On Saturday Kenilworth men's first XV travelled to the Northamptonshire market town of Oundle for a first league game in the clubs' history; an encounter carrying a little extra 'spice' given the RFU's decision to promote Oundle over Kenilworth in the Covid-curtailed, 2020/21 season.

After a bright opening from both teams it was the home side that struck first after 10 minutes having dispelled an early period of pressure from Kenilworth to score a converted break-away try.

The home side, now in their pomp, spirits up and geeing each other on were proving more than a handful for the Kenilworth lads.

On more than one occasion the home side found space out wide with worrying ease and, but for some stoic defence, would have extended their lead.

On 35 minutes and much to Kenilworth's credit they steadily absorbed this pressure and took the wind out of the home sails, stringing together some telling phases of play, culminating in a well finished try for right wing Ben Harrison in the corner.

Fullback Will Morgan duly dispatched the difficult conversion. Even better for the travelling support, Oundle had a player sent to the sin-bin for an infringement in the lead up to the try.

Kenilworth shuffled the pack with Ed Hannam and Kieran Payne off and evergreen Gareth Renowden stepping onto the wing, James Ryan came into the front row.

On the stroke of half time Kenilworth certainly had their tails up, pressurising the home side into mistakes and more indiscipline.

Kenilworth were now on top with Phil Boulton and the returning Chaz Hudson were leading the way with some heavy carries that proved too much for the home side who were now conceded a string of penalties. In the last play of the half, the home line was once again breached with Harrison dancing over for his second of the afternoon in the same corner.

Metronomic Morgan adding the conversion and it was 7-14 to Kenilworth at half time.

With Oundle now back to 15 players and Kenilworth playing towards the clubhouse, the second half started as the first with both sides looking to gain the ascendancy but Kenilworth having the edge, particularly up front with Ed Rogers strong in defence and Morgan Fox dominating the lineout.

After an hour and under sustained pressure from the team in Blue and Gold, the home side's discipline creaked once more with a second player sent to the sin-bin, and a penalty shot for Morgan to boot. Three points were added taking the score to 7-17

The Kenilworth scrum again provided a solid platform all afternoon with the home pack starting to tire and pick up injuries.

It was from one such scrum that Pettit, now playing 13, cut through the defence taking play into the home defensive third (of the pitch), where Oundle gave away another penalty that was within range for Morgan resulting another three points and some much-needed daylight on the score 7-20.

With just fove minutes to go Oundle were not going to roll over and were very much still in the game.

Their backs were looking threatening with the ball in hand, and when Kenilworth unfortunately kicked the ball out on the full the home centre picked a lovely line, slicing though the Kenilworth defence off a lineout 22 meters out.

The conversion was missed denying Oundle a losing bonus point and the score remained at 12-20 for a couple of minutes until an Oundle fumble allowed hooker Finn Nicholas to kick the ball out and close the game.