Burton blitz accounts for sloppy Kenilworth

BURTON25

While it would be wide of the mark to say Kenilworth should have won this contest between two teams relegated from National Three Midlands last season, with sounder defence and better discipline they could have done, writes Bob Jones.

For the second week running Ks were hit by a sucker punch within the opening minutes, Burton centre Lewis Brooks having no difficulty in finishing a move that took place amid defensive disorganisation and a flurry of missed tackles.

Fortunately, guided by the probing kicks of Dave Johnston, Kenilworth began to compete effectively.

Burton were rattled and began to concede penalties, from the first of which Tom Kendall hit a post.

Little was seen of the three-quarters at this stage, and it was Chris Wood, Phil Dickson and Jonny Cresswell who caught the eye in attacking moves.

Cresswell then made a massive hit and Adam Clifford saved what looked like a certain touchdown from a deft kick-ahead, to stop threatening advances by the men from Peel Croft.

However, when they first failed to release the ball, then strayed offside, Kendall punished Burton with two penalty goals to take Kenilworth into the lead.

In the final minutes of the half Burton lost scrum-half Jake Manning to a leg injury and the hosts were robbed of Nyle Beckett to a yellow card after he had come into a ruck from the side.

Their defensive frailties already exposed, it was no surprise that the man advantage soon told.

Centre Dave Archer received the ball in his own half and proceeded to waltz through the cover for a try he converted himself.

Almost immediately, with a stretched defence all at sea, Brooks collected his second try to make it 17-6 to the visitors at the interval.

Worse was to follow soon after the start of the second half.

With Beckett still in the sin-bin, a sweeping move was finished in style by Brooks to complete his hat-trick.

Nick Collett was introduced for Ks in place of Chris Muncaster and immediately brought both his physical presence and experience to bear.

With Johnston a constant threat with both boot and ball in hand and Jamie Peacock lively around the scrums, the hosts mounted concerted pressure.

A tap-and-go by Peacock made good inroads as did a thundering charge by Catalin-Andre Graur.

Another tap-penalty by Graur close to the visitors’ line paid dividends as he barrelled his way over for a try, converted by Kendall after 58 minutes.

The home momentum was maintained but Burton also raised their game and the contest became somewhat fractious.

Wood pulled off a great tackle to stop a move that looked ominous and Jack Gibson was never far from the action.

As added time approached, a reversed penalty, awarded for back-chat, enabled Kendall to add to his tally with a goal. This was soon negated by one from Archer to restore the nine-point advantage.

Johnston was forced to retire with a leg injury to be replaced by Jake Povey, but it was all Kenilworth at the death as they went flat-out for a losing bonus point.

In their opponents’ 22, with a free ball to come, they mounted six unsuccessful drives to the line before the referee brought play back for Kendall to slot over the penalty goal that achieved their end.