First versus second, in a potential Championship decider. Kendal came into the game with a seven point lead but Fylde had a game in hand (next week against Littleborough, who last weekend had conceded 78 points to a Southport team Kendal had score 90+ points against a few weeks earlier), so a win in both games and they would overhaul Kendal.

Fylde had beaten Kendal 51v17 earlier in the season but Kendal had won a Cup game there 12v20.

A number of changes to the team from last weekend, but with First XV and Colts seasons both ended, several players who had been filling gaps were able to return, and Colts step up (although a week earlier two had been playing against League Champions Heath, so maybe not). Jordan Johnson; Dan Greenwood and Devin Coyle also came in.

An average age of the squad of just 23.7, with a mix of youth and experience, with five under twenty and three over thirty in the starting line up, and another four under twenty, plus one (well) over thirty on the bench.

After some earlier rain it was a sunny afternoon, but with a cool breeze blowing towards the river end.

It was perfect start for Kendal, with an outside half’s try for Dan Greenwood after just two minutes. Chris Evans made ground into the Fylde twenty two, and with Alex Ryder waiting in midfield to do the same thing, Greenwood went to pass but retained the ball to go through the gap to score as the defence went to cut off Ryder. Tommy Scanlan (playing fullback) added the conversion 7v0.

Fylde came back and had long spells with the ball and without a kicking outside half and playing into the breeze Kendal struggled to escape their half. However whilst Fylde had a kicker, they were struggling to win any lineout ball, with Kendal either stealing ball or forcing errors.

Fylde pulled a score back after eight minutes, following a penalty lineout a Fylde player broke away from the drive to score. 7v5

Kendal continued to struggle getting on the wrong side of the referee and conceding a lot of penalties.

Midway through the half Kendal lost influential No.8 Chris Evans to an injury

After the early scoring, as expected in a clash between the two top teams, they started to cancel each other out. Too often the Kendal forwards tried to find gaps in midfield, when there were overlaps available outside.

There was five minutes to play of the half before the next score came.

A poor Fylde clearance kick was gathered in mid-field by Kendal back row Isa Muschamp, who set off on a powerful run. The ball was moved wide with Jordan Johnson making a good break down the right wing. Rather than pass to Tommy Scanlan in support, he went for the line himself, only to get caught, but Anthony Gage was in support to take the ball for the try, 12v5.

Again Fylde came back and the referee decided Dan Greenwood had illegally stopped a Fylde attack near the line and he was yellow carded.

The more powerful Fylde scrum drove over for their second try. 12v10

There was no further score in the five minutes of added time. So the teams turned with the game as expected very close.

Again Kendal started the half well and extended the lead with a try after five minutes. Tommy Scanlan’s kick from near the touchline hit the post, but bounced over to add the extra points 19v10

Whilst Dan Greenwood was off, Dev Coyle had moved to outside half and Tommy Scanlan to scrum half, and Scanlan was working well with his forwards to keep the ball moving fast, to stretch the older Fylde pack. When Greenwood returned they swapped back.

Kendal had brought on fresh legs, two from opposite ends of the age range. Colt Johnny Swallow was popping up everywhere to test the Fylde defence, and whilst Liam Hayton may have made his First XV debut when only four of the rest of the squad were born, he was a doing an equally good job making a lot of ground, and then getting the ball back quickly.

The lead was extended following a Anthony Gage break, taken on by Tommy Scanlan, and finished by Johnny Swallow, with Scanlan adding the conversion, to stretch the lead to beyond two scores, 26v10

The lead was quickly extended with Dan Greenwood getting his second, after good build up work by backs and forwards. 31v10

Tempers boiled over and there was a mass altercation involving all the Fylde team but most of the Kendal backs seem to wisely decided they had better things to do, and stayed well clear. Worryingly the Fylde bench also set off – hopefully to be Peacemakers (a bit like an American President is). Fortunately a ceasefire was agreed before they arrived. The referee called the two captains across and yellow carded a Fylde second row (possibly happy for a ten minute rest) plus Kendal’s Alex Ryder – not sure how they were chosen (may just the two tallest).

The exchange seemed to have fired Fylde up and rattled Kendal, as Fylde came into the game for the first time in the half.

Kendal were down to thirteen five minutes later, when Anthony Gage was yellow carded for his part in ending a Fylde attack.

The Fylde scrum drove over for a try, and whilst the conversion failed and there were under ten minutes to play, the Fylde team clearly sense a comeback was on.

Kendal had however re-grouped and quickly stretched their lead again. Charlie Lowther picked up a Fylde lineout throw which had failed to find its target and made ground. There was another powerful break by Isa Muschamp, taken on by Liam Hayton then Tommy Scanlan. Replacement wing Cameron Stevenson (?) had earlier been denied by a poor pass; a pass adjudged forward; and a good covering tackle. This time he got his reward and went round behind the posts to ensure a further two points were added by Tommy Scanlan. 38v15

There was a further Kendal score. The Fylde pack had been on top in the scrum, but when the ball came out quickly from their scrum near halfway, it was Kendal back row Evan Beattie who was first to react to secure Kendal possession. The ball was then moved wide and centre Theo Stephenson, who had had a good game, made ground and whilst he was stopped, Dev Coyle was in support to score. Tommy Scanlan again added the conversion 45v15

Fylde got the final try from short range with the last action of the game, but were well beaten. 45v20

An excellent result, especially as the team played a quarter of the game with one less player, lost Chris Evans and Jordan Johnson to injury; and had backrow Johnny Swallow in the centre for most of the second half (although with his speed and footwork he could certainly fit in there).

TEAM :

TABLE

WASPS :
On Sunday, kick off 2.00pm the Wasps play their last home game of what has been a tough season of transition with a lot of new players being introduced, and injuries and unavailability for some previous regulars.

The Wasps sit just one point behind Sefton at the foot of the table (after Birkenhead Park dropped out of the League). So a win this weekend (or next at Halifax) could see they move up (depending on how Sefton who are home to Halifax but finish with a daunting trip to Driffield, who are currently second but could overtake Bishop Auckland who have a one point lead and they play this weekend)

This weekend’s visitors Liverpool St Helens sit fourth with nine wins from their fourteen games, including a 34v5 win against the Wasps in the game earlier in the season

Halifax who both the Wasps and Sefton play are in seventh (one place above Sefton) with five wins from their fourteen games.