2007/08 Season

If two years earlier, the Centenary had been one of the darkest seasons in Kendal history, this must have been one of the brightest. 27 victories from 28 games, with the one loss coming away in the National Cup competition against Otley, who were second in their table, two divisions above Kendal, after relegation from the division above two seasons earlier.

On the field there was a return from four seasons at Sedgley Park for Ian Voortman to Captain the team, whilst Dan Stephens was also available after a gap of two seasons. Newcomers were New Zealander Hoani Moore, and South African Renier Bestier, whilst from slightly closer to home second row Gareth Gore joined from Carmarthen Quins in South West Wales, after his partner started work at Queen Katherine School.

Despite the amazing winning record, there were a number of games where the team did not secure victory until very late, and it often appeared that they held a little in reserve to outlast their opposition.

The difficulties away from home the previous season, which had led President Ray Lee to suggest in the opening programme, that the team travel were supplied with travel sickness pills, and a photo of Kendal Town Hall, had also been conquered.

After an early string of convincing wins, including against higher League, Rugby Lions in the National cup, the eighth game of the season, saw the team travelling to also unbeaten Huddersfield. As half time approached already trailing 9v3, things got even harder, as Rob Quarry was sent off for back heeling the Huddersfield scrum half, who was stopping him escaping from a maul, who dived as if he was a Premier Division footballer, despite the kick appearing to miss. There was then the odd sight of Rob sending himself off, only to be called back from the touchline by the referee to do the job for real. Despite this the team won the second half 8v15, helped by Huddersfield’s outstanding kicker being off the field, for questioning the referee’s decision to award Kendal a penalty, leading to their No.8 taking, and missing, a vital conversion. In injury time with Kendal holding a narrow 14v16 lead, as Huddersfield threw everything at getting a winning score, the ball went loose, Ian Voortman hacked it upfield, and Nick McKain gathering to gallop in for a try to guarantee victory. The team spirit that season was demonstrated by the Dan Stephens, who contributed 11 of the points, having been up until the early hours of the previous morning at the birth of his daughter.

The return match was equally tight, with Kendal behind 6v9 going into injury time. With speedy Luke Ladell on the left wing, and Chris Park on the other, Huddersfield switched their wings to counter the perceived greater threat. This backfired as Chris gathered a loose kick out of defence, chipped his solidly built marker, and then got to the ball first for the match winning score.

Other tight games were away at Sheffield Tigers, in game played in a gale, where the home side held Kendal playing with the wind to a 0v5 lead with some dour forward play to run the clock down, only for Kendal to double their lead early in the second half, and employ similar tactics to keep their hosts to just a penalty.

At Hull, Dan Stephens, was having an off day kicking, but twice joined the Kendal rolling maul to score, with the team coming back from 10v0 and 17v5 down for a 17v25 win. The second half turnaround was also assisted by James Gough making a replacement No.8s afternoon a nightmare, cutting off vital Hull ball.

Kendal only took the lead in the home game against Penrith, five minutes before the final whistle with a Matt Gracie try, against a team destined for relegation, who played two thirds of the game with fourteen men, after their scrum half was sent off. Also relegated Altrincham Kersal, held 8v0, and 13v5 leads, before finally going down 13v15, in the game Kendal needed to seal promotion.

Possibly the toughest game of the season was away in the Cumbria Cup at Workington, where despite never being behind, a strong team could not get clear of their hosts, who including some veteran ex-Kendal players, and with the scores tied three minutes into injury time, it took a try from substitute Mark Wilson for the team to go through, and eventually retain the Cup.

Whilst it will be the attacking rugby that will be remembered, the statistics show that it was the defensive displays that probably won through, with the least points conceded than in the last thirty years and the second best points difference