Kenilworth are left seeing red after Lowthian’s late yellow card

Walsall beat Kenilworth 45-43 in a thrilling Midlands One West contest which was ultimately decided by a controversial yellow card, writes Ralph Murray.
The dismissal of Ross Lowthian, seen here in possession, proved pivotal as Kenilworth suffered a narrow defeat at Walsall.The dismissal of Ross Lowthian, seen here in possession, proved pivotal as Kenilworth suffered a narrow defeat at Walsall.
The dismissal of Ross Lowthian, seen here in possession, proved pivotal as Kenilworth suffered a narrow defeat at Walsall.

Kenilworth started briskly and Gareth Renowden and Jack Gibson both scored tries, converted by Josh Hickman, to give the visitors an early 14-point advantage.

Eventually the home side put some attacking phases together and produced a three-on-one on the right which produced a good score and successful conversion.

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The first set scrum in the 16th minute produced a penalty for the visitors but Jack Gibson’s offload found a Walsall hand and the hosts were back on the attack. From a ruck on the ten-metre line, Kenilworth’s defence was found wanting and the tall Wotton strolled in under the posts, with the kick bringing the scores level.

Kenilworth resumed their attacking plan from the restart and good forward play allowed Tom Lane to go over from close range. Another Hickman conversion gave Ks a 21-14 lead.

The penalty count against the home side was stacking up - 13 in the first quarter alone - and another whistle saw Hickman stretch the advantage to ten points.

The next ten minutes saw Walsall mount a sustained series of attacks and slot over a three-pointer. And, as the penalty count against the visitors climbed, Alex Selby was sin-binned for entering from the side.

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Walsall kicked the resultant penalty and then took full advantage of the extra man by scoring almost from the second-half restart to go 28-24 up.

A well-rehearsed catch and drive was finished off by Lane, with Hickman adding the extras to edge Kenilworth back in front.

In what was to become a defining feature of the match, the visitors pressed again but turnover ball gave Walsall a chance to attack and they regained a four-point advantage courtesy of a converted try.

Kenilworth were refusing to buckle and Renowden created havoc with a quick penalty and Selby, backing up well, took the offload before finding captain Jonny Cresswell who scored close to the posts.

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With the added two from Hickman, Ks had got their noses back in front at 38-35.

Not for long, though, as the Walsall hooker charged down an attempted box-kick before collecting the ball and touching down.

Again Ks responded with Adam Clifford’s kick putting the home full-back under pressure and Bobby Thompson scoring from the resultant scrum.

The missed conversion gave Kenilworth a slender one-point advantage with just two minutes remaining.

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After a failed drop-goal attempt from the visitors, Walsall ran the ball from deep only to see Ross Lowthian snuff out the danger with what looked like a text-book tackle on Wooton.

The referee did not agree, however, and brandished a yellow in the direction of Lowthian, leaving Walsall with a crucial man advantage as they went in search of the winning score.

This duly came courtesy of a Kenilworth offside, with the successful penalty proving the game’s final act.