Evesham 22 KC 17

KC were first on the scoreboard after three minutes with a penalty kicked by Jack O’Hagan. A further score from KC looked likely from a great move through the backs from a Tiene break, passed in turn to Tildesley, O’Hagan and Wainwright; good defence from Evesham stopping the attack.
Pressure from Evesham gained them a penalty close to the KC line after a scrum infringement. This they ran and KC gave a further penalty closer to the posts which Evesham kicked to level the scores. KC replied with a break from Tiene, passed to George Tildesley who scythed though the defence, mesmerising at least six menacing tacklers, to score under the posts, O’Hagan adding the extras. The KC lead was short-lived as Evesham backs repeated an earlier move where their full back ran a clever line cutting through the KC defence to take the score at half-time to 10 – 10.
Early in the second half Evesham were awarded a penalty close to the KC posts. They spurned the kick for 3 points, took the scrum option and after several phases, and playing penalty advantage, eventually scored wide out, failing with the conversion.
KC were playing good rugby, had some good attacks, particularly one involving Ryan Tiene and Tom Mayer which was stopped in the Evesham 22. Other prominent efforts for KC came from Alfie Smith, Blue Archer and Dave Kane coming on as a replacement.
The next score for KC saw experience and youth combine for one of the best tries seen this season. Evesham were pressurising a metre from the KC line; KC wrestled the ball and set Chris Pinner off on an 80 metre sprint down the touch-line, beating tackle after tackle. As he slowed and was eventually stopped he managed to pass inside to supporting George Lloyd Jones who ran 15 metres across the pitch to score under the posts unopposed. Jack O’Hagan converted to give KC a 17-15 lead with about 5 minutes left.
To protect this lead KC were sensibly trying to play the ball in the Evesham half. This strategy failed when the Evesham stand-off capped a very good performance with a bouncing kick from inside his own half to find touch within five metres of the KC line. Winning the lineout the Evesham pack were camped on the KC line and despite spirited KC defence managed to get the ball over the whitewash on the fifth attempt. They added the conversion to take the score to 22-17.
KC had put in a good team performance, although handicapped from playing with 14 men for 30 minutes as a result of three yellow cards for vague infringements. However Evesham deserved their close win, notable that throughout the match their attacking play was orchestrated by their stand-off who had an outstanding game.