Both teams came into the game looking for league points in the tight battle at the foot of the table. The visitors in the lower relegation play off place, trailed Kendal just outside the play-offs by just five points.

Kendal last win had been to Cleckheaton in late November, whilst the same opposition had given Middlesbrough’s their last win a fortnight later. The difference was since then Kendal had a draw and four losing bonus points in their six games, with only the visit to Ilkley ending without reward. Whilst Middlesbrough had only picked up a single try scoring bonus point, despite a heavy 73v36 loss at Ilkley last weekend.

Just the one change to the squad who had done so well to get a losing bonus point against second placed Alnwick last weekend, with Johnny Swallow replacing Ben Cakebread (who had played for the Seconds on Friday), on an all forward bench. There were two further changes to the starting line up with Joe Anderson and Alistair Thompson take a turn on the bench.

Kendal started well and dominated the early exchanges and after four minutes after patient build up work it was Robbie Kincart who was on hand to go over for the opening try, which Evan Moir converted. 7v0.

The next ten minutes were all Middlesbrough, with the Kendal defence doing well to hold them out, especially from two good drives from penalty lineouts.

Again too many Kendal clearance kicks were going straight to opposition players to allow counter attacks, whilst the penalty count seemed to be heavily against Kendal at the breakdown.

It was however Kendal, somewhat against the run of play, who were to get the next score. Ben Dixon made ground down the left wing, and when stopped the ball was moved infield where Andy Rogers timed a pass perfectly to open up a gap for John Dervey, who cantered to the line (memories of Kirkby Lonsdale 2018). Evan Moir again added the conversion 14v0.

The lead was almost immediately extended. Oscar Coxon gathered the restart kick and made ground, before the ball came back to Evan Moir who put a kick down the field. Middlesbrough fullback Matthew Marsey, had read earlier kicks well and again got to it only to knock on. In frustration he then kicked the ball away, and the referee immediately awarded a penalty against him. Ben Dixon immediately signaled to the bench that the kick tee would be needed and Evan Moir put over the penalty. 17v0

The final score of the half came just before half time and again went to Kendal. Ollie Rose put a good kick into the Middlesbrough twenty two for a defensive lineout. The Middlesbrough throw could only be tapped down, and was gathered by Patrick Wolstenholme who went for the line. He then got the ball away to Robbie Kincart, who went for his second try, but this time was held up over the line by Middlesbrough, for them to win a goal line drop out. Two restart kicks had already gone straight to touch, and this time the drop out did, to give Kendal a scrum on the Middlesbrough line.

Middlesbrough probably expected a No.8 pickup and drive, but instead the ball was moved quickly to Aaron Stephens on the blindslide who crashed over for the try. Evan Moir added the conversion for the team to turn with a healthy 24v0 lead, which did not really reflect the balance of play. Earlier in the season both Penrith and York had comeback from big deficits at Mint Bridge.

The strength in depth in the back row (with three more having had good games for the Second XV on Friday night), saw Dane Blenkharn and Patrick Wolstenholme, who had both had a good first half replaced by Johnny Swallow and Alistair Thompson.

Kendal started the half well and soon had the important fourth bonus point try. Good build up work saw Glenn Chesher drive for the line, and whilst stopped, he did well to quickly lay the ball back for Ollie Rose to scoop it up, and dart through a gap before taking to the air with a dive to touchdown. Evan Noir added the simple conversion. 31v0

This saw another change with Joe Anderson coming off the bench to replace Robbie Kincart, with Andy Rogers going hooker.

There was another quick score. Evan Moir put a kick out of defence and Ben O’Halloran chased and bravely went up to secure a ball only to be clattered by a Middlesbrough player trying to gather. He got the ball away and it was quickly moved across field where John Dervey’s pass sent Dan Shorrock away, and whilst he still had a lot to do, he went over in the corner. Evan Moir stepped up to put the difficult kick over. 38v0

After twenty minutes Andy Rogers was forced off after twenty minutes with Robbie Kincart coming on. It may be Rogers last game of the season, as he is shortly due to have a long awaited operation on his knee. He has certainly added something extra to the Kendal team this season.

As the clock ticked down it look less likely that Middlesbrough could salvage anything from the game, but the Kendal team still defended as if holding a slender lead. Despite some excellent ball retention and handling from the visitors there was simply no way through for the visitors, with Ben Dixon, Alfie Bradshaw and Aaron Stephens pulling off a number of key tackles on the strong running Middlesbrough centres.

Eventually Kendal escaped the stranglehold and went up the other end of the field.

There was a long kick which rolled into the deadball area to be touched down for a goal line drop out. In a bit of quick thinking it was taken quickly, but it all went wrong when the kick only found Johnny Swallow, another having an excellent game. He still had plenty to do but managed to get through for the sixth try. Again Evan Moir put over the difficult conversion 45v0.

The final try came from a penalty close to halfway which Evan Moir put deep into the twenty-two. On an afternoon when, despite a few lapses, the lineout had gone a lot better, the throw was taken and the pack set up a powerful drive despite the strong Middlesbrough pack. Once the try was awarded and the bodies cleared, it was centre Ben Dixon who came up with the ball. Evan Moir finally missed a kick. 50v0

The game ended with two amusing moments. With Middlesbrough attacking in the Kendal twenty two, Joe Anderson intercepted and set off on a run. By halfway he clearly though better of it and looked for support and there was an exchange of passes, only for the referee to decide one had gone forward.

Then in the last action, Ben Dixon broke down the left wing, Glenn Chesher was in hot pursuit clearly wanting to show anything Anderson could do, he could do better, but Dixon chose to kick ahead, only to miss kick for the ball to harmless go to touch to end the game, to end a great afternoon for him and his team.

With Sandal losing heavily at home to Alnwick, the team go up one place to seventh.

The last time a Kendal team went through a League game without conceding points was against Penrith in 2023 (13v0), whilst the last time they won by 50 was against Burnage (69v14) in 2022.

It appears there is no game next week, so the team will be back in action in another big game away at Penrith in a fortnight, whilst there may be a repeat between the two teams in the Cumbria Cup at Mint Bridge a week later.

MAN OF THE MATCH :

John Dervey

ACTION

TEAM :

OTHER RESULTS

TABLE

With Sandal, Penrith (at York) and Cleckheaton (plus Middlebrough) picking up nothing the team climb a place to seventh, and open up a 7 point gap over Penrith in the higher play-off place.

York's win sees Middlesbrough drop into the bottom two

SECOND XV :

Kendal Vikings 38 (17) v (0) 14 Kirkby Lonsdale (II)

Team

WASPS :
No game

SENIOR COLTS :
Off as opposition did not have team

SIX NATIONS PREDICTIONS
You can't have missed Dave's adverts but just in case the 6 Nations are on the Horizon, so the clock is ticking loudly for the closing of predictions to Dave by next WEDNESDAY.

All a bit of fun, it is as much about beat the "experts", as winning.

Also raises a bit of cash for a Good Cause (the Supporters Club therefore team welfare)

The best investment of £5 since your last visit to No.8.