Kenilworth 32 pts Luctonians 20

LUCTONIANS lost ground in the Midlands 1 title race when Kenilworth gained revenge for league and Intermediate Cup defeats earlier in the season.

A strong downfield wind had a significant influence on the match and the Kenilworth side adapted their tactics accordingly and took advantage of the blustery conditions.

Playing with the wind behind them in the first half, Kenilworth penned back Luctonians for long periods and established a 24-5 lead by the break.

Although the Kingsland-based club had the better of the play in the second half, they were not able to make up the deficit.

Kenilworth opened the scoring in the 15th minute when right wing Russell White squeezed in at the corner.

White soon snapped up a second try in the same spot nine minutes later but Luctonians hit back with a try of their own when left wing and captain Will Crawforth threaded his way through after the visiting pack had taken play into the Kenilworth 22.

However, Luctonians' good work was undone within seconds because a loose pass from the visitors was intercepted and Kenilworth centre Jez Noon crossed underneath the posts. Centre Simon Givens added a final try before half time, and with James Cathcart slotting over two conversions, Kenilworth had opened up a commanding 19-point lead.

Luctonians' woes were compounded from the kick off when Cathcart successfully dropped a neat goal into the wind.

To their credit, Luctonians replied with a period of intense pressure from the forwards and the disrupted Kenilworth defence conceded a succession of penalties and had their tight head prop yellow carded for having persistently infringed.

The home side came close to conceding a penalty try and despite the intense forward pressure, it was centre Jon Goodwin who cut through the midfield and rounded the Kenilworth full back for a fine individual try.

Kenilworth were not finished, however, and grabbed their fifth and final try in one of their rare second-half raids into the Luctonians half.

Although the visitors scored two further tries, with flanker Mike Burdon getting the first and Crawforth crossing for his second, the deficit was too much for Luctonians claw back.