Sat 3 Sep 2022
Kenilworth 1XV returned to league rugby on Saturday for season 2022/23. they also returned to level 5 for the first time in 11 years after last season's successful promotion.
They now play in Regional 1 Midlands and take on a number of familiar and established sides from the elite division of Regional Rugby across the Midlands.
Dudley pipped Kenilworth to the title in the Covid-curtailed season and have had a year to re-establish themselves at this level, so the home squad were expecting a stiff challenge.
In front of a good-sized crowd both sides asserted themselves well in the opening salvos, Dudley moving the ball swiftly and Kenilworth assuming set piece dominance through a series of impressive scrums which put the Dudley pack under plenty of pressure.
The visitors opened the scoring through a slick counter attack and good support play and led 7-0 after 8 minutes. Kenilworth responded with some good driving play through skipper Thompson and the heavy artillery of Kavanagh, Walsh and Carey. The scrum dominance soon bore fruit when a penalty following a huge drive was kicked to the corner. The ball was driven over the line at pace and hooker Adam Carey claimed the try, centre Ed Hannam slotted a difficult conversion and it was all square after 25 minutes.
2 minutes later and the first Kenilworth try was replayed in the opposite corner, a big scrum led by former Coventry tighthead and now Kenilworth Player Coach Phil Boulton led to a penalty. This was kicked to the corner and again the technically impressive home pack powered over with Mike Ryan opening his try account for the season. Again Hannam added the extras and Kenilworth led 14-7. Dudley responded with a period of pressure which resulted in a penalty adding to their score.
Just before half time Kenilworth unfortunately botched a long lineout throw on their line and Dudley's lock was the gratefully recipient of an easy try. 14-15 at Half - Time.
With lock Kavanagh nursing an arm injury the Ken's pack was short of a little ballast and Dudley had a period of respite in the set piece. Good home defence repelled the probing Dudley backline who tried to get their impressive wingers involved as often as possible. Cruickshank and Hannam in the centres were putting in some big tackles and the home side held firm. Then a moment of magic from full back Sam Peppitt saw him cut through the visiting defence and after some quick recycling, winger Ben Harrison scorched in for a wonderful try. 19-15
Annoyingly Kenilworth gave away a silly penalty from the kick off and the visiting full back brought the score back to just a point again.
As the game entered it's closing stages the Kenilworth pack took control, with Kavanagh back in the engine room and Boulton moving across to hooker bringing prop James Ryan on for his debut. Peppitt burst through again after a strong charge from Kavanagh and more impressive recycling and offloading saw debutant fly half Leo Jowett finish well to make the score 24-18 with 18 minutes to go.
Again Dudley hit back with a penalty to make the score 24-21, however they soon dropped to 14 men when the referee finally punished the visiting front row for the plethora of scrum penalties. This caused the scrums to be uncontested for the rest of the match as they had already lost a prop to injury.
Kenilworth remained camped on the Dudley line as the clock ticked on, a superb turnover penalty was despatched between the posts by Jowett and the final whistle blew.
It was a promising display from the home side, set piece dominance and strong defence laid the foundations with a few moments of brilliance in the backline. there were 6 debutants in the squad and all acquitted themselves well.
Next Saturday Kenilworth are at home again (3pm ko), this time to a well fancied Syston team who finished 3rd last year.
The 2XV played their first ever match in the RFU league structure having been admitted to Counties 2 Midlands South, where they are the only 2XV amongst a league of 1st teams. they travelled to Woodrush and narrowly lost 20-17. Next week they take on Warwickshire rivals Alcester 1XV in an away fixture.
Adam Carey
Jayde Cruickshank
Ed Hannam
Photos courtesy of Willie Whitesmith
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