5 points on the road as Keynsham move up the table

Teignmouth RFC 33 – Keynsham RFC 36​

Teignmouth`s committee and spectators gave their visitors a warm and friendly welcome on Saturday and were treated to a wonderfully exciting game where the lead changed hands on 4 occasions. Played in perfect, almost balmy conditions the players on both sides put their all into it and the game carried on throughout at a great pace. In truth, it was strange one, in that both sides seem to take it in turn to dominate for 15 minutes a time.

There was a serious collision after just 2 minutes when Keynsham`s Lewis Shrub and the home side`s John Hiscock took accidental heavy blows, both were able to carry on, but retired from the fray shortly thereafter (Hiscock returned later in the second half). After 6 mins, Teign took the lead from a penalty by Tom Gosling. Both sides were guilty of losing possession in the tackles, such was this fearsome defences, but the home side went further ahead from a try by Josh Davey following a speculative kick ahead, Gosling converting for a 10-0 lead.

Bouncing straight back, Keynsham were held up on the line following a strong burst by skipper Jack Weston. A series of 5 metre-scrums, several mauls and eventually a chip through gave Gaz Breakneck, on the wing, the opportunity to touch down for Keynsham`s first points, Challenger just wide with the conversion from wide out; 10-5. More Keynsham power play saw Caleb Flannell make inroads into the defence; he fed Rugbin Edwards who completed the last 10 metres for a classy try, Challenger slotted the conversion. Keynsham edging ahead 10-12.

Keynsham lost another opportunity to score when a potential overlap seemed to be there, only for the last pass to go astray. Nevertheless, they went further ahead when Dan Moodie converted a half break by Snooker Legend Joe Davies to cross the white wash, Challenger again adding the points to make it 10-19. Not to be out-done, back came Teign and despite some great defence, particularly a scything tack by Davies, Josh Davey scored his second try in the corner; Gosling missed the conversion from wide to leave the score at 15-19 to complete the half.

Within 5 minutes of the re-start there were two further scores on the board, a penalty apiece for Gosling and Challenger. Cieran Chester swapped for Adam Harrison, Steptoe taking over a t Scrum-half. 15 minutes in a cross-kick was picked up by that man, Davey,  who beat the cover defence to notch his and Teign`s 3rdtry; Goose converting to take the score-line to 25-22. Kieran Seagar took over from Filo Harvey at prop. 

Joe Clements was yellow carded shortly thereafter and within 6 minutes the home team had their 4th (and bonus point) try which came from a series of surges close to the line, Dayne Layton claiming the honours. Conversion missed, 30-22. With just 15 minutes left it seemed unlikely that Keynsham would pull back the deficit, but they stepped up several gears and dominated the game from hereon. After several phases, an inside pass from Davies saw Jack Weston almost amble in under the posts for Keynsham`s bonus point try closed that gap to just 1 point. Having said that Keynsham had raised their game by several gears, Teign`s defence did likewise and there were some awesome impacts. Victory for the visitors was sealed a couple of minutes from the end when Evans squeeze through the centre of a maul made a bit of ground and passed to the supporting Clements, who made his way joyfully to the line for try no 5; challengers kick bringing the score to 30-36.

The lads should be happy with 5 very hard won, valuable, away league points against such tough opponents.

One strange point is that the referee and his advisor made the score 33-36, but nobody seems to work out how! It is irrelevant, but very interesting! “Swear Not” tell anyone!