In what would have otherwise been the last game of the season, Kenilworth Men were left ruing a poor first half, losing out 19-14.
Dudley Kingswinford started the game the better, winning the territorial battle through the boot and playing with accuracy and determination. Under pressure, Kenilworth were now adding to their woes with a string of errors. By the end of the first quarter Kenilworth were not in the game, hadn’t really had any possession and were 14-0 down with the hosts having scored and converted two tries.
With 30 minutes on the clock Dudley were camped on the Kenilworth line, the pressure eventually told with Dudley scoring their third try and Kavanagh sent to the sin bin for repeated team infringements. Conversion missed score 19-0 at half time.
At half time the messaging was simple, find more energy, accuracy and trust the systems and once we finally get ball we will be in the game.
For the second half, returning from injury, Sam Peppit came on at 13 and made an early difference with his trademark heavy hitting and incisive attacking lines. Peppitt’s introduction was evidently the shot in the arm the team needed and 10 minutes into the second half Stone scored Kenilworth’s first try of the game, converted by Morgan. Score 19-7.
With 20 minutes to go it was all Kenilworth who on a number of occasions got themselves into a scoring position only for a silly mistake letting the home side off.
The final few minutes saw Dudley holding on as Kenilworth chased the losing bonus point. Kenilworth’s scrum was now in the ascendancy with the home 8 evidently tiring in the later stages of the game. Tails up Kenilworth attacked the home scrum on around half way and won the penalty which this time, was successfully dispatched into touch for a lineout inside the home 22. From the ensuing catch and drive the home side were penalised for collapsing the driving maul- could it have been a penalty try and with it the bonus point? Thankfully for the Kenilworth supporters, it didn’t matter as moments later Todd Freemantle capped a fine personal performance to score the final try of the game. Conversion added by Morgan. Final score 19-14.
