Old Coventrians 17 Kenilworth 21: Ring-rusty Ks are given a severe test by Old Coventrians

Kenilworth opened up a seven-point lead in the opening minutes with Bobby Thompson going in under the posts after good pressure from James Wadey resulted in turnover ball inside OCs’ 22. Josh Hickman added the two.

Shortly after, Kenilworth fielded a ball in their own 22 and started a move which was to prove the highlight of the afternoon. The ball was moved left and right at pace in a demonstration of 15-man rugby and, as the ball was swung wide left, Marko Stanojevic went over in the corner for an outstanding score.

Hickman slotted the conversion from the touchline against a stiff breeze.

When the hosts’ first real attack of the game stalled, Ross Lowthian snapped up the loose ball and set off upfield. Interplay with James Wadey took play to half-way before Rhys Jones outpaced the defence to score a good opportunist try.

Hickman’s conversion meant that with barely half an hour gone, Ks were 21 points to the good.

However, OCs were stirred and a series of drives eventually yielded an unconverted try to cut the deficit to 16 points at the interval.

Another series of pick-and-goes after the break stretched the Kenilworth defence and resulted in a short-range try and with Ks now making unforced errors, it needed a superb last-ditch effort from Ross Lowthian to prevent a further score.

OCs capitalised on another error to close the deficit to four points and with Kenilworth guilty of not looking after the ball they could sense an upset.

Ks hooker Matt Gibson saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on and captain Jonny Cresswell received the same punishment after only being on the field a short time.

However, Kenilworth hung on for the win but with much to ponder with the league season just around the corner.