Late try is a knockout blow for Kenilworth

Kenilworth’s RFU Intermediate Cup run came to an abrupt end with an error-strewn display condemning them to defeat at Oadby, writes Ralph Murray.

The opening ten minutes was to be a taster of things to come with both sides making unforced errors on the semi-artificial pitch. This was typified by Ks making good progress to within five metres of the Oadby line only for the resultant lineout to be turned over for not being straight. From the resultant scrum, Kenilworth overpowered the home eight and won back possession only to knock-on.

With a quarter of an hour gone the visitors suffered a major setback when fly-half Harry O’Brien pulled up with a hamstring strain, forcing a hasty reorganisation in the three-quarters with Dominic Sheehan moving to outside-half and Gaz Renowden taking his place in the centre.

Ks quickly settled into the new structure with the ball moved wide to Tom Kendall who had Beckett outside him but the final pass went to ground.

The frustration was there for all to see. Kenilworth were dominating set-pieces, particularly scrums, but their efforts were not producing points.

A perfect illustration came when the visitors stole an Oadby throw on their own 22 and Stephen Todd blasted up the middle to take play on a good 20 metres before the ball found Simon Tyler who cut the line before being tackled.

Ks were adjudged to have offended at the ruck and the chance went begging, with Tyler limping off with a knee injury for good measure.

As the half drew to a close another almighty effort saw Kenilworth bulldoze the Oadby scrum and the resultant penalty was successfully converted by Kendall for the first points of the game.

The second half started in a much more positive vein for the visitors.

Jai Purewal, who had a fine afternoon at wing-forward, took the kick- off and smashed through two tackles before finding Tom Lane who took the ball on but the move was whistled dead for Ks going off their feet at the ensuing ruck.

The next Ks attack gave Kendall another penalty and it seemed the game would be decided by the boot.

Oadby scored their first points soon after when a five-metre scrum went down and completely against the run of play, the hosts levelled the score with another penalty.

Having dominated for so long, Kenilworth suddenly found themselves behind courtesy of another successful penalty and the Oadby ten, after a shaky start, was now a key influence on the game.

With the exchange of penalties continuing, Kenilworth showed a glimpse of what they were capable of when Renowden took a flat pass from a lineout to crash over close to the posts.

The conversion gave Kenilworth a 16-9 lead, but another series of errors saw Oadby close the visitors’ advantage to a point.

More good work from Kendall and Renowden gave Ks a good opportunity but a deliberate knock-on stopped the move and resulted in a penalty which was missed.

Back came Kenilworth with another huge scrum which saw the ball taken wide by Alex Selby who found Ross Lowthian for the score to continue his best season at the club.

The conversion was missed and Oadby brought it back to 21-18 with yet another penalty.

With time running out, Renowden looked set to put Clifford away for the match-winning score.

However, the ball was intercepted by Oadby who set off towards Ks’ line. A series of phases later and the ball was sent wide to the home wing er who touched down in the corner to secure the most unlikely of wins.