A pre-match lunch in the newly built Hereford Rugby Club with a vista of the cathedral in the distance was a very fitting setting to a very close match. Chris Valentini and Finn Barnacle made their debuts.

Kenilworth came very near to a league victory away from home. Alas, it was not to be, as they only came away with one bonus point.

The pitch was heavy, was cutting up quickly, and therefore it made for a set piece game and kicking for territory. The first 20 minutes of the game saw both teams attempt to get the upper hand in the early exchanges.

Kenilworth's lighter pack held their own in the scrum and line out. Kenilworth's only down fall in these exchanges was unforced errors in handling and less functional kicking.

On 16 minutes Sam Peppit made a lovely break out of nothing, weaving his way through to put Kenilworth in a great position in the opposition 22. However, the pressure came to no points as Kenilworth knocked on from the ensuing scrum and an opportunity was lost to open the scoring.

Hereford came back at Kenilworth, and on 22 minutes, they scored through concerted pressure and continuity. Their South African left winger Stephan Dyers scoring near the uprights. This was converted by full back Josh Wright.

Almost immediately Hereford scored again through Stephan Dyers after the ball from a cross kick stuck in the mud and Charlie Wollaston was undone as he tried to gather it. This second score was not converted and made the score 12-0.

On the 30th minute Kenilworth made another break through Sam Peppit after effective continuity, this resulted in a pick and go try for the evergreen 2nd row, Chris Valentini, whose age belies his guile. This opening debut score was converted by Charlie Wollaston. The score was now 12-7.

In the next 10 minutes up until half time, Kenilworth's defence held out the Hereford attack and showed that organization and determination would go a long way in this match.

In the second half, Kenilworth put on the pressure straight away, and from a lineout drove towards the line, but the ball was knocked on. Hereford tried to clear their lines through deft kicking to open spaces and yet Kenilworth were able to keep them under pressure.

From hard work between the forwards and backs and indeed faster ball, they were able to get five metres from the Hereford line.

The forwards were able to revert to pick and goes, and Ted Bromwich scored under the posts. This score was converted by Charlie Wollaston. 12-14.

With 20 minutes left in the match Hereford immediately put the pressure on in Kenilworth's half and Kenilworth's tenacity was tested. Finn Gibson was shown a yellow card for an infringement on a non-ball carrying forward, which did not help the cause.

Kenilworth worked hard in cover defence and scrambled really well as gaps opened up. Hereford started to run the ball wide with only 14 players in the Kenilworth defence. They held firm under considerable pressure. Finn Gibson came back on the pitch and from a penalty at a scrum, full back Josh Wright, stroked the penalty over the crossbar to make the score 15-14.

With little possession of the ball, Kenilworth came under the cosh again with Hereford kicking cannily into space and turning the defensive line.

What can only be described as muddled thinking by two back three players and poor execution, Kenilworth put themselves under pressure and Hereford scored a try in the last minute of the game to finish as victors 20-14.

Mercifully the conversion was missed, so a bonus point to the losers was collected from the game. Their courage in defence was very commendable.

A couple of silly moments cost Kenilworth the game and it was therefore frustrating for the travelling support and the hard-working players and coaches.

Kenilworth are currently 10th in a league table of 12 teams. Still all to play for.

Belief resilience and thinking clearly under pressure are the keys for Kenilworth. Hope springs eternal, as ever they are very close to putting in consistent winning performances.

Next week, with a rest from the League, Kenilworth Men's 1st XV play Sutton Coldfield in the Warwickshire Cup away with a kick off at 2.15. Your support is needed so they can turn another corner.