Kenilworth 26-33 Dudley Kingswinford

On a beautiful afternoon at Glasshouse Lane and with a sizeable crowd looking on, this Regional 2 Midlands fixture produced an entertaining contest between 2 sides who, for most of the game, were fairly evenly matched.

Eventually DK secured the win, but this is a game which Kenilworth could have won – perhaps should have won. Despite DK's clear advantage in size, the home side lacked for nothing in commitment, guile and raw courage.

The game started in an eerily similar way to last week's visit to Stow. Ks were slow to start and needed all hands to stem the early onslaught from the visitors but, eventually, DK found the extra man with a run in to score in the corner, duly converted. Just like last week, this opening score stirred the K's into a good response with some wonderful interplay taking play up to the visitors' 22 and an offside penalty gave Kenilworth a 5m line-out.

The ensuing maul resulted in a first score for the hosts by No8 Lewis Hall, not converted.

The next 15 minutes were spent mostly in the K's half; the level of commitment shown by the Kenilworth defence was truly remarkable. Despite a clear size advantage, the home side were utterly heroic in defending their line. DK continued their sustained push for the second score and eventually their efforts were rewarded with a converted score from close range.

The work done in all the defence had not diminished the K's appetite for fluid, attacking rugby and they found the energy to respond taking play to within 10m of the DK line. Playing a penalty advantage, Lewis Hall charged over for his second try and the deficit was only 2 points, following Mark O'Connor's conversion, 12-14.

The sequence repeated itself once more with DK producing a series of hard charges from close to the Kenilworth line before adding a third (unconverted) try. Kenilworth responded by appearing to go over in the corner but the referee decided they were held up and blew for the end of the half. Having withstood all that pressure, Kenilworth were only 1 score adrift at 12-19.

Having secured the second half kick-off, K's looked to box kick but the DK captain Marsh read it well and charged it down. The bounce was kind for him as he gathered to score unchallenged under the posts. This was a deserved reward for a player who put in a real shift in the warm conditions. 12-26.

DK, buoyed by this start to the second half, looked to add more misery for the hosts and kept play almost exclusively in the opposition half. Despite more immense efforts from the K's defence, numbers eventually told and DK scored again and now led by 3 clear scores, 12-33.

Lesser sides would have cut their losses, but not Kenilworth. A second wind and more good flowing moves brought play to within 5m of the DK line; a set scrum resulted in a penalty and again the lineout proved profitable for Kenilworth. Scrum half Robbie Holden's try, converted by Mark O'Connor provided hope with 20 mins remaining. 19-33.

There was bad news for K's as impressive second row Dan Wildey saw yellow for a no-arms tackle. All the calls were now against Kenilworth and, despite all the odds, they continued their staunch defence. Tempers flared and fists flew as some of the players took the law into their own hands; when order was restored the referee decided that no further action was warranted.

K's (with 14 men) took the game to DK and winger Charlie Wollaston was held up just short of the line. Again, the K's secured good lineout ball and mounted yet another surge at the DK line. It

was all K's now and they found a lovely overlap to send winger Finn Yallop over in the corner with only a few minutes to play. O'Connor's conversion made it 26-33.

Time was now up and Kenilworth came up just short. Their never-say-die attitude was a credit to the club and, despite the loss, there is real potential in this young side. A try and a losing bonus point was gained from a difficult fixture against a team who will not be far off the top at the end of the season.

Next week Kenilworth are away at Silhillians, 3pm kick off.