Sat 12 Mar 2022, 15:00
It was a bright spring day on Saturday, perfect for rugby with a brisk wind to mix things up a bit. Old Halesonian’s started the first half with the breeze and immediately looked strong, confidently winning possession in the Kenilworth half. The opposition kept hold of the ball well without advancing too far up the field, but continued phases eventually led to an early penalty albeit on the 10 metre line and with the aid of the wind chalked up a 3 point lead. It was a while before Old Hales had possession in the Kenilworth half again though, Kenilworth started to control the tempo but had to re-build a couple of times as OH recovered and kicked downfield to safety at any opportunity. The pressure started to build as the half progressed but dogged defence from the home side and the Kenilworth lineout stuttering a bit kept the score at 3 nil for a long period of the half.
The Kenilworth pack were starting to show their dominance though which was evident in the scrum initially, always making a yard or two on own ball and even stealing a couple against the head with the home sides put in. This dominance gradually started to show in the lineout with a couple of driving mauls that nearly made the line, but it was ball off the top that lead to the first try. Crash ball in the centres led to the pack clearing out well and 2 or 3 pick and go’s got the visitors within sight of the line. Ollie Stone eventually made the decisive carry under the posts giving an easy conversion for Harry O’Brien to put the K’s 7 points to 3 up.
Full of confidence now and dictating the play Harry O’Brien soon followed up with a try of his own after more good work from the pack grinding the opposition down and sucking defenders in before after receiving a well-timed pass out from Sam Peppitt. He was able to use the overlap created out wide and give a ‘show and go’ with the defence scrambling outside to finish close-in to the posts giving himself an easy conversion for a 14 point to 3 lead at half time. Kenilworth well and truly on top and the benefit of the wind in the second half to come.
The visitors probably had their best period of play in the first 20 minutes of the second, using the wind well Old Hales were kept well pegged back in their half and any possession they had failed to make ground and it looked like it was going to be a long second half for the home team. Again the dominance was felt from the pack, 2 scrum penalties led to a yellow card for Old Hales and a kick to the corner provided an all too familiar outcome. It was quick ball from the lineout, a crash line close to the pack, who followed up with a carbon copy of the first try again resulting in a try for Ollie Stone easily converted for a 21 to 3 lead.
The bonus point try followed soon after, now it was time for the backs to show what they could do with the good ball laid on for them, some fine handling in the middle lead to a great finish for Jack Rawlins in the corner showing his pace to run in and dive over for a 5 point try. This was quickly followed by another on the opposite wing, great work again from Sam Peppitt initially taking out a couple of defenders, 2 miss passes put Ben Harrison with 10 metres of the line but with 2 defenders still to beat he showed some great foot work to dive over in the corner for a 7 pointer after a great kick slotted from out wide by Harry O’Brien. 3 played 33 and it looked like the flood gates were about to open.
Old Halesonians to their great credit stood firm at this point and for the last quarter of the game, a bit of frustration crept into the Kenilworth game and allowed the home side to mount some attacks of their own showing what they were capable of when they got going. They scored 2 good team tries to see off the game with a respectable score line finishing 15-33, but for the K’s it was job done, back to winning ways and a bonus point win keep the pressure on Stoke and Lichfield as the top of the table battle unfolds with the end of the season getting ever closer. Another away trip this weekend, down to Malvern who saw off a strong Ludlow team last weekend, nothing less than a bonus win is needed to set up a very tasty looking home game against Stoke on the 26th March – put that one in the diary and please come and support the boys for a big day of rugby.
