches. Kingswood’s young players took advantage of a tiring Yate side, scoring another long-range try and reducing the deficit once more. With only 15 minutes to go, the crowd sensed an exciting finish, as Kingswood piled on the pressure.
A penalty deep in Yate’s half led to a sustained Kingswood attack. After several phases, Yate's defence eventually cracked, and a missed tackle allowed Kingswood to score close to the posts, taking the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. The score stood at 37-31, with only minutes remaining.
In the final moments, Yate struggled to gain ground as Kingswood’s defensive line speed proved too much. With time running out and errors creeping in, Yate couldn’t create the opportunity needed to reclaim the lead. The final whistle blew, sealing a hard-fought 37-31 victory for Kingswood.
It was a tough loss for Yate, but the match was a fantastic display of local rugby. Kingswood, with a talented and youthful side, will undoubtedly be a team to watch this season. Despite the result, Yate can take plenty of positives from their performance and look forward to their next challenge.
Watch the match here: https://app.veo.co/matches/20240914-match-yate-rugby-97dc6b26/
Big thank you to Titch Photo for taking the photos of the game, please check all the photos from the afternoon here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/200695946@N07/K71sw6Gxym
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