Kenilworth RFC

For once Kenilworth were on the right side of a last minute swing to take a valuable 4 (league) points at home vs. battling Burton. Final score 20-19.

Looking to halt a run of three straight losses in the league, Kenilworth welcomed Burton to Glasshouse Lane, with the visitors one place higher than them in the league. 

Kenilworth opened their account for the afternoon with 7 minutes on the clock, via the left boot of fly half Tyler Price. Score 3-0.

By the 15 minute mark, despite the 3 point advantage, there was little to distinguish between the sides; that was until the visiting three-quarters combined well with the Burton wing dotting down for the opening try, following a cheeky grubber in behind the Kenilworth backs. Conversion added, score 3-7.

The next quarter of an hour saw Kenilworth put some promising passages of play together, only for a series of silly errors hampering progress; silly because it was more about the home side’s attention to detail than the pressure exerted upon them by the visitors. 

Much to the home crowd’s delight, Kenilworth finally strung some good phases together with left wing Dave Opoku Forjour crossing out wide- tricky conversion missed. Score 8-7.

Straight from the restart, a towering ‘Garryowen- style kick’ (for those of a certain vintage) created havoc in the home side fielding of the ball, Kenilworth fluffed their lines and Burton were in for an easy try, their second of the day. No conversion. Half time score 8-12.

The second half saw Burton playing into the low winter sun. Despite this natural impediment, it was the East Staffordshire lads who won a turgid first few minutes of the second half. Backs and forwards combined well to score under the sticks, easy 2 added, 8-19 and the home crowd wondering where Kenilworth’s inspiration was going to come from. 

Much to the credit of the home team, Kenilworth scored the next try through a succession of powerful drives from the pack, culminated in try for Chaz Hudson. Conversion from Price, score 15-19 with less than 10 mins of the second half gone.

Whilst the Kenilworth scrum was again a weapon, the lineout was faltering once more- the home side lost more of their own lineouts than they won, gifting the opponents valuable possession and added confidence as the encounter entered the final period.

With less than 15 to go, Kenilworth were starting to put some phases of play together and slowly gained the ascendency; eventually the pressure told and, referee Sam Yates (solid throughout) sent the Burton flanker for a 10

minute rest, Burton reduced to 14 players.

Despite the deficit, Burton rallied and piled the pressure on the Kenilworth try line. Burton will be kicking themselves having let Kenilworth off the hook when they had the Blue and Golds on the ropes, perhaps a little naive on their part. 

Kenilworth seized the opportunity and with what transpired to be the last play of the game, scored a try in the left corner, from a deft kick in behind the Burton defence from Jowett, now at 10 (Tyler off injured) with wing Opoku Forjour outpacing his opposite man to claim his second try of the day. Kenilworth in raptures, home crowd delirious- kick to come, it was missed, who cares, Kenilworth win 20-19. Kenilworth win! Well done lads. Even better, we also beat Southam away so two wins from two. The icing on the cake for the day was that we raised circa £1000 for the Kenilworth branch of the Royal British Legion. #KENFAMILY