KCRFC  v Barkers Butts RFC - Saturday 30th October

KC 24 Barkers Butts 19

This fixture promised to be big test for the KC team as Barkers Butts were top of the league table and unbeaten.  Watching the game you would have thought that KC were the higher ranked side as they put in the best team effort of the season.

The early exchanges were very even and the scoring was opened after six minutes when Jim Tildesley made a 30 metre break and passed back into the forwards who in turn passed it wide for Simon Clarke to score. Sam Foster made the conversion.

Barkers Butts replied with a try from a line out near the KC line where their forwards drove through to score a converted try.

A few minutes later KC won a deserved penalty on their 22 and then with stupid back-chat to the referee found the penalty reversed. KC had a lucky let-off as Barkers missed a simple attempt at goal.

Ryan Tiene, back from injury, came on after twenty minutes and was soon in the thick of it. He made a thirty metre swerving run to the Barkers 22 taking advantage of a good break by Sam Foster. KC forwards then took the ball on with Clarke and Protheroe prominent and Kane gained the try which was converted by Foster. At half-time KC were good value for their 14-7 lead. Early in the second half further pressure from KC gained a penalty which Foster kicked to stretch the lead.

Barkers came back with pressure close in winning a penalty and after gritty defence by KC eventually scored an unconverted try.

KC forwards then had a period of sustained pressure close to the Barkers line and good defence by Barkers for over five minutes kept KC out. A penalty close to the Barkers line was kicked for a five metre line out. KC won good possession from the line out and Clarke and Protheroe fed Dave Kane for his second try. Foster converting to get four successful kicks.

Barkers came back with several forward drives and the rolling mauls which typified their game tested the solid KC defence. Their third try came from a break taking advantage of a rare a KC missed tackle and was converted.

Barkers threw everything at KC in the final minutes and the KC defence was secure, this was a feature of a great team performance of which everyone can be very proud.  The adjudicators for man of the match had a difficult decision and chose hard working Dave Kane for the award.

Report submitted by KCRFC