KENT’S new championship skipper David Fulton described his side’s failure to defeat the students of Loughborough University as a pre-season wake up call.

The University’s Centre of Cricketing Excellence side, made up of 10 young contracted county rookies and an overseas mature student, fought out a stubborn draw in Canterbury yesterday despite being made to follow on by their first-class hosts.

Kent’s principal tormentor was James Adams who followed his first innings score of 103 with an equally stoic 113 from 228 balls after the students were made to follow on 230 in arrears after Kent's one and only innings of 443 for six declared.

With one wicket already down, Loughborough went into the third day still trailing by 200 but by stumps had reached 331 for eight and an overall lead of 101 by the time Fulton shook hands on a draw.

"We’ve learnt quite a few lessons in that we must catch better and field better," said a phlegmatic Fulton afterwards. "The pitch was pretty flat, the life had gone out of it but I felt our bowlers really stuck to the task well.

"Amjad Khan and Davis Masters were excellent and Matthew Fleming bowled some good spells as well. We’ve set one of our goals out to be the best fielding side in the country and we were far from that during this game, no disrespect to Loughborough but if you grass seven or eight chances you will always struggle to wrap up victory no matter who the opposition.

"The real stuff starts Friday and everything that’s gone before gets us ready for that, so in some respects this has been a wake up call and reminds us that we came third last year by working hard and getting the basics right."

The highlights for Fulton’s side were centuries for Matthew Walker and Rob Key and some lively bowling from Amjad Khan, who claimed four wickets in the match.

Lordswood’s David Masters also appeared back to near his best after suffering a frustrating 2001 campaign.

Kent were hampered in their drive for victory by the loss of close-season signing James Hewitt, who hobbled off with a jarred knee after bowling just three, second innings overs.

It is hoped the former Middlesex man will be fit for Friday’s Frizell County Championship opener against Hampshire in Canterbury.

Martin Saggers (groin), Ben Trott (back) and James Golding (side strain) will all undergo tests later in the week, but Mark Ealham will definitely miss out after fracturing a knuckle on his right hand.

Scorecard: Kent 443 for six declared, Loughborough University CCE 213 and 331 for eight following on. Match Drawn.