Kenilworth 67 Wolverhampton 0

Thu 03 Mar 2022 09:01

Sat 26 Feb 2022

Kenilworth RFC

67 - 0

(HT 0-0)

Wolverhampton RUFC Ltd
Report by Jon Stone

 

Saturday was a fine day for rugby in Kenilworth after a few wet and windy weeks recently. The visitors from Wolverhampton were up for the battle ahead and started strongly offering threats from the pack and the out wide initially in equal measure. The first 10 minutes saw the 2 teams sizing each other up with no great scoring opportunities until Kenilworth won a penalty on half way and were able to kick to the touch line on the Wolverhampton 22. There was no looking back from there and Kenilworth set up a devastating driving maul from the resulting lineout almost reaching the try line but 5 metres out the ball was played to Ben Harrison on the wing who still had work to do to beat 2 covering defenders to put the first points on the board.

 

This was quickly followed up with second try from another driving maul off the clinical lineout, finished by the pack this time by Johnny Openshaw. The pack were starting to dominate. Not long after their dominance also started to show in the scrum, after a great drive the backs were able to show what they could do and some slick handling put in David Opoku - Fordjour in the corner. None of the conversions were easy this far but Harry O’Brien added 2 conversions as Kenilworth raced to a 19 nil lead.

 

Wolves then started to mount a fight back and camped on Kenilworth’s line for almost a 10 minute period. The defence held strong as did the discipline and the visitors couldn’t break through with a try or even a penalty in the critical area. The play eventually broke swiftly up-field after Kenilworth used the speed of the back line and a great clearing kick to relieve pressure. Not long after the home side won a lineout inside 10 metres and it was no surprise when the pack drove over for another try, this time a first of the season for Kieran Payne. Kenilworth with the momentum again quickly followed up with a fifth try from Lewis Kavanagh after a good run and some decent footwork off the back of a ruck. The scored showed 33 – Nil as we reached half time

 

The second half quickly carried off from where the first half finished, the forwards secured a lineout ball inside the Wolverhampton 22, but this time gave the backs quick ball off the top and David Opoku-Fordjour ran in his second try after good work in the centres. Wolves were out of it now but were still working hard and making as difficult as they could for the K’s. Lewis Kavanagh followed with his second try of the game after another driving maul and Garrett Bell chipped in his first try of the day from full back after another dominant scrum inside the 22. As the game drew to a close Kenilworth still had time for more scores to really boost their points difference, especially with League leaders Lichfield losing at Ludlow, it could later become all important. The first was rich reward for the pack with a series of 5 metre scrums resulting in a penalty try just as Bobby Thompson was about to place down himself from number 8. Quickly followed with a second from Garrett Bell after a tap penalty for some variation. The final score went to Mikkel Andersen though barrelling over in the corner after a couple of strong runs and capping off a fine display from the back row.

 

The final score was 67 nil to Kenilworth, the home team were good value for it, totally in control upfront, excellent in defence and precise out wide with a lot of slick handling on display. Next up is Newbold at home this coming Saturday, please come down and cheer the boys on.

 

Photos (Courtesy of Willie Whitesmith):

Harry O'Brien

Ben Harrison scores

Kenilworth Pack Drive for the Line

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