Job Done - but heavy weather

Josh Coyle and Jack Walker came into the back row for Matty Houghton and Blake Robinson, whilst Dini Noyo moved to scrum half, with Leo Mercer coming in on the wing.

Kendal opened the scoring after six minutes of play. Glenn Weightman put a long kick down field which was well chased by Zane Butler and Damian Armstrong, forcing Stockport to concede a penalty. From the resulting lineout the ball was moved across field where Danny Barker broke through for the try, which Glenn Weightman converted. 0v7.

The second try came two minutes later. A Stockport lineout ball was stolen. Damian Armstrong made a long run down the left wing. When he was stopped the ball was quickly re-cycled and whilst tackled Glenn Weightman managed to get a pass away. The ball was moved into the centre when Zane Butler broke through to score. Glenn Weightman added the conversion 0v14.

Any thoughts of the high scores conceded by Stockport this season had to be put on hold, as they had a long period of possession with Kendal being forced to defend, with long kicks out of defence, only allowed Stockport to set up further attacks.

Once the Stockport attacks had been repelled, Kendal had a period on the attack, with good runs from Chris Downham and Liam Hayton, but both were held up near the line.

The third try finally came after twenty five minutes, when Chris Downham broke from a scrum near halfway, and broke through several tackles. Whilst held up near the line managed to get over for the try, which was not converted. 0v19.

Shortly afterwards, despite the deficit, when awarded a penalty when Kendal were caught offside, Stockport chose to go for the posts and opened their scoring, with a penalty from their scrum half. 3v19

The Stockport score was increased on half time, when a second penalty was converted, after a John Dervey tackle was adjudged to be dangerous. 6v19.

Stockport left the field at halftime, whilst Kendal stayed out.

Kendal opened the second half scoring after eight minutes of play. The forwards drove from a lineout on the right, when the ball came back, it was moved into the centre where Danny Barker made a break, and when he was stopped Dini Noyo quickly moved the ball left, where Damian Armstrong was put in in the corner. The difficult conversion was not successful. 6v24

With a try scoring bonus point in the bag, the fifth try quickly followed and was the probably the best of the afternoon. Stockport ball was stolen in the Kendal half and the ball was moved through a number of hands, with Zane Butler starting and ending the move. 6v29.

Dini Noyo was forced off with an injury with Nathan Wooff coming onto the right wing and Damian Armstrong moving to scrum half. Richard Harryman also came on for Dom Musetti.

Shortly afterwards Stockport got their first try in strange circumstances. Kendal appeared to be penalised for a player speaking out of turn. The Stockport penalty to touch failed to reach its target and Chris Park returned a kick up field. This was returned, and when Damian Armstrong jumped for the ball, it bounced off his shoulder to a Stockport player who went through to score. 11v29

New recruit Willy Hintz came on for Jack Walker, and looked as if he could be a useful addition to the squad with a few good runs.

Again rather than cave in it was Stockport who were playing better with the ball, although without looking likely to add to their score.

Kendal finally added a sixth try after twenty minutes. The Stockport backline which had spent much of the afternoon coming up very quickly to stifle Kendal attacks, was finally penalised, and Glenn Weightman put a good kick to touch. The forwards drove from the lineout, and when the ball came back, Richard Harryman broke through the centre. The ball was then moved to the left where Nathan Wooff went over in the corner. Chris Park took over the kicking and added the conversion. 11v36.

Stockport added a second try after twenty five minutes. A Stockport penalty to touch was kept infield by John Dervey, but a good chase by Stockport meant Chris Park was unable to get a kick away, and was forced to concede a five metre scrum, from which Stockport scored. 16v36.

At the end of normal time Chris Downham was forced off with an injury, and Jack Walker returned.

A less than convincing performance but the team went away with maximum points, to move up the table. Stockport played well and certainly did not look like a team who have been on the end of some big defeats this season.

KENDAL WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH : Zane Butler
A good day for the centres with three of the six tries and Zane just edging Danny out on the vote