For a second season Kendal had made the Cumbria Cup Final, and again played in the North West of the County, with Keswick the opposition at Aspatria’s ground, following Kendal knocking holders since 2018, Penrith out in the semi-Final.

Keswick play a level below Kendal but have had a good season sitting fourth in their League with 12 wins and 5 losing bonus points from their 21 games, and could quality for a promotion play-off to try to replace Penrith as second placed team in Cumbria.

The Keswick team included ex-Black & Amber players, coach Garry Holmes at No.2 and Glen Weightman at No.10, with former scrum half, now playing wing, Joe Allday on the bench.

Two changes for Kendal from their narrow defeat away at Driffield last weekend, both strengthening the team, with Joe Anderson and Aaron Stephens returning, whilst with two extra spaces on the bench for a cup game, two more young players came in, with Evan Beattie and Liam Barr added, whilst Tommy Scanlan retained his place after impressing after coming on for his debut at Driffield.

There was a good following from Kendal, whilst Keswick had loud vocal support from the stand.

There was a strong wind across the pitch (but the worst was yet to come), but the threatened rain never arrived.

Kendal started well attacking the club house end of the ground, but the Keswick defence held firm.

Final the breakthrough came for Kendal after ten minutes. A penalty was put to touch and the pack set up a drive only for the maul to be collapsed, with a second penalty awarded. The lineout was again won and Keswick could not do the same thing again, for fear of a penalty try and yellow card, and the Kendal pack drove over with Robbie Kincart appearing to be last man up with the ball. Into the strong cross wind there was little chance of a conversion from close to the touch line. 0v5

There was a blow for Keswick as having already lost a forward with what appeared a rib injury, they lost Glenn Weightman.

Keswick had some powerful runners, especially No.8 and captain Peter Wightman, who were making ground when they had the ball, but the strong Kendal tackling was leading to handling errors and penalties.

Kendal had a second try after twenty minutes, with Matt Houghton finding a gap to power over from short range near the posts, allowing Evan Moir to add the conversion. 0v12.

Houghton was forced off with an injury shortly afterwards with Johnny Swallow coming on and again showing the progress he has made in the last twelve months, making some strong tackles to stop the more powerfully built Keswick forwards.

After half an hour Keswick narrowed the score with a powerful run through the centre following a scrum. 5v12.

Kendal got a third try at the end of normal time. After several forwards had unsuccessfully tried to get over on the left, the ball was moved wide to the right. Several times Oscar Coxon had been positioned in the backline, and this time it worked, as whilst he was stopped it had dragged the defence out, to open a gap for Dan Shorrock to go in. He also managed to get around to make the conversion easier 5v19

Due to the string of injuries there was still time to play, but no more scoring.

Kendal made no changes at half time, but Joe Allday came on for Keswick on the left wing, so guarding the touchline the wind was taking kicks to, with Kendal now attacking the railway end of the ground.

Kendal made an almost perfect start. A Keswick handling error saw Alistair Thompson steal the ball, and in the attempt to win it back, Keswick conceded a penalty. This was put to touch, Oscar Coxon took the throw and the pack rumbled to the line with Robbie Kincart getting a second try. 5v24.

After ten minutes Kendal made a change with Tommy Scanlan coming on in place of Dafydd Philp, and going scrum half with Aaron Stephens moving to fullback and Ben O’Halloran to the left wing.

Scanlan was having another good game, getting the ball away quickly from the breakdown.

With the big lead Kendal were playing a simple game with Evan Moir and Aaron Stephens putting a number of kicks deep into the Keswick half, to force Keswick to try to attack from long range.

It took half an hour for the next try and a third for Robbie Kincart from a lineout drive, with a number of the backs also joining in. 5v29.

This saw two more changes with Ben Leacock and Liam Barr coming on for Dane Blenkharn and Dan Shorrock.

Despite Evan Beattie still being on the bench Matt Houghton returned in place of Patrick Wolstenholme.

With ten minutes to play Keswick got a second try. The Kendal pack did well to stop Keswick getting the ball to ground near the line to win a scrum, but Keswick then stole the ball at the scrum for a try. 10v29.

Kendal seemed to change tactics, keeping the ball in hand rather than kicking, to prevent Keswick having any more chances. In one long period of possession Robbie Kincart appeared several times to take pressure off the backline, with Ben O’Halloran also doing well several times, when given passes by Aarron Stephens, when he seemed well covered.

Kendal made a further change with Evan Beattie finally coming on for Alistair Thompson who had had another good game, and Beattie was soon in the action.

Kendal played the game out, to after losing out in to Penrith in the Finals in 2018 and 2024, become Cup Holders for the first time since 2017.

After complaints about the standard of refereeing in an earlier round, none this time, with the young referee having as good a game as the two teams, taking a firm control of the game, and treating both teams the same.

Next weekend the final game of the season with a away trip to League Champions Heath (who reportedly loss to Sandal in the Cup)

The season is still not over, as a week later the Second XV have an important game at Mint Bridge against second place Fylde (4ths), and then have their own Cup Final against Prenton at Ormskirk on the first Saturday in May.

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