Kenilworth clinch promotion with win over Sutton Coldfield

By Dom Carrick

14th Apr 2022 | Rugby


Kenilworth Rugby Club look set to be playing Premiership rugby next season (Image via Willie Whitesmith)
Kenilworth Rugby Club look set to be playing Premiership rugby next season (Image via Willie Whitesmith)

Kenilworth's first XV secured a second place finish in the Midlands One West by defeating fellow Warwickshire side Sutton Coldfield 43-17 in front of another large home crowd.

Sutton certainly played their part in an entertaining match and were much improved from the corresponding away fixture when Kenilworth scored over 70 points.

The home side started well once again and after a strong break from giant centre Jayde Cruickshank, veteran scrum half Gareth Renowden forced his way over for the opening score after just a minute's play.

Fly half Harry O'Brien converted to give Kenilworth an early 7-0 lead.

The visitors then put together some good phases built on strong runners and neat handling and after an excellent 50-22 kick they had secured lineout possession in the home 22.

This resulted in a converted try to level things up and the home side had an early reminder that it was not going to be one-way traffic all afternoon.

Mikkel Andresen scores (Image via Willie Whitesmith)

A strong Kenilworth set piece, which has been a feature for much this successful season allowed O'Brien the platform to make a dash for the line and the predatory Renowden was on hand to wrestle the ball across the line for his second try, O'Brien converting again.

Sutton replied with a period of pressure in the home half again, Kenilworth's defence became stretched and the visiting supporters were enthused by their side's brave effort in what has been a challenging season for them.

This resulted in another converted try and the sides were level again as the half time whistle blew.

The second half opened with both sides trying to find the breakthrough with passes being spilt and lineouts going astray.

It was noticeable that some of the Sutton pack were finding the pace of the game a little onerous and after a break from lightning winger Dave Opoku-Fordjour, Danish flanker Mikkel Andresen brought home the bacon to put Kenilworth ahead with a try converted by O'Brien.

Sutton replied with a well struck long range penalty to make the score 21-17 heading into the final quarter. As the weather took a turn for the worse the home pack started to turn the screw and after an attacking scrum, full back Sam Peppitt crashed over from a traditional Kenilworth first phase move.

Veteran Gareth Renowden passes from the ruck (Image via Willie Whitesmith)

Another 5m scrum saw skipper Bobby Thompson brush aside three defenders to crash over and the home side began to close in on the victory, taking the score to 31-17.

Centre Todd Freemantle galloped over shortly afterwards and the game was finished with a sublime break from Opoku-Fordjour finished by fly half O'Brien who dotted down - full time 43-17

It was ultimately a satisfactory result for the home side who were pushed hard for portions of the match by Sutton Coldfield.

The news that the top three in the league will be promoted has not been set in stone but is almost a given and Kenilworth will be renewing rivalries with some familiar sides next season.

This week's rearranged league match has disappointingly been forfeited by visitors Hereford, so the final league match of the season is a bus trip to Shropshire where they will take on Whitchurch.

The second XV have won their respective league and took on Nuneaton Old Edwardians in a friendly from where they returned with an emphatic 69-0 victory.

Their success has certainly helped the firsts' efforts resulting in a very successful season for both sides.

Players have regularly slotted seamlessly into the senior side when required and the second XV has provided an excellent environment for players to develop or to return from injury.

Kenilworth 43 Sutton Coldfield 17

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