Kenilworth upset the formbook to thrash Camp Hill

The match programme highlighted the home side’s poor record against Kenilworth. However, given their mid-table position in Midlands One West, few could have envisaged such an outcome against their lowly visitors, writes Bob Jones.

That it transpired was due to an exceptional all-round performance by Kenilworth, albeit aided by a distinctly out-of-sorts Camp Hill, who also contrived to lose one player to a red card and another to a yellow.

Camp Hill just about shaded the first quarter, with referee Ian Ward kept busy as both sides made mistakes and committed indiscretions.

Two shots at goal by the hosts, the first for collapsing a maul, the second after a particularly muscular success in a set piece, did not bear fruit.

Kenilworth were always on the lookout for opportunities and one duly came following a break by Will Owen, who enjoyed an outstanding game in both attack and defence.

Jonny Cresswell seized a loose ball and charged over, Simon Tyler adding the extras.

This proved to be the catalyst as the visitors began to go through the phases and release their backs.

An altercation involving centre Simon Edwards and Catalin Graur saw the former sin-binned in the 28th minute.

Two minutes later, Bobby Thompson, another to put in an especially fine performance, picked up from the back of a scrum and charged over, Tyler once more improving the try.

The injury loss of Phil Dickson did not diminish Ks’ performance and a break by centre Ian Briggs, plus a drive by the pack in their opponents 22, were about the only notable efforts by Camp Hill.

With Ks moving the ball swiftly across their three-quarters, they added a third try with Tyler storming through the cover to touch down under the posts, then convert, to make it 21-0 to the visitors the interval.

Within two minutes of the restart, Jonny Openshaw, up in support of a move in which a Nyle Beckett chase was instrumental, added to the try tally, this one unconverted.

Clearly rattled, Camp Hill further lost their discipline, with lock Mark Newton receiving a red card for punching.

A great tackle by Adam Clifford snuffed out an isolated break by Camp Hill before the excellent Owen took matters into his own hands, waltzing 50 metres to go in under the posts. Tyler once more obliged with the conversion.

Within minutes, Owen was again creating havoc, this time finding Chris Wood in support, but to no avail.

In the 70th minute, it appeared that Tyler was in at the corner following another break by the speedy Beckett and good hands by the backs, but he was adjudged not to have grounded the ball.

With Ross Lowthian supplying fresh legs, Ks were not finished. A thundering Nick Collett charge was followed by yet another telling contribution by Owen. This time, his skill and determination released Andy Whitehall, whose mazy run also culminated under the posts, leaving himself with an easy conversion.