A delayed start to the League season, and a tough start was expected against a Stockport team who had finished third in the West last season, and were rumoured to have recruited well over the Summer, as a new look Kendal team started their return to the West league.

Debuts for Aaron Sullivan and Angus Knight in the front row, and Toby Merrick in the second row, whilst there was a return to the club on the right wing for Zane Butler. The bench is expanded to five this season with Owen Slater and Finn Kennedy making debuts, and Dev Coyle a return to First team action.

A bright sunny afternoon (it often seems to be when we visit Stockport)

Stockport started at high pace and took the lead within two minutes. An attempted Kendal attack from their own twenty-two went wrong, when a pass went to ground, and the ball had to be kicked in to touch. From the lineout Stockport moved the ball quickly from right to left to open a gap for the try which was converted 7v0

Stockport continued their high tempo game and added a second try after nine minutes, it looked as if the Kendal defence had held out when they stopped what looked a certain try on the right, but the ball was quickly recycled for the try. 12v0

It appeared it may be a long afternoon for Kendal, but they were quickly back in the game.

The ball was turned over near halfway from another Stockport attack. A bit of quick thinking by Aaron Stephens, saw him put a kick down the right wing for Zane Butler to chase, forcing Stockport to put the ball into touch, for an attacking lineout. The lineout was won and the ball moved across field. It looks as if fullback Ben O’Halloran was in at the left corner but the Stockport defence got across. He was however able to get a pass away inside to Liam Barr in support, for him to weave his way through a few attempted tackles to score. Aaron Stephens put over the conversion from near the touchline 12v7

Ten minutes later the lead was extended again, as the Kendal defence had to withstand a string of attacks, with Stockport moving the ball quickly, and finally a player went over from short range. 19v7 with the conversion.

Again Kendal hit back quickly. Pressure on the touchline saw Stockport make a handling error and whilst they recovered the touch flag went up (I was nearby and was not convinced the player had gone into touch, but it was the Stockport touch judge). Patrick Wolstenholme took the lineout and the ball was quickly moved wide, with right wing Zane Butler popping up in the centre to carve open the Stockport defence, and when he was finally caught, Ben Dixon was in support to take the pass and go through for the score 19v12.

Quick recycling led to Stockport’s fifth try, which was only possible due to good hands from their back row 6 Zac Saboul who somehow managed to gather a difficult pass, and several exchanges later a try was scored with outside half Calum Owen converting 26v12

The scoring kept up with possible “the” try of the afternoon from Kendal. Stockport put a long kick into the Kendal deadball area forcing Ollie Rose to touch down for a goal line drop out. More quick thinking saw him take it almost immediately and put a kick across field. It was gather and Barney Coxon made ground before feeding new hooker Angus Knight, from deep in his own twenty two, he set off on a run outpacing the Stockport defence and when he was finally hunted down, provider of the previous try turn beneficiary, with Zane Butler taking the pass to go through for the try. Aaron Stephens added the simple conversion. 26v19

Kendal made a change with Finn Kennedy coming on for Toby Merrick

Stockport added a further try after a quickly taken penalty 31v19.

Alfie Bradshaw was forced off with an injury, and Dev Coyle came on. He went scrum half with the backline re-arranged with Liam Barr moving to centre, Ben O’Halloran to the wing, and Ollie Rose to fullback.

With the final action of the half, Stockport extended their lead. A kick was put through to the line and the Kendal defence failed to deal with it, allowing a Stockport player to go through to score. The conversion was added for a half time score of 38v19

Probably a fair reflection of the half, where Stockport had looked very good, but when they had chances Kendal took them, with most scored or set up from their own half.

Kendal were also playing down the slope in the second half.

Another poor start for Kendal. A loose box kick was gathered and run back by Stockport. There was a hint of several forward passes in the move, but the referee was well position and happy, 45v19 with the conversion.

Alfie Bradshaw returned in place of Liam Barr.

Despite the large lead, with three tries already in the bag, it was important that Kendal crossed the line once more, to get the fourth try for a bonus point, which may be important when they get to the end of the season. It came after ten minutes.

Kendal forced Stockport to concede a penalty which Aaron Stephen put to touch. The lineout was won and the ball moved quickly. Zane Butler was unmarked wide on the right wing and a long pass bounced before reaching him, but once gathered he had no problem crossing for the try. Aaron Stephens again put over the conversion from a wide angle. 45v26

Kendal made a change with Dan Shorrock coming on for Zane Butler, who looks a very useful addition to the squad.

Things were to get even better, after a quarter of an hour. Again the ball was moved quickly after a lineout was won. A bit of Ben Dixon magic saw him score with Aaron Stephens adding the conversion 45v33.

Barney Coxon and Dane Blenkharn both carrying knocks were replaced by Isa Muschamp and a returning Toby Merrick.

Stockport nerves were settled with a further try following a scrum 50v33

Kendal struck back again. Aaron Stephens put a kick to the line which was chased by Dan Shorrock, who stopped the player who gathered the ball making any ground. Reinforcements arrived quickly and the Stockport player was forced to concede a penalty. This was taken quickly, but it seemed to have all gone wrong, as the pass failed to find it’s intended target, but it didn’t matter as Matt Houghton gathered the loose ball, to probably score one his easiest tries, going over unopposed under the posts, for Aaron Stephens to convert 50v40,

With the lead down to just two scores, and Kendal on top with ten minutes to play, could there be a shock come back – or at least a losing bonus point ?

It was not to be. Stockport re-grouped and the Kendal defence did well to stop a score on the right, taking the player into touch. All the good work was then undone, when the lineout throw failed to find its target, allowing a Stockport player to gather the ball at the back and go over for a try that was converted. 57v40

Kendal made one further change with Owen Slater coming on for his debut for Aaron Sullivan, who appeared to have added some experience to a very young team.

There was no further scoring.

Stockport looked a very athletic and very well organised team, and it would be no surprise to see them again contesting a play-off (if not better) at the end of the season. The Kendal defence did well to keep the score down, apart from a few lapses, but the real positive was the move from the predictable forward game, to a much faster game involving the backs quicker, which is better suited to the teams current playing recourses and showed it could open up a strong defence

Another big game next week, with Macclesfield the visitors, but hopefully the team can repeat, and improve on this positive performance.

MAN OF THE MATCH

VOTE HERE

To help with the new faces I have added shirt numbers - hopefully the rest are already well known !

ACTION

TEAMS

OTHER RESULTS

Lots of points !!!!

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SECOND TEAM

Two new names in the back row - both 20 year olds from Mount Maunganui, Papamoa New Zealand.

WEATHER : Looking good for Saturday but rain now forecast for Sunday afternoon

CUMBRIA CUP

The next round of the Cumbria Cup (Semi-Final) has been drawn and after two home ties last season it is another away game, with a trip to Hawcoat Park (Barrow), on 30th January (assuming there are no League postponements due to weather).

I think we have only played them once before, and that was also in the Cup in 2014/15 when we won 31v7 at Mint Bridge (they had beaten us 22v19 in a pre-season game in Barrow a year earlier).

A very rare visit to Barrow, which in earlier times was a regular trip. Furness were played 160 times (home and away) and Vickers 112 times, but the last games were in 1992 and 1997

From comments on Faceache, it appears Ben O’Halloran’s dad played for Hawcoat Park, so possible some family interest.

The Winners will face the winner of Penrith vs Aspatria or Wigton in the Final