Kenilworth U14s Rugby Tour – Hayling Island & Portsmouth RFC
Kenilworth U14s travelled down to Hayling Island for their rugby tour, with a fantastic time had by all — and even the weather was booked perfectly, with sunshine throughout the weekend .
Kenilworth also proudly sported their new kit, with sponsorship from HID and ECI Rail Systems .
Saturday night brought plenty of laughs with a Hawaiian-themed evening, and Freddie took home the award for best dressed .
On Sunday, the boys arrived at Portsmouth RFC. Before kick-off, the referee gathered the team for a chat but was met with a few vacant faces — prompting him to ask if everyone was OK .
The game started slowly for Kenilworth, with Portsmouth’s strong runners breaking through the defensive line to score a few early tries. Kenilworth responded well, with Charlie Hamill darting over from a quick tap penalty. Shortly after, James Shearer scored a scorching try, hitting a superb line at pace to bring Kenilworth back into the contest.
Half-time: Portsmouth RFC 21 – 10 Kenilworth
The second half ebbed and flowed, with Ed Vigor making several superb breaks, though the attacks just fell short of the try line. Ted Jones then crossed after a strong break, running in from just over 20 metres to close the gap.
Kenilworth were then reduced to 14 men following a spell of ill-discipline, but the defence held strong under pressure. Back to full strength, sustained Kenilworth pressure paid off when Evan Bahey powered over from a short pick-and-go.
Charlie Hamill calmly converted both second-half tries, giving Kenilworth the lead.
A tense finish followed, with Kenilworth’s defence holding firm against late Portsmouth pressure to secure a hard-fought victory.
Full-time: Portsmouth RFC 21 – 24 Kenilworth
The Portsmouth team selected Thomas Taylor as their Player of the Match, while Kenilworth selected Toby as their Player of the Match. The two then faced off in a Lion Bar race, with Thomas finishing a respectable second!
A brilliant weekend, great weather, new kit on show, and a tour enjoyed by all players, coaches, and travelling supporters.
