1st XV vs Silhilians 29 January 2022 - KC 13 Silhilians 17

This game started off with real pressure from Silhilians. In the KC fixture against them earlier in the season Sils had relied on the strength of their forwards in loose play and it looked like this strategy would be repeated.
After three minutes Sils had a powerful kick from their 22 to the KC 22 and from the resulting line-out were able to drive over to score near the posts, this was converted. This pattern was repeated at the next line-out and the omens were that KC could have a difficult afternoon.
KC were trying to get back into the game when Sils had a scrum just inside the KC 22 , won the ball and using their weight gained a push-over try which was converted. KC began to soak up the Sils pressure and make some of their own, however neither side could really get going. KC suffered a setback when winger Ryan Tiene had to go off with an injury suffered whilst making a penetrating run. KC forwards came into the game and were able to nullify the weight of the Sils pack, Harvey Kelsall and Tom Kerrigan being prominent. Just before half time KC reversed play when they kicked through from their 22 and the alert Will Fallows skilfully dribbled the ball for about 40 metres, gathered it and ran the last 25 metres to score.
KC had an injury to a second front row player, as the laws required they had one front row replacement, but one only. So, unusually at this level, the only option had to be uncontested scrums.
Early in the second half of the game a melee developed, following which a KC player received a yellow card, quite how the Sils players involved did not receive any censure is a mystery. Being reduced to 14 men galvanised the KC team and they had several effective moves, particularly Ryan Wainwright who gained ground with his bustling runs and made good tackles in defence. Then Tom Dalton made a mini-break and passed to McClellan who chipped through for George Tildesley to score an easy try Further KC pressure was rewarded with a penalty kicked by Andy McClellan to give KC a 13-12 lead.
Play switched backwards and forwards until with one minute remaining Sils made ground up the right-hand touch line almost to the KC line. Then after frantic exchanges from both sides were able to cross for a try to take the lead and deny KC what would have been a well-deserved victory. This was another game that KC should have put to bed. After the initial 12 minutes when they were on the back foot there were several opportunities to add to their score and in the event came away with only a losing bonus point.

Bob Davies