Kingsbridge Presidents XV (over 25s) 12-24 Kingsbridge Club XV (under 25s)

Kingsbridge RFC brought the 2007-08 season to a conclusion on Saturday with their annual Presidents Day at High House.

Following on from the juniors' end-of-season presentations in the morning, the A XV played their traditional fixture with a team made up from the juniors' coaches and parents.

The finale to the day was the Presidents match for the Dave Steere Memorial Trophy and this year saw the under 25s take on the over 25s. The Blue and Whites also welcomed four players from near neighbours Salcombe to bolster the numbers taking part.

Bathed in sunshine both teams treated the large crowd to some fast open running rugby with no holds barred attack and defence. The Presidents XV took the lead when regular club captain Jason Putt was on hand to burrow his way over the line from a short-range maul.

The Club XV then took the lead shortly afterwards when a strong break through midfield, from centre Ed Lennon, saw him offload to fellow centre and captain Ben Glover, who powered over to touch down. Fly-half Greg Newman converted to put the club side 7-5 ahead. The score remained tight until half time.

The start of the second half saw no immediate addition to the score and it was the Presidents XV that finally broke the second-half deadlock to retake the lead. A line out on the 22 saw the heavier Presidents XV pack set up a rolling maul, which took play deep into Kingsbridge territory. When the maul was collapsed on the line the referee awarded a penalty try, which was converted by full-back Simon Hornby to take the Presidents XV into a 12-7 lead.

However, it wasn't long before the Club XV had retaken the lead again when a quickly taken tap penalty near the Presidents ten-metre line saw flanker Jack Cope break through the defence. When he was eventually halted, he found replacement flanker Danny Chivers up in support to take the scoring pass and touch down under the posts. Full-back Graham Ball converted to take the score to 14-12.

In the final quarter of the match, the Club team pulled away with two further tries to flatter their winning margin. The first came from a five-metre catch and drive line out which saw Colt Blair Woodland reach out for the line in the corner and take the lead to 19-12.

The final try of the game saw back rowers Matt Hamilton and Cope combine well off the back of a scrum on the Presidents 22 and see Cope race over from ten metres.

It should be noted at this point that two established Kingsbridge players had endeavoured to break the scoring deadlock earlier in the game by having a crack at drop goals - Tristan Couch, for the Presidents XV, and Mike Powell, for the Club XV. Both efforts are better forgotten but Powell's at least got off the ground!!

Two final dates for the diary are a final Club XV match this weekend when the Club host a touring side from Chesham on Saturday and then the curtain comes down on the season on Friday 9 May when the Club hosts the Annual Dinner and Presentation evening in the marquee at High House. Tickets are still available from Keith Simcock on 01548 852059.