It's a long way to go to play Ludlow, and after navigating the towns' narrow streets you arrive at the ground to be rewarded with a backdrop of Ludlow Castle overlooking the pitches.

There was a lot of home support eating and drinking long before the kick off, looking forward to seeing their well drilled team take on another challenger at their Shropshire Fortress.

The game started with two teams fronting up to each other, looking for weak spots and probing each other's defences.

Ludlow started to gain the upper hand with some well executed kicks and with a string of un-necessary penalties given away by Kenilworth.

The pressure of the penalties began to tell and although Ludlow didn't really ever look like cutting through the Ken's defence, the constant territorial advantage eventually told.

A poorly executed Ludlow chip-through popped up conveniently to one of their on-rushing attackers to pick up and make his way to the line for the first try of the game. This was promptly converted and the score was 7-0 to the home side.

The game carried on in a similar fashion, Ludlow edging the kicking game but the back three of Kenilworth were more than equal to it and made two or three decent counter attack returns but each time they were thwarted with a slightly miss-placed pass or a good covering tackle from the organised Ludlow defence.

One of the counter attacks ended with good field position for Kens and they won the ball back and earned a penalty of their own.

A great kick into the corner and the pack set up a driving lineout, the power of the pack showed and whilst the drive made it over the line, the ref decided the ball was held up.

Ludlow had infringed though and saw a defender into the bin for 10 minutes giving the away team another opportunity from 5m out.

The same call, the same intensity this time saw Kenilworth over the line for a great team try scored by hooker Ollie Stone, the conversion was nailed by Tyler Price to make the score 7-7.

More of the same towards half time, Kenilworth couldn't capitalise on the one-man advantage unfortunately and the penalty count remained too high.

Eventually again this was rewarded for Ludlow, this time with the three points taken from a scrum penalty on the 22 given against the Kenilworth pack, although from the sidelines it looked like it should have gone the other way.

10-7 to Ludlow, who now smelt blood and kept Kenilworth under pressure until half time; resolute defending across the team saw it out to the break without conceding again.

The second half started in much the same way, roared on by the home crowd the Ludlow side went through their paces moving the ball around well and gaining decent field position without really looking particularly threatening.

Kenilworth were starting to dominate in the scrums making it harder for Ludlow to run their planned moves.

Despite this Ludlow struck first in the second half, another penalty and the score was 13-7, keeping ahead of Kenilworth but not really pulling away. As the half wore on the Kenilworth pressure started to show on the Ludlow defence.

A series of attacking line outs resulted in another effort from 5m out, another good, throw, catch and drive but the Ludlow defence just about held up and they eventually cleared their lines. It looked like it wasn't going to be Kenilworth's day.

It then got worse, a strong driving maul by Ludlow was judged to have stopped illegally by one of the Kens forwards and 10 minutes in the sin bin ensued, down to 14 men.

Undeterred Kenilworth hauled themselves back into the Ludlow half, secured another penalty and another opportunity from 5m out at the lineout.

Time was running out though and Kenilworth really needed this.

Perfect execution, again the ball was claimed by hooker Ollie Stone at the back and under complete control and a massive shove with even a bit of help from the backs they steamed over for the try, the score was now 13-12 to the home side with the conversion to come.

A valiant attempt from wide out unfortunately just slid by the posts, this was a one-point game and into the last few minutes.

Kenilworth looked in control now, although still behind, it was just going to be a case of was there enough time left to get into a scoring position.

The penalty count was in the away teams favour though now.

The Kenilworth pack were proving to be too powerful for the tiring home side. One penalty took them well into the Ludlow half into the last couple of minutes, eventually leading to another Ludlow scrum again the Kens pack were too strong and the scrum penalty was awarded fairly straight on, 30m out.

Up steps the captain for the day Nathan Tilsley, the coolest head on the pitch slotted the kick, Kenilworth take the lead for the first time in the game, 13 – 15, just two minutes to go.

The crowd was silenced, Kenilworth saw out the last two minutes comfortably, the ref blew the final whistle, the comeback victory was complete.

It had been a tremendous effort of grit and determination to see this one through, a real team effort at a difficult place to play.

There will have been a few aching bodies on Sunday after a physical encounter, Ludlow were a team who certainly knew what they were doing.

With some enforced changes due to unavailability (including international call-ups) and injuries this hard-earned win was welcomed by players, management and supporters alike.

Kenilworth can now go into the next home game on Saturday 30 October against Malvern sitting in third place in the table.

Just two undefeated sides ahead of them, Stoke and Lichfield.

The away trip to Stoke at the end of November is starting to look like a key game for the Glasshouse Lane side.

Finally, a big thanks, to all that made the long journey supporting the match day squad, and cheering on from the side lines, it was along way to go but definitely well worth the trip.