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The revival continues. In recording their first back-to-back league wins of the season, Kenilworth hoisted themselves out of the relegation places in Midlands One West, with a determined display against a distinctly useful Whitchurch side. With another home game to come before the seasonal break, also against mid-table opponents, there is a mood of cautious optimism in the camp (writes Bob Jones).

The men from the Welsh Marches started the stronger and it seemed to all intents and purposes that the home side were once again about to succumb to a very early score, as missed tackles enabled right wing Dodd to scorch away to near the line but then fortunately throw a pass forward. However, after a succession of penalties against both teams, it was the Ks who struck first, Dominic Sheehan going over in the corner on 10 minutes, following a good move that was initiated by a trademark swift run by Nyle Beckett. Tom Kendall added the extras with a superb conversion. Whitchurch were not rattled by this and showed their mettle with good, integrated play by both forwards and backs, in which fly-half Nicholas and No 8 Lloyd were especially prominent. In fact, it was the visitors who dominated the remainder of the half, and had they been able to finish even some of their succession of slick moves, would have found themselves with a handsome lead at the interval. Nonetheless, full credit to the home defensive effort, which when allied to their opponents wastefulness, saw no points conceded until the 36th minute. A scything run by full-back Kendall took play to near the Kenilworth line. Following this, a driving maul enabled their combative back-row Bucknell to touch down, with scrum-half Matthews converting to make the scores level at the break.

Within a minute of the restart, the Ks regained the lead, courtesy of a Kendall penalty goal, after Whitchurch had strayed offside. Clearly stung, the Shropshire outfit struck back almost immediately. A tap-

penalty was not well dealt with, and the rampaging Lloyd was rewarded with an unconverted try, after an ensuing drive by the pack. The Ks responded well to this reverse, with Beckett making another penetrating run, and the pack upping the ante in impressive fashion. It was following a powerful scrummage in the visitors 22, which culminated over the try-line, that Bobby Thompson applied the finishing touch. Another difficult conversion by Kendall opened up a five-point lead after 12 minutes. Flanker Bucknall, apparently somewhat taken aback by the push-over, decided to start a melee. He was sent to the sin-bin, along with his opposite number, Jack Gibson, for retaliation, by referee Fergus Ross. The Kenilworth front-row were in the thick of the action, with Andre-Catalin Graur making a thundering charge, only to lose control of the ball. However, it was No 8 Thompson who set up the final Kenilworth try with a storming run. The ball reached Jonny Cresswell who needed no second invitation to bullock his way over on 26 minutes. Kendall's conversion stretched the lead to 12 points. Whitchurch would not lie down and succeeded in turning a Kenilworth scrum, and gaining the put-in. Gibson, fresh from the sin-bin , was withdrawn in favour of Jonny Openshaw as the game entered its final five minutes, when Alex Selby was also forced to retire with a leg injury, Josh McShane replacing him. The visitors continued to pound away up-front and in spite of some stout defensive work by the Ks, were able to snatch the last try, when lock Bates finished yet another forward drive from close quarters. The conversion attempt, twice-taken by Matthews, because the home side had moved forward before the ball was struck, did not go over, much to the relief of all concerned of Glasshouse Lane.

Kenilworth: Graur, Cresswell (Capt), Collett, Flowers, Wood, Dickson, Gibson, Thompson, Selby, Wood, Beckett, Sheehan, Tyler, Whitehall, Kendall. Replacements: Dodd, Openshaw, McShane.

Next Saturday (December 17th), Kenilworth entertain Ludlow. The game will be played under floodlights, with a 3pm kick-off.