Kingston 38, London Media 24 (L)

26 September 2026 -

After a prolonged pre-season, Kingston welcomed newly promoted London Media to Hook Road for the first game of the 2026/27 season.

Media, playing up the hill in the first half, opened the scoring with a well-worked try on the left wing following a string of Kingston penalties and yellow cards to Charlie Kelly and Luke Burge.

13-man Kingston dug in and started running through the phases, punching holes in the Media midfield. Following a strong scrum, substitute Connor Ashwin made a bustling break past multiple defenders and scored under the posts. Fly Half Rhys Luke adding the extras.

Media hit back with their own back row powering over under the sticks to make the score 7-14.

Off the restart, Media conceded a penalty at the breakdown and Kingston, back to full strength, put the ball in the corner. Hooker Dylan Hall hit Lock Ben Smith at full stretch and the Kingston pack mauled their way over the line - Flanker Luke Burge claiming the score. Conversion missed.

Following more Kingston indiscipline, Media marched up the pitch and got over the line again, making the score 12-19.

Having worked their way down into the Media 22, Kingston won a penalty at the breakdown and opted for the scrum. Off a powerful shove, Kingston shipped the ball out wide and Winger Theo Wedge powered his way over the line. Conversion missed.

This time Kingston gathered the ball cleanly off the restart and Luke Burge put Connor Ashwin through a hole in the midfield. Kingston seized upon this momentum and Lock Scott Howe took a short pop of Prop Tommy Rush to run it in under the sticks from the 22. Rhys Luke slotted the conversion to make the score 24-19 at half time.

Half Time - Kingston 24-19 London Media

London Media started the second half well playing down the hill and were soon camped in the Kingston half. Strong Kingston defence held firm and off the turnover Winger Charlie Kelly and Luke Burge linked up down the left flank, only for Prop Sam Johnson to concede one of the more unusual yellow cards of the season for slapping the buttocks of a London Media player on the wrong side of the ruck. Thankfully Media fluffed the kick to the corner and Kingston cleared their lines.

Some back and forth up and down the field, resulted in a Kingston line out on the Media 22. Ben Smith claimed the ball and the Kingston pack mauled Media over the line with Luke Burge again the beneficiary. Rhys Luke slotted the conversion, making the score 31-19.

Media hit back shortly afterwards, with their Scrum Half making a darting break off the base of a ruck inside the Kingston 22 to bring the score within 7 with ten minutes to go.

It was Kingston who had the last word, when Charlie Kelly pounced on a loose ball and stepped through several Media defenders to score under the posts. Rhys Luke added the extras to make the score 38-24. This was enough to see out the game to give Kingston their first win of the new season.

Full Time - 38-24

Big shoutout to Will Young on debut and best wishes go out to 1XV captain Christy O’Brien who suffered a freak eye injury charging down a kick in the first minute of the game. Get well soon skips.

Kingston host Southwark Lancers next week, before another home match against London Exiles on 10 October. See you on the sidelines.