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Kenilworth RFC completed a tremendous treble-winning season lifting the RFU Intermediate Cup at Twickenham, having already won the Midlands Two West South title and Midlands Intermediate Cup on their way to the national final. The Twickenham result was a dream come true, a momentous day for the men in the Kenilworth jersey and the latest success in a treble winning season.
Kenilworth lifted the RFU Intermediate Cup following their 32-26 victory against a gallant Matson team. They led 22-5 at one stage but credit to Matson they battled the scoreboard back to a single point but Kenilworth showed composure and experience to push on. Overall it was end to end stuff for the full eighty minutes with nine tries scored.
Kenilworth captain Bobby Thompson told the Coventry Telegraph: "It was just unbelievable and I am just immensely proud of everyone involved at the club. It's been a real club and squad effort to achieve what we have this season and winning at Twickenham means so much to everyone!
"I'm so happy we could deliver a big trophy to the club and the supporters because they have been awesome all season and previous seasons when things didn't always go our way. The noise they made on the day was unreal and really dragged us through that game!"
A big part of Kenilworth rugby’s success has been put down to growing their own talent. A number of years back the decision was made to stop paying players and although they estimate they lost about 25 players overnight it is reckoned to have saved the club and changed comprehensively their ethos and club values.
Scrum half Gaz Renowden tweeted after they won the Midlands Two West South title: ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. It sums up the ethos perfectly.
He added ‘Pay a player and you get one decent player; pay Dave Ellis and you get a team who win the league with two games spare... #nopayweplay’
The Dave Ellis in question is the same Dave Ellis who helped coach New Zealand to a 3-0 series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2005. Having played over 700 rugby league games Dave Ellis was France’s defence coach for eleven years from 2000 during that time he won the Six Nations five times (including three Grand Slams) and helped mastermind France's famous victory over New Zealand in the 2007 Rugby World Cup as well as making Rugby World Cup final four years later in New Zealand.
Kenilworth Final team & squad for the final was: N Sutherland; R Jones, E Hannam, C Stevens, O Burman; A Selby, G Renowden; J Byrne, H Abell, D Bromfield; T Mpambawashe, J Fox; N Gerber, S Harrison, B Thompson (c).
Replacements: R Booth, F Gibson, R Bahey, T Naismith, J O’Brien, J Emery, T Clayton.