Kenilworth RFC

Kenilworth men travelled to Solihull in the West Midlands to play a derby match against Silhillians. The Kenilworth squad were backed by a very large group of travelling supporters who witnessed a typical derby match.

The game itself was played in sunny conditions, with a strong wind blowing slightly across and down the pitch. Kenilworth playing into the variable wind in the first half tenaciously defended when they needed to and attacked with fortitude and determination. The opening twenty minutes saw deadlock with both teams trying to gain ascendency, with shenanigans at the scrum and a lot of line out turn over ball in the windy conditions. Both teams gave away frequent penalties, and the outcome was for the team awarded the penalty, to subsequently kick for touch and use the lineout as their main source of possession. In the twenty second minute, from a Kenilworth lineout, in the opposition 22 metre area, Lewis Hall broke the deadlock with a try from a driving maul from 15 metres out. Fly half Mark O’Connor, pushed the conversion wide to make the score 0-5. In the next few minutes, club captain and hooker Charlie Morris had to leave the field with a recurrence of a knee injury, being replaced by Matt Gibson.

The match was being played with gusto from both teams, the collisions at the gain line were well contested and the rucks were at times very physical. Both teams wanted quicker ball and greater continuity, and this was only happening sporadically. The score remained the same up until half time and both teams lacked the kind of accuracy needed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

In the second half Kenilworth were now playing with the wind, and immediately opened the scoring from the kick off. This was created by the outstanding defensive work of Sam Wright to turn over the ball and the tenacity of Lewis Hall on the charge. From the ensuing ruck second row Dan Wildey scored the try and Mark O’Connor converted to make the score 0-12.

From the restart after the try, Kenilworth did not secure the ball and Silhillians immediately went on the attack. Kenilworth defended their line tenaciously and held up the Silhillians forwards a couple of times over the try line. Silhillians, had more continuity in their play from the Kenilworth goal line drop out and forced their way back into the red zone. From here Silhillians were given a scrum from a Kenilworth knock on. The scrum was reset twice and at this point the referee, Martin Naylor, had to have a word with both front rows as the scrums were getting messy. Eventually, from the scrum, Silhillians were awarded a penalty in the Kenilworth 22 metre area, kicked for touch and in the fifty fourth minute replied with a well taken try from a lineout drive, which was converted by fly half Pat Meigh. The score was now 7-12. Still all to play for.

From the outstanding restart taken by Mark O’Connor, Kenilworth went straight on the attack in the Silhillians red zone. Silhillians dealt with the defensive line out well and forced Kenilworth back beyond the half way line. Kenilworth were giving away too many penalties and yet Silhillians still couldn’t get the second try they were striving for. An infringement at the attacking lineout for driving in front of the catcher by Silhillians, relieved the pressure for Kenilworth. Kenilworth now on the attack in the opposition 22 metre area turned the ball over and Finn Barnacle running back to quell the break, was shown a yellow card for being offside at a ruck.

Even with only fourteen players, the match swung back towards Kenilworth as they used the wind to their advantage. Consequently, Mark O’Connor kicked a penalty in the seventy second minute, for a high tackle, to make the score 7-15. Kenilworth, with better game management, were then able to pin Silhillians back into their own half until the final whistle was blown.

This was a feisty match for all concerned, it was a well-deserved win for the Kenilworth squad as they showed togetherness when under pressure. They needed a little more composure in attack to convert territory into points. They have now won two games away and lost one, narrowly, at home and sit top of the league. This league is always competitive and is producing really close matches for all the crowds and supporters.

Man of the Match for Kenilworth was No8 Lewis Hall, who was aggressive, tenacious and put in a great shift. Congratulations to him.