Kilburn Cosmos 1st XV 17 - West London 22
A lack of composure ultimately told against Kilburn in their opening Herts/Middlesex 1 fixture as they went down 17-22 against West London.
After 2 preseason wins on the back of strong defence, Kilburn hoped to start the season proper with a competition victory and started the first half strongly with a well worked forwards try. Lock Paul Ledington, who commanded the centre of the lineout all day, took clean ball in which the forward pack set up a drive, which West London failed to halt before the line with lock John Cameron securing the 5 points. Andrew Allan added the conversion.
Further strong forward play, lead by the big men up front - props Bernard Knapp, Ricardo Nunes and hooker Declan Magee had the Cosmos again putting pressure on West London. Finally the pressure told and centre Peter Donaldson crashed over in mid ield which Allan duly converted again. It looked like Kilburn were about to kick on and post a big win in their opening match.
The West london scrum half inspired the visitors with some fine runs from the base of the scrum and their ever present openside flanker really started to get under the skin of the Comos forward pack. Lacking a decisive answer to play that existed right on the edge of the laws, Cosmos started to flounder and penalties began to go against them.
Despite controlling the scrum and the lineout, Cosmos couldn't sucessfully answer West London in the ruck, where they scrabbled and scraped and niggled until the ball came their way. As their confidence grew, the visitors began to make probing runs down the wing and through the centres and tested the Cosmos defence to the limit. By half time the balance of the game was turning against the Cosmos.
The second half opened with some exciting rugby. Wide running was well supported and both sides turned over the ball in defence, switching quickly to attack. Frustration eventually boiled over with the West London defence at the breakdown and Cosmos prop Bernard Knapp snapped the Referee's patience and earned a yellow card for entering the ruck from an offside position. A harsh penalty for the team who transgressed the least in the game.
West London were quick to capitalise on the one-man overlap but it took a huge effort for them to break the line first time. Although they failed to convert it, they built on their confidence with another two tries, putting the Cosmos behind by one point and in a precarious position.
Forcing their way up the pitch, the Cosmos put Andy Allan within range for an easy penalty kick when West London were caught with hands in the ruck. The 3 points put them back on top, but in the last ten minutes of the game West London forced a try from a succession of pick and drive runs within the Cosmos 5 metre line. Their one successful kick of the game earning them a 5 point lead.
Although the game ended with Cosmos on a spirited attack, driving the ball forward from short range at the West London line, it wasn't enough and the game ended with West London thanking their lucky stars for the full time whistle.
Man of the match was lock Paul Ledington with Declan Magee taking 2 points and new halfback Jesse Foden getting 1 point in an excellent first game for the Cosmos.
Kilburn 17 (J Cameron, P Donaldson tries, A Allan 2 conversions, 1 penalty)
Team: R Nunes, D Magee, B Knapp, P Ledington, J Cameron, C Protherough, A Bursey, S Aitken (C), J Foden, A Allan, A Koporo, S Whyte, P Donaldson, A Gbingie, W Wyrill. Reserves: P Morgan, M Taguri, L Porter
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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