Pre Match
Despite a couple of injuries and unavailability, K's were able to name a strong squad for this NLD game against Paviors. Paviors were coming off impressive results against Boston and Lincoln, while K's were determined to bounce back from a tough game against Scunthorpe.

Starters
1. Joe D
2. Will M
3. James H
4. Tom H
5. Callum C-D
6. Tom McD
7. Joel S
8. Will H
9. Alf A
10. Alfie O
11. Toby S
12. Oscar H
13. Mason O
14. Dylan G
15. Jacob H

Finishers
16. Ollie M
17. Dan W
18. Thom B
19. Wyatt B
20. Max H

Huge credit and kudos to Robert (nice suit!) and Dan O (nice trainers!) for coming to watch and support their teammates.

First Half
K's kicked-off the game at a soggy Burnstump Park with Alfie O launching a nice kick just into the Pav's 22m. The ball was well taken by the winger, who was quickly tackled by the chasing K's defence. Pavs had quick ball and ran from their 22m, finding their speedy winger in a clear indication of their game plan. Toby managed to knock him to the floor on halfway, but K's earned a penalty at the breakdown, which Mason kicked into touch. Tom McD rose well from the lineout, and K's maul travelled 10m before being hauled down by a worried Pav's defence. The penalty kick missed touch and went dead, giving Pav's the scrum 30m from their own line. Again they looked to run it but knocked on in the centres. Oscar ran the crash ball from the scrum but was stopped just short of the line by an excellent tackle from the fullback. Alfred saw Tom McD in space and spun the ball into his hands to power over (through) the defender on the line and open the scoring, 0-5.

Pavs tried to find the winger from the restart, but he couldn't gather, and K's had a lineout, which they threw long, gifting possession to the home team. A massive tackle from Will H knocked them back 5 metres, which he then followed up with another strong tackle before Tom McD's tackle knocked Pav's back another 5m back into their own half. Will's next tackle gave K's another 5m but was adjudged high, giving Pav's a penalty and a lineout just inside K's half. K's forwards quickly halted the maul before Oscar's midfield tackle caused errant passing in the Pav's back line. More solid K's tackling and K's had made 20m when not in possession before Joel stepped up to jackal the ball back for K's. He offloaded to Will, who fed Oscar, then Tom McD. However, the left winger came away with the ball and set sail on what he thought might be a break for Pav's How wrong he was. What he didn't know was that Joel was lining up the tackle of the season, waiting until the winger hit top speed to hit him full-on. There were auditable 'oooooohs' from the crowd as he hit the deck, wondering what had just happened! Pav's were back to their 22m line now with a scrum and chose to probe down the other wing, initially finding space, which Jacob closed down with a tackle into touch. K's won the lineout, mauled for 5m before releasing the backs, Alfred to Mason, out of the back to Alfie and again to Will H, who timed the pass beautifully to bypass the centre and wing, giving Toby space around the outside. On went the afterburners, and he was away, stepping the fullback to score K's second try of the game from just inside Pavs half. Alfie O slotted the conversion and K's lead 0-12.

K's knocked on the restart under pressure, giving Pavs a scrum 15m inside the K's half. K's were caught offside from the scrum, giving the home team a penalty and lineout 10m from the K's line. They won the lineout and formed a maul, but a scuffle broke out, and the referee spoke to both teams. Becalmed, the game restarted with a penalty to Paviors. K's were fired up and ready to defend hard, only to be disappointed at the kick to touch (there was an audible groan from the defenders!). From the lineout, K's resolutely defended two phases before they benefitted from a knock-on. The scrum formed, and Mason kicked clear.

Toby managed to hold the attacker up before more K's defence, notable from Thomas H this time, pushed the home team back again, this time by 15m. K's then turned over the ball, Alfred feeding Will H, who fed Oscar, to Thomas H before another offload to Dylan, who was tackled on the edge of the 22m line. K's probed again blind but the final pass went into touch. However, K's had a penalty which resulted in a lineout 5m out. Callum powered into the defence but Pav's managed to cause a knock-on and scrum on their own 5m. The kick clear went over Toby's head but he tracked back to collect the ball. Alfie O was back to feed Jacob, who released Oscar. He stepped two defenders before being brought down just outside the 22m. The ball was recycled and Alfie was hit high, giving K's a penalty. Alfred's cheeky tap tempted the defence forward, and his chip left them exposed. It was then a foot race between Will H, Tom McD and Thomas H, which Will H will be delighted to have won! Try K's, which Alfie slotted, 0-19. Credit to Alfred for spotting and finding the space.

Sprint champion Will caught the restart and beat several defenders to set up a ruck 5m inside K's own half. Alfred fed Alfie, who released Jacob. From inside his own half, he beat one defender, chipped over the top and gave chase, only for a cruel bounce of the ball to favour the defender, who gathered the ball just short of the line. K's defensive line stood strong, forcing the kick clear. Jacob was already back to catch the ball on the edge of the Pav's 22m and beat two defenders, only to be tackled 8m short of the line, with the offload being knocked forward. Paviors had a scrum about 10m from their own line and kicked clear. Toby gathered the ball but threw an overly ambitious pass, forcing K's back before another overly ambitious pass gave Pav's a lineout just inside their own half. They looked for the left winger again, who slipped past the first tackle, only for Jacob's tackle to force the ball loose and earn K's a scrum. Jacob joined the back line again, bursting through the defence and skipping past the fullback, only for a last-gasp covering tackle to halt progress. This time the excellent offload went to Joel's grateful hands for a well-deserved try, with Alfie adding the bonus points, 0-26.

Alfred gathered the sliced restart and fed Jacob, who was having a busy few minutes. His pass to Mason was beautifully timed. Mason drew the man and fed Oscar who offloaded under pressure to Tom McD, back inside to Joe D. K's were already back on the edge of the Paviors 22m. K's came along the line and found Callum, whose strong handoff helped him power past 3 defenders. K's had good ball, but unfortunately, the cross-kick was knocked forward. The whistle blew for halftime - an excellent half for K's.

Half Time
K's brought on all their finishers, ensuring the halt game rule was observed once again.

Second Half
Paviors kicked off the second half, dropping the kick on Dan W, who was hit well by the chasers. The ball went to ground and was recovered by Pav's. They ran two phases but met strong defence, only for K's to stray offside and gift a penalty and lineout on the 5m line. K's defence was good, but they conceded another penalty. Paviors went quick, first probing left, then back right. But Max was lurking and intercepted the ball just inside his own 22m, winning the race for the try line (just!) to score K's 5th try of the game under the posts. Alfie slotted the conversion and K's lead by 33.

K's seemed to switch off for the restart, inexcusably allowing the ball to bounce, enabling Paviors to kick through. Thom B was on hand to race back and secure the ball under serious pressure, but Pavs turned it over before being tackled into touch. K's lineout wasn't straight, gifting a lineout to Paviors on K's own 5m line and inviting pressure. K's defended the maul well with Joel somehow emerging with the ball. K's kicked clear and Paviors attacked again. A notable tackle from Thom B was a highlight of the defence that caused Pav's to knock the ball on, giving K's a scrum 30m from their own line. Alfred couldn't get the ball away under heavy pressure from the 9, and K' conceded a penalty, resulting in a lineout midway inside the 22m. A high tackle in the centres gave them another penalty which K's defended well, this time with a notable dominant tackle from Callum. Paviors looked to be in around the outside, but cover was there with a nice tackle into touch. K's won the lineout, but Mason's kick was sliced. The ball bounced kindly for Max inside his own 22m, who fended off his opposite man, but his offload didn't reach Wyatt or Oscar, instead falling kindly for the attacker. Mason's covering tackle was outstanding, forcing the knock-on right on the line as Max was still being assaulted on the floor, and Wyatt was tackled late. Paviors' frustration was starting to show with ill-discipline (more on this later!). From the scrum, somehow, Paviors came up with the ball and touched down to score, 7-33.

Paviors won a penalty shortly after the restart, kicking for touch and earning a lineout just inside the K's half. However, the lineout wasn't straight, giving K's a chance. But K's missed the target man and knocked the ball on, though Pavs capitalised on the advantage with a 50-22 lineout. Again, K's defence was solid, with Callum and Thomas H double teaming to knock a Paviors attacker backwards. K's recovered a loose ball, and Alfred intelligently kicked forward into the space. The fullback kicked clear under pressure from Wyatt, Mason and Max, returning the ball into Alfred's hands. Alfred bumped an increasingly enraged Pavs player, then Thomas H picked and ploughed into two defenders. Mason fed Oscar in the 5m channel, slipping the ball back inside to Alfie, to Mason and back to Alfred. He released Will H, who was pounced on from behind, resulting in a knock-on and scrum Paviors. K's won the scrum; Alfred delayed beautifully to slip in Alfie, running a nice line. Alfie, through on the fullback, gave him the eyes and threw a deliciously dirty dummy to score under the posts. He added the conversion to his own try, and K's were over 40!

K's again butchered the restart, knocking on to give Paviors a scrum. Joel dealt with the number 8 before Callum tackled the next man (which he didn't like one bit, see below), enabling Thom B to turn over the ball. Thom offloaded to Will H, whose quick hands released Alfie. Alfie broke forward and released Mason, who drew the defender and fed Max. Max fumbled the ball and kicked it forward, giving chase just as a defender (the aforementioned angry boy) came charging over and diverted his run in a deliberate attempt to kick Max into next week. It was a disgraceful, cowardly challenge that should have seen red. One of his teammates recognised that he'd lost his head and led him away from the situation for his own benefit. Somehow, despite awarding K's the penalty, the shameless hack went unpunished for what could easily have resulted in a serious injury had it not been for Max's agility. In credit to the Paviors coaching team, they removed the offending player from the pitch, not to return. And rightly so. There is no place for that in rugby.

From the penalty, Alfred drew the man and fed Callum, who used quick hands to slip the ball to Thom B. Thom rode the first tackle and made 10m before two defenders hauled him down. Alfred fed Alfie to Oscar, who found Tom McD running a lovely line. Tom was tackled 8m short, and K's recycled the ball to Alfie, then Will H on another great line. His certain try was only prevented by an extremely agricultural high tackle on the line that was immediately rewarded with a penalty try and a yellow card. Fortunately, another serious injury was avoided. To the credit of this particular player, he apologised to the K's bench on his way past. Perhaps kung fu child could learn a thing or two! 7-47 to K's.

Paviors' restart didn't go ten, giving K's a scrum on halfway. Alfred fed Alfie, who timed his pass to Oscar well, drawing the man. Oscar drew in two defenders and just managed to get the ball away to Wyatt. With Thom B joining and Max outside, Wyatt stepped inside through a gap, beating two defenders, then drew the last man and slipped Thom B in for a 25m run to the line and K's eighth try of the game. Alfie slotted the kick to take K's over 50, 7-54.

The restart went deep and was inexplicably left by K's to bounce. Will H tidied up, setting up a ruck from which Alfie fed Oscar, who fed Joe D. Joe was well tackled, setting up more clean ball for Alfred to tee up Alfie, who kicked into Pavs half with Tom McD, Max, Oscar and Mason the chasers. Mason tackled the fullback, and K's won the ball back, quickly recycling to Tom McD, who breached the gap and released Oscar, but the pass was adjudged forward, giving Paviors a scrum 10m inside their half. A strong tackle from Thom B caused a knock-on, giving K's the scrum. Alfred fed Alfie to Oscar. With Thom B on the crash ball, Oscar went behind to Mason, who rounded the bemused defence. An excellent tackle from the fullback halted Mason 5m short before Thom B, and then Mason were denied by determined Paviors defence. K's came along the line, Oscar was stopped just short and then penalised for holding on, giving Paviors the penalty. Their kick was sliced, pinning them in their own 22m with a lineout that ended up with a scrum. Pressure from K's and errant passing caused chaos in the Paviors back line, trapping them behind their own line. A clearance kick was scuffed 5m to Alfred, who unfortunately slipped, giving the home team another penalty. Their kick went deep to Wyatt, who stepped the first defender and set up a ruck. Oscar passed short to Tom McD, who passed back to Oscar in a narrow channel on the blind side. Oscar made 25m before offloading to Thomas H in the tackle. Thomas was stopped agonisingly short but brilliantly managed to pop up the ball to the tireless Joel, who collapsed over the line for his second try of the game; both scored from less than 1m! But nonetheless, it was thoroughly deserved! Although the conversion drifted wide, full-time was called, and K's had secured a 52-point victory, the final score being 7-59.

Post Match
That was an excellent performance all over the park and a great way to bounce back from the last Cup match. Massive performances everywhere, with MOTM being shared by the outstanding back row of Will H, Joel and Tom McD - great game, lads!