Match Report by KC's Press Secretary Martin Easton.....

In front of a large VP’s & Sponsors Day crowd a terrific first half KC’s performance laid the foundations for a bonus point win against a Kenilworth side who arrived at Marlpool Lane second in the table with a 100% record in Mids 2 West (South).

With less than two minutes played lineout possession gave KC’s their first opportunity to move the ball and No 12 Laurence Hughes ran a superb line to create space for fellow centre Jacob Evetts to touch down under the posts for a try which scrumhalf Chris Pinner converted to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.From the restart a surging run by lock Chris Baldwin took play deep into Kenilworth’s 22 and although the visitors initially repelled the danger a scrum on KC’s ten metre line saw No 8 Layton Wilkinson make good ground and set up a ruck from which the ball was spun along the line to left wing James Whitehouse who crossed to increase the lead to 12-0.
KC’s forwards were now on fire and the whole side was up for the challenge to the extent that Kenilworth were unable to make any headway whatsoever.An attempted breakout from defence was stopped in its tracks by a sterling Whitehouse tackle and the visitors,under relentless pressure,cracked again five minutes before the break when KC’s flyhalf Andy McLellan glided through an inviting gap for their third try,improved by Pinner,to establish a 19-0 advantage.There was still time for a mazy Evetts run to threaten Ken’s line once more and KC’s finished the half totally dominant,having not allowed their opponents a sniff of a chance in the first forty minutes which had seen the home side produce their best rugby for many a long day - a scintillating display!
It was unrealistic to expect KC’s to be able to continue to play at the blistering tempo of the first half and with the visitors starting the second period in more determined fashion their No 15 kicked a penalty after five minutes to open their account.Kidder’s intensity had dropped and the fullback punished them again soon after,coming into the line to cross for a try which he converted to reduce the arrears to 19-10.Now on the front foot,another fine passage of Kenilworth play was finished off by their No 4 for a try which saw them trail by just four points and they clearly fancied their chances although a yellow card shown to their left wing did not help their cause.
With time running out KC’s rallied and McLellan dropped a goal to give them some breathing space at 22-15.He then kicked a penalty to touch and from the lineout KC’s worked the ball to rookie fullback Sam Taylor with space outside and he crossed for his first senior try to clinch the win and secure a fourth try bonus point.Kenilworth threw everything at KC’s in the final couple of minutes to try and get a losing bonus point but last ditch defending held them up over the line and they went away empty handed.
KC’s could hardly have had a tougher start to their 2012-2013 campaign.Their first four fixtures have been against the sides who at kick off occupied the top four positions in the table but they have already accumulated a hugely creditable twelve points,scoring fourteen tries in the process,and provided they remain focused they can look forward to a very rewarding season under new head coach Ian Bletcher who has undoubtedly brought a real “buzz” back to the club.