On a picturesque pitch in a clearing in the woods, like Hansel and Gretell, AEI got lost and didn’t find their way home.
With the heavy rain during the week and snow on Saturday morning, the heavy conditions did not suit the normally fleet footed AEI. Whilst they were ruing that the polish had been spoiled on their boots, Kenilworth exploited their own acclimatisation to the thick mud and standing water to score the first try. The game had started badly, and continued to go downhill as Kenilworth ran in two further tries.
AEI began to arouse towards the end of the half and were exerting some sustained pressure, but it seemed it wasn’t to be their day as an attempted chip over the defence was charged down and the Kenilworth winger ran the length of the pitch to score. A stern talking to at half time saw AEI start much more brightly. They pressed immediately and at last began to recirculate possession. A fourth phase adventure saw the ball moved to the wing without spillage, and Alan Meahan scored a welcome first try for the club. Buoyed by this success, AEI continued to rampage, and 15 minutes into the half more pressure resulted in a rare penalty for the Works side. Quickly taken by Terry Bott, the move ended with Clive Partridge driving over under the posts.
Now within two scores, AEI looked to be in with a serious chance of taking the match, but an injury to No.9 Terry Bott put a sudden brake on progress. Although sportingly replaced by a Kenilworth substitute, AEI were unable to recapture their momentum. There were to be no more scores until AEI’s outside half was knocked unconscious when trying to gather a kick and Kenilworth scored in the last minute. Mark McDonough’s (or was it Kevin White?) kicking boot was on fine form making both conversions.
CPS