Kenilworth produce a top performance

Seven days after producing their worst performance of the season against Oadby, Kenilworth leapfrogged their hosts into top spot in Midlands Two West with by far their best, writes Ralph Murray.

The kick-off was not taken cleanly by Ks and from the resultant play OLs were awarded the first penalty of the game with only a minute gone. The kick was well wide but clearly some early nerves needed settling.

From the restart, OLs mounted their first backs move of the day and it was well marshalled by the Kenilworth defence with the hosts penalised for holding on.

The first set scrum of the day indicated no significant advantage for either side and a good touchfinder by Dominic Sheehan produced the first lineout and the first indication that the visitors had a slight edge.

Good work by Tom Nicholson and Tom Lane at successive lineouts provided good, go-forward ball but penalties brought these promising moves to an end. With their efforts being met by resolute defence, OLs attempted to vary the point of attack and advanced to the visitors’ 22 only to knock on.

From the ensuing scrum, Kenilworth produced a huge drive to disrupt the OLs pack but the referee decided it was a deliberate attempt to wheel the scrum and awarded a second kickable penalty which fell short.

As the half drew to a close the OLs prop found him in space on the right flank but Jack Gibson bulldozed the much larger man into touch to snuff out the threat.

With the temperature dropping noticeably, the second half got underway with Kenilworth taking the restart and began a drive with Gareth Renowden securing good ball to set up a move between himself, Tom Nicholson and Gibson which was well defended by OLs.

Ks moved the ball wide again and a clever nudge by Sheehan gained a lineout ten metres out from OLs’ line. Todd produced a great take to set up the attack and Gibson took the ball on in a promising move which was brought to a halt by a defensive handling offence in the ruck.

The penalty was in a kickable spot and an hour after the game started, Tom Kendall duly obliged with the first, and as it proved only, points of the day.

After a period of stalemate which saw each side lose a player to the sin-bin, Kenilworth were awarded another penalty which looked within Kendall’s range.

However, the kick fell short and, in a game of close margins, one wondered what impact it might have on the outcome.

Kenilworth looked to make immediate amends but a grubber kick to Nyle Beckett was too close to the touchline and, despite Ks securing possession from the lineout, a knock-on halted their progress.

The next phase was almost exclusively in the middle third, but as Ks looked to break the shackles through Beckett they were penalised for holding on.

With the penalty being 25 metres out and in front of the posts, parity looked like being restored. However, the ball struck the right upright and Bobby Thompson was alert to gather the rebound and set Beckett free to clear.

With time running out, OLs won a scrum in midfield and looked to make up for the penalty miss but Kenilworth disrupted the scrum and won possession through Renowden who sent the ball out to Ross Lowthian who was brought down ten metres from the line.

OLs eventually found touch and looked to mount their next attack but the referee blew the final whistle and a memorable victory was secured.