Kenilworth overcame a very competitive and talented Stratford team to record a bonus point victory and keep the pressure on league leaders Lichfield at the top of the Midlands One West table.

The match didn't start well for the home side with Stratford putting together a series of attacks culminating in an early try in the corner for their full back.

Centre Ed Hannam overcommitted himself when trying to prevent the try and inadvertently stepped on top of the try scorer which resulted in the referee producing a red card and Kenilworth facing the rest of the match down to 14 men.

The home side began to settle and reorganise themselves with the pack asserting their authority in the scrum assisted by a strong debut from young prop Josh Marsden who had been promoted after some superb performances in the cup winning second team.

With two teenagers in the front row Kenilworth still managed to disrupt the Stratford scrum and put the visitors on the back foot with their ball carrying.

Playing into a strong wind, Kenilworth kept the ball in hand and from a line out flanker Mike Ryan caught the ball on the half way line and realised the home defence were napping.

He brushed off the first attempted tackle and then burst down the left touchline swatting off Stratford tacklers along the way before diving over for a superb try.

Stratford hit back after 20 minutes with a well worked try by the posts which was converted and the supporters knew they were in for a pretty tasty match.

Kenilworth had moved skipper Bobby Thompson to the centres in defence to cover the gap in the backline and the home pack performed wonders in the set piece with just seven men.

Again Kenilworth battled back into a very strong wind and created a number of chances in the visiting 22.

Eventually it was that man Ryan again who received the ball out wide after a good break from winger Cruickshank. He broke the defensive line again, stepping the final defender and blasted over from 30 metres, Leahy narrowly missed the conversion.

The home pack then turned the screw and with the youngsters in the front row and Thompson now clamped back on the rear of the scrum they forced the visitors into retreat with a series of scrum penalties close to the Stratford line.

Eventually Thompson wrestled himself over for a well deserved try out on the left side of the pitch and with the wind still gusting the try wasn't converted to leave Kenilworth ahead 15-12 at half time.

Stratford started the second half well and after a period of pressure in the home 22 their No.8 stretched over for a converted try.

The game was very much in the balance moving into the final half hour and Kenilworth started to reassert themselves in the visitors half with Freemantle and Tilsley making regular inroads.

After a loose pass it was Todd Freemantle who looked up and used the wind to guide over a perfectly struck drop goal to make the score 18-19 and it was all to play for.

Replacement prop George Walsh was carrying well and the home pack again began to dominate, after a series of drives it was flanker Andresen who finally barrelled over and Leahy slotted a terrific conversion to make the score 25-19.

However Stratford were not done yet and they worked hard to put their winger in for an unconverted try. Kenilworth again set up camp in the visitors 22 and after more good work from the forwards the ball was moved wide and winger Cruickshank hit an excellent line to gallop over for a crucial try which was converted by Leahy to extend the lead to 32-24.

The final try came from another dominant home scrum. Thompson broke left and delivered a perfect pass for scrum half Peppitt to scamper over with Leahy slotting another fine kick to make the final score Kenilworth 39 Stratford 24.

It was a gutsy performance from Kenilworth after being down to 14 men for nearly the whole match.

Stratford were strong opposition and they will certainly test a number of teams in the league with Kenilworth hoping they can perhaps do them a favour and turn over league leaders Lichfield when they play them this Saturday.

Kenilworth travel to Sutton Coldfield and will look to continue their good form with a bonus point victory.