Sat 18 Jan 2020, 14:15
DK versus Kenilworth was a high energy contest of M1W rugby with both teams, playing the game in the right way, the lead changed hands several times and the intensity of the contest was high octane throughout the contest. There were no instances of foul play, identified by the referee, which ensured that the pace of the game was high throughout.
With the teams competing hard it meant that a fair amount of the game took place in the middle third of the pitch, with both teams finding it hard to create breaks in the opposition defence, and the cover defence from both teams was on point.
Combined with this was the importance of the scoreboard in the opening exchanges Kenilworth missed at early penalty kick at goal. Following this there was a continuation of the attacking phase play from both sides.
During the middle of the first half DK, DK found some success on their right wing when a combination of Stef Shillingford and Tommy Walker, exploited the edge of the Kenilworth defence and got behind them, but the opportunity on the right was foiled but the ball was moved back across the field ending with a grubber from full back Sam Vaughan into the corner. From the ensuing line out DK started to run the ball with purpose, but were stopped by the Kenilworth defence. The referee adjudged that this had been achieved illegally and awarded a penalty, which taken and Sam Vaughan recorded DK’s opening three points
DK were starting to move down the field with their kicking game, and that was fully backed up by the chasers, Charlie Baffour closed down the Kenilworth full back when a Harry Bayliss penalty kick was just short of the corner, the full back’s kick went out in the Kenilworth 22. DK won the line out and Ryan Smitheman took on his opposite number in the centre and was almost through when he was hauled down and the support was deemed to arrive too slowly and Kenilworth were awarded a penalty for holding on.
This penalty saw Kenilworth make their way down the field and another penalty saw Kenilworth with a lineout in the scoreboard corner, and then a good pick and go routine saw them over it that corner, but with the conversion missed Kenilworth were 5-3 up.
Into the last 10 minutes of the half and DK’s scrum half Joe Dunn was down for some time following a collision and he was replaced by Mitch Grealey, which meant some reorganisation with Tommy Walker coming into scrum half, were he showed well for the remainder of the game.
The action of the half finished with DK kicking a second penalty goal thanks to Sam Vaughan, and went into half time 6-5 in the lead.
With the teams competing hard it meant that a fair amount of the game took place in the middle third of the pitch, with both teams finding it hard to create breaks in the opposition defence, and the cover defence from both teams was on point.
Combined with this was the importance of the scoreboard in the opening exchanges Kenilworth missed at early penalty kick at goal. Following this there was a continuation of the attacking phase play from both sides.
During the middle of the first half DK, DK found some success on their right wing when a combination of Stef Shillingford and Tommy Walker, exploited the edge of the Kenilworth defence and got behind them, but the opportunity on the right was foiled but the ball was moved back across the field ending with a grubber from full back Sam Vaughan into the corner. From the ensuing line out DK started to run the ball with purpose, but were stopped by the Kenilworth defence. The referee adjudged that this had been achieved illegally and awarded a penalty, which taken and Sam Vaughan recorded DK’s opening three points
DK were starting to move down the field with their kicking game, and that was fully backed up by the chasers, Charlie Baffour closed down the Kenilworth full back when a Harry Bayliss penalty kick was just short of the corner, the full back’s kick went out in the Kenilworth 22. DK won the line out and Ryan Smitheman took on his opposite number in the centre and was almost through when he was hauled down and the support was deemed to arrive too slowly and Kenilworth were awarded a penalty for holding on.
This penalty saw Kenilworth make their way down the field and another penalty saw Kenilworth with a lineout in the scoreboard corner, and then a good pick and go routine saw them over it that corner, but with the conversion missed Kenilworth were 5-3 up.
Into the last 10 minutes of the half and DK’s scrum half Joe Dunn was down for some time following a collision and he was replaced by Mitch Grealey, which meant some reorganisation with Tommy Walker coming into scrum half, were he showed well for the remainder of the game.
The action of the half finished with DK kicking a second penalty goal thanks to Sam Vaughan, and went into half time 6-5 in the lead.
Half time was a time for ensuring that both teams remained focused for the second half and that they could not relax at all.
In the opening minutes of the second half Kenilworth added a second try which saw them into a 10-6 lead after the conversion missed to the left. This signalled a period of the game when DK threatened but could not move the scoreboard. DK were finding some initial success if they could get the ball to the edge, the first occasion saw Ryan Smitheman make ground on the DK in front of the stand and a scoring opportunity looked to be on when, Stef Shillingford looped to the outside, but the ball hit the deck following a knock on.
Moments later Charlie Baffour was unleashed down the DK left, which led to a passage of play which saw DK progress into the 22 in front of the scoreboard, a 5 metre line out was won by DK and they steadied after a counter drive by Kenilworth, which saw Arran Hudson drive around the front almost there onto James Fildes who was bundled into touch inches short of the line.
This period of play was ended when Sam Vaughan kicked his third penalty to make the score 10-9 to Kenilworth.
The next period of the game was all Kenilworth, they were dominating field position due to the pressure that they were mounting on the DK defence, which led to penalties in quick succession that saw them move down the touchline, which lead to a line out and a well working move saw the DK line crossed for a third time with a conversion that meant it was 17-9 to Kenilworth. This was closely followed by a penalty which Kenilworth kicked so their lead grow to 20-9.
It was DK that rallied for the final minutes, and started to attack with a will, first a backs move from right to left looked to unleash Charlie, but a knock on ended that. Though, DK were soon back on the attack, and a quick penalty by Tommy Walker, saw him make inroads through the centre of the Kenilworth defence, then onto James Fildes who drove the move onward, the DK attack had reorganised and moved the ball towards their right wing but it was then swiftly moved back to the left, were DK had an extra man in the form of Josh Brown, who made the line, and the extras from Sam, 20-16 to Kenilworth, but DK had that important losing bonus point.
Next week it is Bridgnorth away in the North Mids. Cup.
In the opening minutes of the second half Kenilworth added a second try which saw them into a 10-6 lead after the conversion missed to the left. This signalled a period of the game when DK threatened but could not move the scoreboard. DK were finding some initial success if they could get the ball to the edge, the first occasion saw Ryan Smitheman make ground on the DK in front of the stand and a scoring opportunity looked to be on when, Stef Shillingford looped to the outside, but the ball hit the deck following a knock on.
Moments later Charlie Baffour was unleashed down the DK left, which led to a passage of play which saw DK progress into the 22 in front of the scoreboard, a 5 metre line out was won by DK and they steadied after a counter drive by Kenilworth, which saw Arran Hudson drive around the front almost there onto James Fildes who was bundled into touch inches short of the line.
This period of play was ended when Sam Vaughan kicked his third penalty to make the score 10-9 to Kenilworth.
The next period of the game was all Kenilworth, they were dominating field position due to the pressure that they were mounting on the DK defence, which led to penalties in quick succession that saw them move down the touchline, which lead to a line out and a well working move saw the DK line crossed for a third time with a conversion that meant it was 17-9 to Kenilworth. This was closely followed by a penalty which Kenilworth kicked so their lead grow to 20-9.
It was DK that rallied for the final minutes, and started to attack with a will, first a backs move from right to left looked to unleash Charlie, but a knock on ended that. Though, DK were soon back on the attack, and a quick penalty by Tommy Walker, saw him make inroads through the centre of the Kenilworth defence, then onto James Fildes who drove the move onward, the DK attack had reorganised and moved the ball towards their right wing but it was then swiftly moved back to the left, were DK had an extra man in the form of Josh Brown, who made the line, and the extras from Sam, 20-16 to Kenilworth, but DK had that important losing bonus point.
Next week it is Bridgnorth away in the North Mids. Cup.
