Kenilworth’s first-half promise is quickly forgotten

With Rectory Fields bathed in bright sunshine, it seemed the perfect autumn day for Kenilworth’s young side to kick-start their season. However, the game did not follow the script, writes Ralph Murray.

The omens were not good from the kick-off. Bedworth’s first attack would have led to a certain score but for the final pass being dropped on the goal-line. Play was brought back for an earlier penalty and, from the ensuing touch-kick and maul, Bedworth opened their account with a short drive putting tight-head Allison over the line.

Bedworth’s next possession saw winger Croft put a grubber kick into the Kenilworth 22 which Ollie Burman seemed to have covered. However, the awkward bounce saw the ball go over the Kenilworth line and Croft was awarded the score despite Andy Whitehall appearing to have got his hand to it first.

Kenilworth were tested time and time again defensively but a key difference between the two sides was emphasised by Bedworth’s third try.

Bedworth ground their way to the visitors’ 22 and set up a series of rucks. No real progress was being made but the Bedworth forwards stuck to the task and their patience was rewarded with flanker Randle going over for his first of the afternoon. With fly-half Foster kicking the extras and an additional penalty, Kenilworth found themselves down by 24 unanswered points with barely a quarter of an hour having elapsed.

Ks got a break with just over 20 minutes gone when Foster’s long pass was picked off by Phil Dickson who charged up the field unopposed to score under the posts.

Bedworth were now showing signs of nerves and Ks secured possession from a home lineout on their ten-metre line, with Cresswell touching down in the corner following a series of plays. Tom Kendall added his second conversion and then followed up with a penalty from almost the half-way line to close the deficit to four points.

With the half winding down, a Bedworth kick was charged down and swift hands from Andy Whitehall put Adam Clifford in for the go-ahead score. Kendall again converted and, with 40 minutes on the clock, Kenilworth had transformed a 24-point deficit into a three-point lead.

The first-half action was completed with a Bedworth penalty to send the sides in all square at the break.

After the excitement of the first period, the second half opened with a dour ten minutes littered with errors from both sides.

The stalemate was finally broken when a chip-kick from the Bedworth nine was poorly dealt with by the Ks defence. From the ensuing possession, Bedworth drove the ball on a number of phases which eventually led to Randle scoring his second try of the day near the posts. With a successful conversion and an exchange of penalties to follow, the game was poised at 43-30 with a quarter of an hour to play.

Bedworth hooker Jenkins was sent off for a tip-tackle on Tom Nicholson in the 65th minute but, despite their numerical disadvantage, it was the hosts who had the final word, with flanker Randle scoring his third try of a productive afternoon.

The successful conversion gave the home side the half-century.