Old Saltleians 45 KC 8
KC took a good team to play Saltleians at their impressive new ground which was developed with HS2 money when their old ground was requisitioned., Unfortunately KC came across a bigger stronger team who played very well using their advantages and skills to good effect.
Early in the first half Saltleians put KC under pressure earning a penalty which they missed. KC then came back with a penalty of their own which with a long kick was well converted by Jack O’Hagan to take the lead.
Scrums became a challenge for KC and Saltleians put on pressure gained possession, took advantage and scored missing the penalty.
Saltleians were putting more pressure on KC and the KC players were defending manfully keeping Saltleians out for 30 minutes. Saltleians won a line-out on the KC 22, fed the ball through their forwards to score in the right-hand corner, the conversion was successful off the post. Saltleians scored again taking advantage of a KC knock-on to score under the posts and convert.
When KC won scrums going backwards, Neil Mason picked up at number 8 on several occasions , making ground and giving KC valuable possession to keep Saltleians at bay. Half time came with Saltleians leading 19-3.
KC came out in second half very strongly with some good moves, eventually a three-quarter move across the field, with full-back Harry Taft joining the line, produced a valuable try in the right-hand corner for Ryan Tiene. It did not take Saltleians long to reply with a powerful attack that was initially resisted with good tackling . This committed KC players and Saltleians took advantage passing the ball to their fast winger who went round the defence and scored under the posts.
KC were finding the Saltleians forwards difficult to contain; all players were committed in the tackle and it is difficult to single out particular players for praise although Beau Archer, Chris Pinner and Jack O’Hagan were noticed. On a good note KC were impressive on their own line-out where Beau Archer and Tom Kerrigan secured good ball. KC had their moments of attack with George Lloyd Jones being prominent with his acceleration and speed, alas the Saltleians defence was strong.
As the second half progressed Saltleians began to exert their dominance with the next try coming from a scrum close to the KC line, where a push-over got the try in the right-hand corner.
KC defence was good although being continually under the cosh was going to wear players out. In the event this seemed to happen when Saltleians scored two breakaway tries against the run of play, both of which were converted.
KC should not be too downhearted from this defeat; they can hold their heads up high as they competed well until the final whistle.
Bob Davies