Kenilworth 33 Market Bosworth 20: Kenilworth take their foot off the gas after the hard work is done

Kenilworth produced an infuriating performance as the sublime rugby that took them to a bonus-point quickly subsided with the floodgates about to open, writes Ralph Murray.
Dominic Sheehan touches down for Kenilworth.Dominic Sheehan touches down for Kenilworth.
Dominic Sheehan touches down for Kenilworth.

Barely three minutes had elapsed when Ks moved the ball wide and, following a series of phases close to the visitors’ line, Nyle Beckett gleefully accepted the scoring pass. Tom Kendall’s conversion got the afternoon off to the best possible start.

The pattern continued after the restart with good work by Dom Sheehan freeing up centre partner Simon Tyler who ran 25 metres before being hauled down. Again the patient use of phases looked promising and Jonny Cresswell darted down the blindside before a slick offload put Thompson in at the corner for an unconverted try.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As another promising move built on the right flank, the Malvern winger intercepted the ball and looked odds-on to score but a tremendous chase and tackle by Ross Lowthian snuffed out the threat.

Nyle Beckett opened the scoring for Kenilworth inside the first three minutes of their clash with Market Bosworth.Nyle Beckett opened the scoring for Kenilworth inside the first three minutes of their clash with Market Bosworth.
Nyle Beckett opened the scoring for Kenilworth inside the first three minutes of their clash with Market Bosworth.

Market Bosworth gained their first points of the day after a penalty was awarded for a lineout infringement but Ks responded with a fine opportunist try from young fly-half Glover.

Glover received a flat pass in midfield and showed an impressive turn of speed to breach the line and then step the full-back to score under the posts. Kendall’s conversion extended the lead to 19-3.

Right from the restart the visitors were back on attack and only stout defence from Kenilworth kept the scoreboard idle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The second half set off with a bang as quick thinking at a lineout saw the ball find Alex Selby who speared a pass into Nick Collett in front of the posts. Despite the attention of three defenders, the prop stayed strong, offloading to Bobby Thompson for the score.

Kendall’s conversion made the score 26-3 and with a little over half the game played Ks had secured the bonus point.

With the home side firmly in the ascendancy, a rout looked possible, but the try only served to spur Market Bosworth on.

Almost from the restart, they marched the ball to the corner to record their first try.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To make matters worse, Lowthian was shown a yellow card for entering the ruck from the side.

Market Bosworth wasted little time in making the numbers count and used the width of the pitch to stretch the Kenilworth defence for another score.

Nevertheless, Ks looked to go forward at every opportunity and were awarded a penalty within Kendall’s range. However, they opted for touch and the ball was turned over at the lineout.

Market Bosworth continued to press and were awarded a penalty near half-way before two sets of unwanted chat from the Kenilworth players added another 20 metres as discipline started to slip.

With time running out, Creswell was shown a yellow for a deliberate knock-on and the numerical advantage was again used as another converted score cut the deficit to 13 points at the close.