St Andrew’s claimed a second successive win against crosstown rivals Kingswood with a 24-5 victory in Grahamstown on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.
A first-half brace from Saints centre Charlie Fleming pushed the home side into a 12-5 lead after a stop-start half where both sides showed plenty of intent but couldn’t finish off any of the breaks they made.
However, the hosts were completely dominant in the second half, with captain Alex Menage and wing Matt Royle adding tries to cap off a fairly comfortable win.
It was the visitors who started the strongest, seeing plenty of possession and threatening the St Andrew’s line on a number of occasions. They managed to get the opening try just after the opening quarter when scrumhalf Nick Lawson-Smith pounced on a loose ball from a Saints scrum and sprinted clear to score.
However, St Andrew’s hit back when Fleming ran on to a flat pass off a 5m scrum, reaching over to level the scores, with flyhalf Murray Wilson putting them ahead with the conversion.
On the stroke of half-time, Fleming went over again, this time in the corner to allow the home side to go into the break with the lead.
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St Andrew’s started the second half stronger, but Kingswood showed some good defence to hold out.
The pressure eventually paid off when, after a good lineout drive took Saints close, captain and flank Menage muscled over out wide.
St Andrew’s wing Royle then got in on the act with two minutes remaining, finishing off with an acrobatic dive in the corner.
St Andrew’s – Tries: Charlie Fleming (2), Alex Menage, Matt Royle. Conversion: Murray Wilson (2).
Kingswood – Try: Nick Lawson-Smith.
