RUGBY UNION: KENILWORTH remain rooted at the bottom of Midland One West league after losing 34-17 away at fellow strugglers Worcester Wanderers in the shadows of Sixways Stadium.
Kenilworth had experienced a difficult week as more players were added to the already long injury list making team selection extremely difficult.
Most of the early play was in the Kenilworth half but they defended stoutly, conceding only a penalty in the first 15 minutes, however Worcester’s pressure told eventually as they crossed close to the posts to score a converted try.
Kenilworth got themselves almost immediately back into the game when a number of phases took them to just within the opposition 22. Jamie Mapletoft kicked low and hard behind the opposition defence to allow Josh Hickman to collect and dive over for a well worked but unconverted try.
Play returned almost immediately to the Kenilworth half with Worcester taking advantage of the struggling visiting pack and while Kenilworth defended bravely it was only a matter of time before another try was conceded leaving Kenilworth 15-5 down.
However just prior to half time Kenilworth centre Lloyd Randall intercepted a long Worcester pass to run half the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Hickman added the extra points to cut the deficit to just three points at the break.
The second half resumed with Kenilworth again finding themselves defending and in due course a further converted try was conceded taking Worcester ten points clear.
Matt Gibson was then given ten minutes in the sin bin for apparently pushing a Worcester player but being down to 14 men only served to fire up the Kenilworth side who immediately went on the attack and the ball was spun out wide for Mapletoft to cross in the corner.
At only five points adrift there was real hope that Kenilworth would get something out of the game, but such hope disappeared almost immediately as a misjudged pass was intercepted and Worcester scored near the posts.
A a similar score was conceded when another misjudged pass on the halfway line was gathered by Worcester who three or four phases later scored their fourth and bonus point try and the final whistle was blown only a few moments later with the final score 34-17 to Worcester.
Up next for Kenilworth is a trip to Moseley Oak this Saturday.
