Eighth v sixth in the last of the first round of League fixtures, and if results went their way there was a possibility of Kendal being in the top half of the table at the halfway point, but a tough challenge against the team in that sixth place, and themselves looking to rise higher.

Driffield is between York and the North East Coast at Bridlington. It wasn’t quite their longest trip, as Penrith is slightly mile further, but when Kendal visit them towards the end of the season, it will be their longest trip.

Driffield wins had come against the bottom four plus a highlight of their season so far, a home win against third place Alnwick, plus try scoring bonus points against both Heath and Ilkley.

For Kendal three changes from the squad who did so well at Harrogate last weekend, with Matt Houghton and Robbie Kincart back in the pack and Conner Lees making a League debut from the bench, replacing Andy Rogers, Johnny Swallow and Reece Tomlinson. Ben O’Halloran swapped places with Dan Shorrock, who started on the bench.

After a break from the rain before kick-off, it returned as the game started, but eased off before half time.

Kendal started well and took the lead with an Evan Moir penalty after eight minutes. 3v0

Driffield came back and dominated play, helped by a string of Kendal penalties, but let down by a number of handling errors.

There was a blow for Kendal after a quarter of an hour, with Leo Mercer forced off with an injury, but in Dan Shorrock they had a good replacement.

The Kendal defence was finally breeched after twenty minutes, when Driffield No.8, Ed Falkingham, who had been one of their star players, broke away for a try. 3v5

Seven minutes later the lead was extended with a forward drive from a lineout following yet another penalty. Hooker Dan Ramsden was credited with the touchdown and fullback Gregor Napier this time added the conversion 3v12.

With five minutes of the half to play Napier extended the lead with a simple penalty 3v15

There was another blow for Kendal as Patrick Wolstenholme, became the second player forced off with an injury. Ben Leacock came on which saw a reshuffle, with Matt Houghton moving to No.8 and Barney Coxon to the back row.

Kendal finished the half with their best play since the opening minutes. The forwards looked to force their way over near the posts, but Driffield’s powerfully built pack held out, and a better option may have been to move the ball wide, where there seem to have been some gaps in the defence.

Both teams went in at half time, and Driffield were kept waiting for Kendal and the referee for the start of the second half.

It did not do them any harm as they started the half the better, helped by two Kendal long throws at the line totally missing their target.

Driffield were rewarded with a simple penalty that fullback Napier had no difficulty with 3v18.

Another Kendal chance went when they yet again repeated the mistake at a lineout

A bit of Ben Dixon magic seemed to signal a Kendal fightback. From inside his own half, he lost his opposite number, and made ground down the left wing. Glenn Chesher was in support and somehow kept up, but when the pass came it was inside to Ollie Rose, who as often had made his run away from the waiting defence, but it needed a good pass to go to hand, and instead he had to adjust to collect the ball, and he was caught before the line. Ben Dixon was however on hand to take the ball back for the try. Evan Moir judged the touchline conversion perfectly. 10v18

Four minutes later the lead was extended again when Napier was given another simple kick 10v21

Ten minute later his fourth penalty, this time from long range seemed to put the game beyond Kendal.

The score saw a final Kendal change with young Connor Lees coming on for Glenn Chesher.

A number of Driffield forwards seemed to be carrying minor injuries and their big pack was tiring, and Kendal came more into the game.

This resulted in a second try, with a good period of Kendal possession, with the ball being recycled multiple times. It was finally moved to the left where Ben Dixon went for his second try. Whilst he was stopped, he had dragged the defence in, and the ball was recycled to Barney Coxon on the run, who went over for the try. Another difficult conversion, but Evan Moir again made no mistake. 17v24.

Having lost out in the last minute last weekend, this time Kendal were to snatch a draw which had not long before seem highly unlikely.

A penalty was put to touch and the ball safely won at the lineout and the pack drove from short range. Ben Dixon, Alfie Bradshaw and Evan Moir (and possibly others) joined in, before the pack broke away, and went over the line. The referee’s arm went up for the try. At the time no idea who had got the touchdown, but is confirmed not to a forward, but one of the smallest on the pitch, Ollie Rose.

Another difficult kick from a similar position to the last two, but quiet confidence on the touchline that Evan Moir would deliver - and he did not disappoint.

This proved to be the final action.

Who should be more disappointed – or pleased ? Driffield looked a good team, keeping the ball alive in the tackle, so probably would see this as two points dropped. However for Kendal whilst the fightback for valuable points was magnificent, it should not have been needed if needless penalties and lost ball at lineouts had not put pressure on them earlier – but when it counted they delivered

Next weekend a tough trip to Ilkley whose recent losses have knocked them back. A key target must be to return to the high standards seen at Harrogate, with lineouts won and few penalties conceded.

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OTHER RESULTS/b]

The unpredictability of this League saw bottom York getting a Losing bonus point against Heath and being only the third team to deny them a try scoring bonus point (Alnwick and Harrogate are the other two)

[b]TABLE

Our draw sees us move to seventh at the halfway point in the season above injury hit Penrith who drop to nineth, seven points clear of the play-off.

Ilkley are 4 points behind Alnwick for a Play-Off Place, and just four ahead of Blaydon

SECOND XV :

The Top of the Table clash at Southport was postponed

WASPS :

Also a BIG weekend for the Wasps as they travel to Birkenhead Park, who sit below them in the table, having also yet to win and have point deduction after failing to play a game.

A win could see the Wasps move closer to Sefton the team they got their existing points off in an away draw, one of Sefton’s two wins coming against Park.

SENIOR COLTS

Were due to play Preston Grasshoppers at Mint Bridge

There was a suggestion the game may be in doubt, so if you are planning to come down please check.