Kenny a key figure in North Dorset bid (From Bournemouth Echo)

Kenny a key figure in North Dorset bid

7:00am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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LIONS chief David Dunn believes Jayson Kenny’s experience could help North Dorset make the leap out of Southern Counties South.

North coach Peter Kennedy swooped for Kenny to add some steel to North’s pack, with the veteran flanker making his debut in Saturday’s 55-0 romp over Minety.

And Kenny is set to take his place on the blindside once again when Kennedy’s charges host Oldfield Old Boys at Slaughtergate tomorrow.

Dunn, who coached Kenny at Chapel Gate, told the Echo: “Jayson left us at the end of last season. He’s a family man now and runs a successful business and National League rugby is a massive commitment.

“We’re on the road a lot and Jayson felt he couldn’t commit the time to National League rugby. I think he has moved nearer to North Dorset and he is turning out for them to help out in their end of season campaign.

“Peter contacted Bournemouth first of all before he approached Jayson to make sure he wasn’t still with us, so it was all above board.

“There’s a huge gap between their league and the National League and Jayson is a player with huge experience, with us and with Dorchester. He is an excellent leader and having him in their side can only be good for North Dorset.”

Lions, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from their agonising 16-12 defeat to Oxford Harlequins when they visit Cleve in National Three South West tomorrow.

Dunn’s side slipped to fifth place in the table following Saturday’s loss, all but ending their hopes of a third-placed finish with three games of the campaign remaining.

Dunn added: “We were very sore last week because again we were the better side. It was disappointing because some key decisions went against us, especially when Ngapaku Ngapaku was put in the sin bin for 10 minutes. The referee got that decision completely wrong.

“In the end, while he was off, they scored a try and kicked a penalty to win the game. That was the difference between success and defeat.

“I think third place is out of reach now. It’s between us and Chinnor for fourth and now we’re looking towards the cup finals to finish off the season.

“This is such a competitive league and we have some big money clubs in the league. It’s no easy place to be so I think anywhere in the top-five at this level is creditable for any club.”

Tim Collier returns to the Lions squad for tomorrow’s clash, while Dunn is also hoping to have James Payne and Ben Stewart available.

Kennedy, though, is still missing around a dozen potential first-team players, although Stacy Dyer returns to the bench.

Elsewhere in Southern Counties South, leaders Wimborne travel to Dorset rivals Dorchester.

Lions: K Lynch, Hearson, Stewart, Webber, Chislett, Pope, Ngapaku, Bradley, Burns, Wilford, Manning, Collier, Ford, Armstrong, Stevenson, Stanton-Ketchley, Hughes, R Lynch, Payne.

North: Keates, Tite, Alhuson, Botterill, Westcar, East, Sampson, Dimmack, Soskin, Mackay, Kenny, Topping, Trevis, Williamson, Barron. Subs: Dymond-Andrews, Dyer, T Hooper.

<•>Swanage & Wareham welcome Cheltenham to Bestwall in South West One East, while struggling Oakmeadians visit Olney.

Swans: Sheldrake, R Elford, O Andrews, Burgess, Penney, Jacobs, Tomes, Wright, Sammons, Brett, Blackmore, Graves, Parish, Wilcox, Dunsford. Subs: A Woodard, van Tuyl, Corsie.