Both teams came into the game involved in the fight to stay out of the bottom four with six games of the season to play. Kendal started the day with a seven point lead on their hosts, who after starting the season with a maximum fifteen points after three games, had since added just twelve to Kendal’s twenty-nine, and had had a few disappointing results before the break last weekend.

The last three games between the teams had ended in late drama – could it happen again ?

Kendal showed just one change from the squad who played so well against Middlesbrough a fortnight ago, with Dini Noyo coming in on the bench in place of Glenn Chesher. Joe Anderson moved to the front row, and it was Dane Blenkharn’s turn to start from the bench.

The Penrith squad showed ten changes to the one which played at Kendal including a new 11 to 14 and bench.

After a frosty night, it was a warmer afternoon and the game was in no doubt due to Penrith’s RFU 3G pitch, which was also reportedly the reason for the odd 3.00 kick off.

Penrith had the better start and had the lead after just two minutes. The first of a number of Kendal handling errors saw the ball lost in mid-field, and scrum half Ashton Hook, who was to go on to have a good game in place of injured Penrith captain George Graham, broke away. Whilst he was finally stopped the ball was re-cycled and there was a score on the corner flag. Fullback Rob Coward added the conversion from a wide angle. 7v0.

The lead was extended five minutes later with a penalty from Coward in front of the posts. It had appear Matt Houghton got back up after making a tackle to steal Penrith ball, but the referee felt illegally. 10v0.

Five minutes later Kendal were temporarily down to fourteen when Patrick Wolstenholme was adjudged to have deliberately knocked a ball down to stop a Penrith attack. Despite Penrith’s dominance and man advantage the Kendal fourteen held out.

Despite Penrith having the vast majority of the ball, the next score did not come until the half hour, with a second Coward penalty. 13v0

There was a blow for Kendal as MoM against Middlesbrough, John Dervey, who had already stolen one Penrith throw, was forced off with an injury. Dane Blenkharn came on.

As the half came to an end, Kendal were again temporarily down to fourteen when Joe Anderson, ill advisedly spoke out. With no prop on the bench Matt Houghton moved to the front row and Robbie Kincart to prop. Penrith exploited this winning several penalties; although it appeared their own prop was coming in at an illegal angle.

As the half came to an end, Kendal looked lucky to be turning at half time only thirteen points down, despite a string of errors, two yellow cards, and a Penrith team looking far from one with a long losing record. However things were then to get even better, with the last action of the half.

Penrith were on the attack near halfway, and a pass was sent out to the wing, but Dan Shorrock had anticipated it, to intercept and once away there was no stopping him, scoring under the posts giving Evan Moir the simple conversion, for Kendal to turn just the one score down. 13v7

The opening of the second half was much more even, and it was clear as had happened as Mint Bridge earlier in the season, some of the Penrith forwards were starting to feel the pace against the more mobile Kendal eight, and having weathered a second period down top fourteen, there was the bonus of the return of a refreshed Joe Anderson, who had probably been expecting to have to go the full eighty minutes.

After several near misses as they stepped up the pressure, Kendal took the lead after a quarter of an hour. After a number of players had been brought down short of the line, it appeared Patrick Wolstenholme would be the next, but instead he had the strength to force his way over near the posts and Evan Moir made no mistake with the conversion. 13v14

This saw Kendal make a second change, this time tactical with Dini Noyo coming on in place of Dan Shorrock, for his first appearance since November, and he was soon in the action making ground.

The lead was extended five minutes later with Evan Moir given the opportunity to put over a penalty. 13v17.

Penrith came back and a second penalty narrowed the lead to just a point 16v17, with fifteen minutes still to play.

This saw Kendal make their third change, with Johnny Swallow coming on for Patrick Wolstenholme.

Five minutes later it was Penrith’s turn to be reduced to fourteen, with back row man Jack Tunnicliffe (?) yellow carded (no idea what for). Evan Moir took the opportunity to increase the lead beyond a penalty or drop goal. 16v20 with ten minutes to play.

Kendal needed a try to kill the game off, but instead it was Penrith who raised their game, but found a defence much improved from the first half, allowing them to make little ground.

Patrick Wolstenholme and Dan Shorrock returned for Robbie Kincart and Ben o’Halloran.

Penrith were been kept near halfway by the Kendal defence, and there appeared to be at least two knock-ons and several passes close to forward, only for Penrith to force a penalty. There was an excellent kick to the corner for a lineout. Was there to be more late drama ?

There was, but this time it was Kendal who benefitted. The long throw beat Kendal’s only lineout forward Oscar Coxon, but was stolen at the back of the line by replacement Johnny Swallow, who set off down the field making a lot of ground. When stopped it was Penrith who offended trying to illegally steal the ball. With time up, Evan Moir, tapped the penalty to himself then sent the ball to touch for an important Kendal win.

The win puts Kendal nine points clear of York in the higher play off place (who have an equally tough run in), and ten clear of Penrith who are just four points clear of Middlesbrough in the automatic relegation place – the two teams meet at Penrith on the 7th March

Next week it is Penrith again, this time at Mint Bridge, for a place in the Cumbria Cup final later in the season. A week later it is a home game against Blaydon, one of the few teams with little to play for, who lost at home to York this weekend.

A last game of the season for Ollie Rose and Andy Rogers

Ollie is heading to New Zealand with Barney Coxon for some further rugby education

Andy is staying closer to home for the long awaited surgery

Andy has 4 tries from his 15 appearances since joining from Penrith this season

Ollie has 27 tries (11 this season) from his 41 appearances

MAN OF THE MATCH

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TEAMS :

PHOTOS OF THE GAME

Link to Pauls's

Link to Andrew Fields

OTHER RESULTS/b]

York (who have a tough run in) improved their chances of survival by winning narrowly at Blaydon

[b]TABLE

Ilkley go ahead of Harrogate into the Promotion play off spot, by a Try Scoring bonus points but with a -3 points. the two teams meet at Ilkley in a fortnight.

York's win sees them go ahead of Penrith, who are just 4 points above Middlesbrough whose game against Sandal was off.

We are now nine points clear of the play off, but have a tough last three games.

SECOND XV :

Kendal 36 v 24 Littlebrough

#/

WASPS :

Wasps 29 v 20 Sheffield

Tries: A Butler,S Wilkinson (2),S Postlethwaite
Conversions: S Postlethwaite (2),L Fleming
Penalties: L Fleming

SENIOR COLTS :
After a heavy defeat away at Preston Grasshoppers last weekend, the Colts have a weekend off

They are back at Mint Bridge on the 22nd to play Waterloo