Old Halesonians 22-40 Kenilworth

After the deluge of rain during the day on Friday and all through the Friday night, this match was played on a really good surface in Halesowen.

When Saturday came the Kenilworth team lying 10th in the table were playing the team placed 12th. All to play for and quite a lot at stake.

The sun mercifully shone periodically, and the strong south westerly wind was blowing diagonally down the pitch into Kenilworth's faces in the first half.

Hales' opened the scoring on five minutes after Kenilworth were unable to clean up the kick off and gave away a silly penalty in their own 22 metre area. Right winger, Dylan Pearson scored in the corner after a driving maul off a lineout by the pack and good work by scrum half Jamie Keen coming to the blind-side. The score was unconverted.

Kenilworth replied to this opening score by Hales' with some good continuity play, patience and determination. Good ground was made by Angelo Howarth on a charge followed by sharp back play and the evergreen Bobby Thompson going over the whitewash to the left of the up right. This score was converted by Mark O'Connor.

Hales' immediately replied with a second try from right winger Dylan Pearson, who chased a speculative kick which was not dealt with by Finn Barnacle covering and therefore Dylan dived on the ball for 5 more points. This was converted by scrum half Jamie Keen to make the score 12-7.

This tit- for- tat first half continued as Kenilworth came back again with effective continuity from the forwards to gain ground and a very penetrating unders line from Tommy Hunter running off fly half Finn Barnacle, to score under the sticks. This was converted by Mark O'Connell, to make the score 12-14.

Kenilworth's forwards were doing a grand job, holding their own in the scrum and disrupting the Hales lineout as much as possible. On 31 minutes after breaks in play and hard carrying by the Hales forwards they duly scored under the posts through the theatrical 2nd row (and ex Kenilworth player), Sam Herrington. This was converted by Jamie Keen.

On 34 minutes Kenilworth scored a well taken try under the posts. This was by fly half Finn Barnacle after sterling work by the forwards and Sam Peppitt. By making good ground with the space available to them the opportunity arose for Finn to score. This was again converted by Mark O'Connor. This made the score 19-21.

Just before half time Hales' scored a well struck penalty through scrum half Jamie Keen from 35 metres out to make the score at the break 22-21.

After the break, Kenilworth now had the wind diagonally at their backs and Hales' had the remaining sun in their defensive eyes. From the kick off Kenilworth immediately put Hales' under pressure. They were defending with gusto and Kenilworth had their tales up knowing they needed to score first. This happened after 50 minutes through the excellent Max Brain who dived over to score. This was converted by Mark O'Connell from wide out. This conversion made the score 22-28.

There then followed some harem-scarem rugby from both sides. Hector Smith intercepted and saved Kenilworth from Hales' pressure; he then kicked the ball out of his own half for a 50 -20. Kenilworth did not capitalize on this and gave away several penalties to let Hales' back into the match by giving them easy possession. Finally, Kenilworth scored again through a hack through from a Hales' dropped ball the scorer was Tommy Hunter, after he chased and took the opportunity to touch down, to make the score 22-33.

The final score of the match came through the powerful Sam Peppitt from another Hales poor clearance kick from the 22. Sam was able to get on the end of a string of passes which put him into space. He duly ran and beat the cover defence and dived over left of the posts. Mark O'Connor converted the score to finish the match.

Kenilworth were able to secure 5 league points from this match, which their supporters and members hope this bodes well for the next block of games. This league is very competitive and matches continue to be close.

Next week Kenilworth Men's 1st XV play Ludlow at home with a kick off at 2.15. This will be preceded by an AJA sponsors lunch. This is another match where points will mean prizes. To the people of Kenilworth and beyond, your never-ending support is always appreciated. We need a big crowd to get behind the team and keep pushing them to outstanding performances.