Season Review: KCLRFC Men's 1st XV
The KCL Men’s Rugby First XV enjoyed a hugely successful season in 2013/14, wining 12 from 14 games – securing promotion from their league into the BUCS’s 1A division competition in the process – and taking the spoils during March’s Macadam Cup game against their medical counterparts, GKT. Following the end of the season, club president, Robin Cumming gives his review of the KCLRFC 1st XV season:
“The 2013/2014 season will be remembered as one of the most successful in recent times for King’s College London Men’s Rugby Club First XV. The season ended with King’s winning the [BUCS 2A] league, having enjoyed comprehensive victories over close rivals UCL, LSE, and GKT throughout the season. A Macadam Cup victory put the cherry on top of the particularly tasty cake that was the 2013/2014 season.
The season started with a number of promising freshers arriving at the club, many of whom would go onto form a strong part of the First XV. Tom Carvill brought much needed mass and unpleasantness to the front row, whilst Will ‘Puma’ Brown was lethal both in attacking and defensive line-outs. Iowan Thomas Mathieson was aggressive and accurate at the break-down, and Ben Spoors played with pace and tenacity. In the backs George Taylor was impressive throughout, stepping in at 10 when required, and adding some Rugby League grittiness to the backline, whilst Max Smith and Nick Balls formed what proved to be a lethal centre-partnership. Caleb Gak, Jamie Duncan, and Kieren Brocken were all dangerous on the wing and all had fine seasons.The league season was filled with a plethora of hugely impressive performances.
Particular highlights included two demolitions of Hertfordshire, reaching the 50 point mark and more on both occasions; a comprehensive home victory against UCL; and beating GKT both home and away at every encounter, thus confirming KCL’s position, as the number one team at the College - for this season at least.
Despite the disappointing result at the London Varsity Rugby Match, the First XV played with pride, and lost with their heads held high. The efforts of the KCL support must not go unnoticed. From the pitch, the noise from the KCL end of the stand was deafening, and far superior to that of the meagre UCL support.
The first XV saved arguably their most impressive performance for the final League game of the season. Canterbury Christchurch at home was a game that we knew we had to win, and win comfortably to stand any chance of winning the league. The team were clinical, and clearly wanted it far more than CCC, resulting in a 38-20 win, meaning that the league was ours thanks to our superior head to head points difference.
It has been a real pleasure representing the KCL First XV over the past three years. Thanks must go to everyone involved in making this season such a success, in particular, coach John Graves, his assistant Nathan Morris, and captain Tim Fawcett who have been relentless in their commitment to getting the best out of the team.”
Robin Cumming
Club President 2013/14