Anxious Kenilworth are forced to rely on others

SCUNTHORPE41

Kenilworth look destined to open next season in Midlands One West following this dispiriting defeat at the hands of their fellow-strugglers, writes Bob Jones.

Only a failure by Hereford to amass six points in their final three fixtures and a 53-point defeat for Peterborough will save the men from Glasshouse Lane.

However, they can have few complaints should the inevitable happen having shipped close to 1,000 points in just 26 games.

A nervous start by Ks saw them concede two penalties within the first ten minutes, both of which were missed by Karl Clayton.

Clayton was on target with his next attempt, though, converting a try from danger-man Rewiti Viamoso on the quarter-hour.

Inspired by the tireless Jonathon Cresswell, the home side struck back eight minutes later, with the hooker going over for an unconverted try following a forward drive.

The visitors took just three minutes to reassert their authority courtesy of a try by winger Andy Middleton, converted by Clayton. The Ks pack were enjoying dominance in the tight and, following one driving maul, Cresswell notched his second try, also unconverted.

This heralded a purple patch, with two more scores taking the hosts into an 18-14 interval lead.

A deft drop-goal by Dave Clements was almost immediately followed by a try by Jed Boyle, also unconverted.

The second half opened in similar fashion to the first, with Ks showing both anxiety and over-eagerness in promising situations.

They were penalised for going off their feet, Clayton slotting over the resulting goal-attempt to reduce the lead to a point.

Play became frenetic and an over-elaborate exchange in their own 22 by Mike Rust and Rhys Llewellyn was the precursor to Kenilworth straying offside. From the subsequent lineout in the corner, Scunthorpe number eight Dave Garbutt charged over for a converted try.

Not to be outdone, Ks followed a similar route three minutes later, with Nick Lake thundering over and Peacock adding the extras to establish the narrowest of leads.

With play opening up, it was Scunthorpe who had the better of the remaining exchanges.

Indeed, they effectively killed the contest with two unconverted tries in three minutes as the home defence was found wanting.

First, Viamoso needed no second invitation to scorch through and go in at the corner, then prop Matthew Probert met little resistance as he charged over.

With five minutes remaining, Ks’ desperation was compounded by the sin-binning of Lake for offside.

In his absence, the Greens’ fly-half Tom Foster waltzed over under the posts, replacement Tom Aldridge converting, to conclude a miserable afternoon for the home side.

n In the wake of Kenilworth’s defeat, coach Jason Button resigned from his post.