Kenilworth return to winning ways with impressive display against Derby

By Jai Purewal

7th Mar 2023 | Rugby


Kenilworth Men recorded a 38-8 win over Derby to bounce back in the Regional One Midlands (image by Willie Whitesmith)
Kenilworth Men recorded a 38-8 win over Derby to bounce back in the Regional One Midlands (image by Willie Whitesmith)

Keen to put last week's defeat to local rivals Nuneaton behind them, Kenilworth put in a solid performance in front of a packed Glasshouse Lane to beat Derby 38-8.

If the end of the side's impressive eight-game winning streak was not impetus enough, the fixture was also the first home game since talismanic skipper Bobby Thompson reached 250 caps for the club, in which time he has scored an impressive 623 points.

Kenilworth got off to a great start, scoring in the first five minutes after a bust through the middle by Fox, with the athletic lock finishing the try himself and Morgan converting. Score 7-0.

The next 15 minutes saw Kenilworth with the upper hand and mounting several forays into the Derby 22. Kenilworth spurned a couple of scoring opportunities, each time allowing Derby to clear to safety.

Amidst the onslaught the Derby fullback was sent to the sin bin, for a team yellow, following a series of infringements under pressure.

On the 20 minute mark, Kenilworth did convert one of their opportunities with fly half Jowett scoring the second try of the game, following some tidy approach play by the home side. Conversion missed, score 12-0.

Derby found form on around the half hour mark and were now camped in the Kenilworth 22. Time and again the resolute home defence thwarted their attack, ultimately leading to a turnover of possession.

Ball in hand, the Kenilworth backs ran from their own 22, Ed Hannam making the initial break before passing to Andresen, who in turn fed Opoku-Fordjour who scored under the posts. Conversion added by Morgan. Score 19-0.

(image by Willie Whitesmith)

The final minutes of the first half were played out with Derby in possession but unable to breakdown the Blue and Gold defensive line.

Derby started the second half the better of the two sides, earning their first points of the afternoon, with a successful penalty kick. Score 19-3.

From the restart Kenilworth moved the ball to Hannam who broke through from just inside the Derby half, only to be tackled five metres out from the Derby try line.

The ball was knocked on in the tackle giving the scrum to Derby.

The visitors cleared the ball to touch, leading to a Kenilworth lineout, just inside the Derby 10 metre line.

From the lineout Kenilworth moved the ball to within 15 meters of the Derby line and, coming from the blindside wing, Harrison picked a deft line to slice through and score under the posts. Score 26-3, providing the four-try bonus point for Kenilworth.

Less than 10 minutes later, and having been camped in the Derby half since the previous try, Kenilworth scored their fifth with Ted Bromwich last up with the ball, following a series of close quarter drives from the heavies. Score 33-3.

Derby had the better of the next 10 minutes camped in the Kenilworth half; the home defence holding fast through multiple attacks, until eventually Derby broke through to score their first and only try of the game. Score 33-8.

Determined to finish the game off in style, Kenilworth rallied and took play deep into the Derby half thanks to a fine 50-22 kick from Jowett. With virtually the last play of the game Kenilworth scored again, this time through full back Will Morgan, capping a fine personal performance, finishing off the move. Final score 38-8.

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