Keynsham lose in the gloom

Just the one game again this week as 2nds, 3rds and 4th teams matches cancelled due to frosty grounds.

There was a long debate at St Mary’s Old Boys before it was decided to play the game there and ,in fact, there was a switch of pitch location. This uncertainty seemed to affect Keynsham more than the home side as they were very slow out of the trap. Right from the kick off, Keynsham gave away possession twice and failed to clear their line properly. From the ensuing close range line out the St Marys pack trundled over for a 2nd minute try.  Both sides had great difficulty in retaining possession of a very greasy ball and a rather stagnant game proceeded. Yet another serious shoulder injury forced Lewis Bush off after 20 minutes and he was replaced  by Mike Jeffries; he came on as second row allowing Ben Angrove to revert to his more regular position in the back row. Just 2 minutes from half time saw Keynsham concede a soft try, with the winger breaking several weak attempts at tackles to score under the posts. Duly converted, the half time score was 12-0.

Keynsham began to show some form in the 2nd half and were rewarded with 3 points from Paul Edson’s penalty. After 20 minutes Keynsham used up their 2 remaining substitutions but just 2 minutes later scrum half, James Wetton, was forced to leave the field with a leg injury; this left Keynsham with 14 men for the remainder of the game. Strangely, this seemed to galvanise the pack and they put in some tremendous drives with Baker, Weston and Jeffries to the fore. Eventually, just on the 40 minutes they scored a from one of the forward surges; touch down going to Phil Harvey. Edson’s conversion brought the score to 12-10 with 5/6 minutes of injury time to play in the gathering gloom. They were in a position to get the winning score with the final play to come, but ill discipline caused a penalty decision to be reversed and the chance was lost.

Next week the 2nd XV host Bristol Barbarians.