Defence provides solid platform for Ks’ promotion push

The weather-enforced disruption left Kenilworth struggling to find their tempo as they returned to Midlands Two West action, but the title hopefuls still claimed a comfortable win on the back of a resolute defensive performance, writes Ralph Murray.

The game got off to a brisk start and, after an early surge by the home side it was the visitors who had the lion’s share of possession in the first ten minutes, opening the scoring with a penalty.

Newbold were playing the more coherent rugby and another series of attacks resulted in an attacking scrum on the Kenilworth five-metre line. Newbold got a good nudge on and looked to have scored in the corner but play was called back for an earlier infringement

Kenilworth were on the back foot for most of the first half-hour and, although they had not reached the level of play seen in previous games, their defence was resolute and well-drilled.

The match had been occasionally fractious and one such incident led to a Ks penalty. From the resultant lineout the forwards drove on to set up the phases and eventually scored the first try of the afternoon through number eight Bobby Thompson.

Kenilworth were stirred into action by the score and went on the offensive.

Jimmy Middleton collected a clearance kick and Gaz Renowden took the offload to set Nyle Beckett on his way only for the attack to be stopped in midfield by some solid tackling by the visitors

With the half drawing to close, Kenilworth mounted a final foray and were within five metres of the line when a knock-on ended the attack.

Kenilworth collected the restart and the ball found Beckett who stormed up to half-way where a Newbold infringement resulted in a quickly-taken penalty to take play to within ten metres of the line. Another infringement gave Kenilworth a kickable penalty which Tom Kendall duly converted to make the score 8-3.

Promising Kenilworth attacks were being thwarted by handling errors, questionable defensive methods and some odd penalties.

Newbold were also having their moments and their number eight cut through the defensive line with a barnstorming run before putting the centre away for what looked like a certain score only for the Ks defence to hold him up just short.

Kenilworth were back on the attack and an attempted clearance by Newbold was collected by Ross Lowthian who charged towards the defence before finding Beckett with a deft offload. Beckett found Tom Lane on his outside and the lock headed for the corner but was held just feet from the line and a penalty relieved the pressure for the visitors.

Kenilworth now had a prolonged period of possession and another good chance went begging as Renowden cut inside before being stopped just short.

The pressure continued and Renowden marshalled a maul from an attacking lineout to perfection, choosing his moment to take the ball and sneak over in the corner.

Kendall was just wide with a difficult conversion.

With the game drawing to a close, Kenilworth were guilty of some sloppy work in midfield which allowed Newbold to race in for a score.

The try looked to have earned Newbold a deserved bonus point only for Kendall to slot over a penalty in added-on time to leave the visitors empty-handed.