On paper, playing against the league leaders this would appear to be a cracking win; true reflections on the match gives the real picture, that Keynsham missed out on a bonus point, badly!
From the off, the home side were on the offensive with aggressive tackling and powerful rucking, backed up by totally domineering scrummaging. This was the pattern for the whole game and denied St Austell any foothold in the game throughout its entirety. The only area where they were matched, and maybe edged, was at line-outs. With 95% territory and 90% possession it is hardly believable that Keynsham could only manage to score 13 points in total.
Having missed a first minute penalty, a spell of rather aimless kicking by both sides followed, before the teams started to play with ball in hand. Keynsham went ahead in the 12th minute from a Challenger penalty. Immediately the visitors struck back. They were awarded a penalty, kicked to the corner and, from the line-out their scrum half found a way through for an un-converted try for a 5-3 lead. The score was to remain that way until half time during which period the visitors made one brief visit to the Keynsham half and Keynsham wasted umpteen good scoring opportunities.
After 6 minutes of the second half, home debutant Miles Hackett took over scrum half duties from Pearce, the latter going to wing instead of Sayer. 4 minutes later Wright took over propping duties from Harvey. Keynsham were still dominant and, following a penalty miss by Challenger re-took the lead via a Concannon try. This went unconverted. The St Austell scrums were still heavily under the cosh and after a succession of penalties a yellow card was issued to a front rower leading to uncontested scrums. Keynsham scored a second try by Concannon but were unable to progress further. Final score 13-5.
This seems like a report of a bad game but that is far from the case: two really good teams went at it tooth and nail and played entertaining rugby. All in all, a very enjoyable, apart from the score. Happy Christmas fellas!

Gibbo.