A debut hat-trick from new signing Tami Agboola helped Kenilworth Women secure a bonus-point win at a windy, rainy Barnsley.

Barnsley made the brighter start, with their fly half dummying and darting through the defence before being tackled five metres short of the line by number 8 Phillippa Rawbone and centre Felicity Baldwin.

However, a smart turnover by flanker Heather Cegla allowed Kenilworth to clear their lines.

Just five minutes later, winger Agboola was given her first touch of the ball and needed just inches of space to sprint from outside the Kenilworth 22, step the chasing fullback and score to the right of the posts.

After this point, Barnsley rarely made it out of their half, with good, disciplined defence from Kenilworth and fly half Katie Pittaway using the strong winds to good effect with the boot.

Kenilworth's set piece was also dominant and there were early warning signs for Barnsley when Kens' first driving maul rumbled on for fifteen metres before being collapsed five metres from the line.

Kenilworth came close to scoring many times in the first half, but Barnsley held firm, holding one ball up over the line and several turnovers at the breakdown keeping the visitors out.

Things became more difficult towards the end of the second half when Pittaway was given a yellow card for an incident off the ball.

However, even down to 14, the Kenilworth defence held firm and they in fact looked the more likely to score when Rawbone made a break down the left. The ball was bundled into touch, however, for half time.

Early in the second half, when Kenilworth were back to full complement, their dominance at set piece started to show again.

A huge scrum five metres out would have gone all the way, but for the Barnsley flanker coming offside, resulting in a well-earned penalty try for the visitors.

Ten minutes later, Pittaway linked up with hooker Cath Lyon who exploited a blindside gap and smartly offloaded to Agboola for a much easier run-in for her second try of the match.

Barnsley once again showed their experience at championship level when they scored with their only entry into the Kenilworth 22 for the second half – making the most of a penalty advantage to drive over to score on the right.

However, it was Kenilworth who had the last say, with more sharp handling putting Agboola in space once again she dotted down under the posts for the bonus point.

"We talk about belief and resilience and there was no better example of it than in that game" said captain Becky Hill.

"We ground it out and after some tough results this season we really earned that one!"

Kenilworth take on Harrogate away this Sunday.

They beat Harrogate at home earlier in the season, but facing them at their ground will be an entirely different challenge – one Kenilworth will relish.