KC 5 Evesham 41
Following the good away win last week KC came down to earth with a bump on an afternoon with the wind gusting straight up the field. Fielding a weakened side through injury and covid KC were expecting a tough afternoon against one of the league leaders and so it transpired. After missing a couple of games Evesham came out fired up, alas for them they tested the referee’s patience as he awarded a succession of penalties when they pushed the boundaries of the laws; after the game the referee said that he should have given a couple of yellow cards to the serial transgressors.
Playing against the wind in the first half KC were unable to make much headway as Evesham’s tackling was very solid and to compound the problems for KC, they were losing much turnover ball. The first score went to Evesham with a converted try in the right-hand corner after only three minutes play.
KC were their usual self in defence with good tackling, particularly from George Lloyd-Jones, Will Fallows and Cameron Babb.
Pressure from a skilful powerful Evesham side resulted in three more tries in fifteen minutes; two of which were against the run of play and came from moves started in the KC half.
KC had their moments with Jim Tildesley useful in attack and Ryan Wainwright was his usual active self however the Evesham defence stood sound. Will Fallows at full-back was safe under a succession of high balls.
The last try of the half was unfortunate as a KC clearance kick from their line was picked up by a gust of wind and landed back close to the kicker, Evesham winning the ball to score. The score at half time was 0-29
It was a different game in the second half as KC made better use of the wind behind them. Although the first score, against the run of play, was Evesham with a breakaway from their own 22 to score under the posts.KC played much of this second period in the Evesham half; veteran Andy McLellan kicked cleverly and was prominent in both defence and attack. Morgan Maxwell, coming on as substitute, had several positive runs using his weight to deter tacklers, while Ryan Tiene also made useful ground when he got the ball.
KC had concerted pressure in the Evesham 22 and came away with no reward as they crossed the Evesham line and the referee adjudged the ball to be held up. Eventually another push over earned them a try through Blue Archer.
In the last minute of the game KC concentration dropped and Evesham made ground and exploited a hole in the KC defence. This resulted in a further try, the final score of 5-41 was unrepresentative of the game. KC deserved better for their endeavour and the team must be praised for the way they stuck to the task to the end.

Bob Davies