Topsham Colts turn up the heat

Kings start really strongly attempting to impose themselves physically and disrupting Topsham as much as possible. In the first 10 minutes Topsham fight hard to maintain territory and it’s mostly a battle on the halfway line with Kings occasionally making inroads to the Tops half.

But then Tops make a break with strong running from the forwards enabling quick ball to the backs and Harry Hart uses his speed and agility to get into the far left corner for the opening score. In the wind the conversion is near impossible and drifts wide and short, score is 0-5 to Topsham.

Almost immediately Kings score in the right corner and with the wind their conversion is scored 7-5 and they follow this up with a penalty attempt in front of the posts 35m out which they score 10-5.

The game is not going according to the Topsham plan but the team gets back to its basics and again through strong running and balls to hand Ed Smale scores to the left of the posts after jinking and using his strength to drive through, injuring the Kings No. 8 in the process who retires at half time and the whistle is blown straight after the missed conversion. Half time the score is 10-10.

The second half starts with Topsham turning up the heat and immediately fantastic driving runs by Alex Taylor and Harry Collison enables Oz Martin to accept the pass 10m out, hand off a defender and score under the posts which with the wind Gwyn Parks converts easily 10-17.

Topsham are determined and get the all-important fourth try from Ed Smale getting his second score of the evening collecting a high clearance kick beyond half way and running through with a mazy run, slipping and breaking tackles to score and almost making the cardinal sin of not getting the ball down before running out the back of the dead ball area! Gwyn converts moving the score to 10-24.

Kingbridge are not finished yet and score again to the wide left and with their kicker on great form he secures the conversion keeping the score close at 17-24.

But Tops are straight back on the attack as the best form of defence andAlex Taylor breaks through with another great driving run to score under the posts that Gwyn converts again and the score is 17-31.

Topsham are looking rampant now and every opportunity is being looked at as a scoring opportunity and following some great work by Zac MacLellen and Fin Marks in creating forward momentum Harry Collison, Billy Howill, Oz and Ben Phillips are involved in a move which seemed a certain try but which also resulted in Billy badly dislocated his shoulder hitting the ground. Sadly this is the second time this season and so everyone in the squad and the supporters wish him a speedy recovery.

Malcolm and Dave are managing the squad well by rotating players on and off and following a great steal at the ruck by Oz, Gwyn breaks and charges through then a flat fast pass to George Howill just back on the pitch and he scorches through and under the posts to keep his hot run of scoring going. Gwyn converts taking the score to 17-38.

The final moments and Kings still retain great spirit which is a credit to the character of their boys in the team but a lovely kick by Zac from the 22 is dropped by their full back and Harry Hart executes a great pick up and then off load to Alex Taylor who in turn off loads to George H and under the posts again, somehow Gwyn misses the conversion!

The final whistle is blown and the score is 17-43.