1st XV vs Ludlow 23 November 2019 - Ludlow 37 KC 22

The game started with most of the rugby coming from KC and played in the Ludlow half. Against the run of play a Ludlow attack was halted close to the KC line and from a scrum penalty Ludlow scored through their number 8, this converted. Within five minutes KC were back in the Ludlow half and a dropped ball was kicked on by a Ludlow player who then dribbled 60 metres to score, again converted. The spirit of the team shone through after these reverses. KC were galvanised and from a line-out close to the Ludlow line the forwards drove over for a try claimed by Dave Kane who had a great game. KC had more pressure with Matt Parker going close, other players playing well were Tom Dalton, Rhys Kay and Joe Nicklin making a welcome re-appearance. A good break by Rob Phillips was stopped by Ludlow, however he was able to make the ball available for Scott Lovell to score under the posts converted by Andy McLellan. Further KC pressure from a lineout and a powerful drive by the forwards of 15 metres allowed Dave Kane to score his second try giving KC a well-deserved half-time lead of 14-17.
Ludlow began the second half with a new confidence and winning a penalty levelled the scores. KC were playing in positive style but finding it difficult to gain any momentum due to good Ludlow tackling. Ludlow pressure won them two more penalties, each converted, and then pushed over from a scrum, again converting it.
KC then came back with their own pressure, a series of lineouts, forward pressure and penalties were repeated four times to finally give a great move by the forwards to set Scott Lovell for the bonus point try. More KC pressure in the Ludlow 22 was thwarted when Ludlow got a breakaway, running 80 metres to score a converted try against the run of play.
The gap between the scores at end does not reflect the game which KC could have won. Ludlow scoring 17 of their points from kicks against 2 points for KC
This was one of their best games this season and for long periods of the game it looked like KC could get their first win. KC defence was good, however a pattern in recent games has been to allow opposition to make breakaway tries and this happened twice against Ludlow.

Bob Davies