Kenilworth boost hopes of beating the drop

In recording their first back-to-back league wins of the season, Kenilworth hoisted themselves out of the relegation places in Midlands One West, writes Bob Jones.

The men from the Welsh Marches started the stronger and it seemed the hosts were once again about to succumb to an early score as missed tackles enabled right-wing Dodd to scorch away to near the line only for him to throw a pass forward.

However, after a succession of penalties against both teams, it was the Ks who struck first, Dominic Sheehan going over in the corner following a good move initiated by a trademark run from Nyle Beckett.

Tom Kendall added the extras with a superb conversion.

Whitchurch were not rattled by this and dominated the remainder of the half without being able to finish a succession of slick moves.

The home defensive effort, allied to their opponents’ wastefulness, saw no points conceded until the 36th minute, when a scything run from full-back Kendall set up a driving maul, which allowed back-row Bucknell to touch down. Scrum-half Matthews converted to level the scores at the break.

Within a minute of the restart, Ks regained the lead, courtesy of a Kendall penalty goal, after Whitchurch had strayed offside.

Clearly stung, the Shropshire outfit struck back almost immediately. A tap-penalty was not well dealt with, and the rampaging Lloyd was rewarded with an unconverted try after an ensuing drive by the pack.

Ks responded well to this reverse, with Beckett making another penetrating run, and the pack upping the ante in impressive fashion.

It was following a powerful scrummage in the visitors’ 22, which culminated over the try-line, that Bobby Thompson applied the finishing touch. Another difficult conversion by Kendall opened up a five-point lead.

Whitchurch flanker Bucknall then started a melee which saw him and opposite number Jack Gibson sent to the bin by referee Fergus Ross.

However, it was number eight Bobby Thompson who set up the final Kenilworth try with a storming run in the 66th minute. The ball reached Jonny Cresswell who needed no second invitation to bullock his way over. Kendall’s conversion stretched the lead to 12 points.

Whitchurch would not lie down and continued to pound away up-front.

And, in spite of some stout defensive work by Ks, they were able to snatch the last try, with lock Bates finishing yet another forward drive from close quarters.

The conversion attempt, twice-taken by Matthews, because the home side had moved forward before the ball was struck, did not go over, much to the relief of all concerned of Glasshouse Lane.