Walsall 21 pts KCRFC 6 pts - Match Report Courtesy of Brian Pinner

KCs battled hard at previously unbeaten Walsall, but to no avail, as they fell to their second defeat in three league games. A powerful home pack eventually wore down the inexperienced KCs side, and although the points margin remained close for 60 minutes Walsall scored 10 points in the final quarter to run out deserved winners.

Heavy rain before and during the match meant that the muddy pitch did not allow for flowing rugby, and the match was littered with handling errors from both sides. Walsall dominated the early stages, and kept KCs pinned in their own half. They missed a penalty kick after 5 minutes, but made no mistake 3 minutes later after they had driven KCs’ forwards off the ball at the first scrum.

Walsall threatened to score again straight from the kick off, when their prop burst through some weak tackling and kicked ahead, only to be beaten to the ball by winger Arthur Morgan to deny the try.

KCs gradually worked their way into the game, and after retaining possession through a number of phases they forced a penalty on the Walsall 10 metre line, with Freddie Morgan kicking the goal to bring the scores level after 15 minutes.

Walsall continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession, but the KCs’ defence held strong to frustrate their attempts, and turnovers at crucial times allowed Andy McLellan to clear the lines with some good kicks to touch. Shortly before half time KCs lost their main lineout jumper, Jack Tunstall, to injury when he was cleared out of a ruck illegally, and this put more pressure on the visitors’ set piece.

Against the run of play KCs took the lead on the stroke of half time, when Freddie Morgan kicked another penalty, awarded after some strong running from centre Ewan Thompson, and they were pleasantly surprised to go into the break with a 6 -3 lead.

Walsall started the second half as they had the first, and drew level with a penalty after just 2 minutes. A further wave of attacks brought their first try of the game 5 minutes later, when a flowing backs move created space out wide on the right, giving the home side an 11 – 6 advantage.

KCs had little possession, being unable to secure good ball from scrums or line-outs, and had to live off scraps secured from aggressive defence at the breakdown. When they did win the ball they were often in their own half, and attempts to run and kick out of defence did nothing to relieve the pressure. They did enjoy some brief forays into the Walsall half, and after pressure from Scott Lovell on the home defence they gained a penalty 30 yards out, but the attempt drifted wide.

KCs were now tiring, and Walsall took control in the final 20 minutes of the match, kicking a penalty following another scrum infringement. Missed tackles, and poor clearance kicks, meant the pressure was relentless, and when a chip ahead was not gathered cleanly Walsall pounced for the final score of the game, a converted try, to stretch their lead to 21 points to 6.

A valiant effort by KCs, who weren’t helped by late withdrawals and a number of players missing through injury and work commitments. They are on the road again next week when they travel to Leek, another side relegated from a higher league at the end of last season.