I initially got myself slightly confused this week, as we move forward two years. Not as it is two weeks since the last set, but as it is one season plus into a new year.

Two losses, a win, and a draw. Three at home and one away, in seasons which saw two relegations and a promotion.

6 January 2018
Rossendale (Home)
After being beaten very late in the away fixture in the previous season, this time we had come away with an excellent win earlier in the season, so were looking for a double against a team who had finished second the previous season, but this time were having a tougher time. Their position a point behind us was however artificial, as they had played three games less. Our artificial pitch was one of the reasons for this, as Birkenhead Park (in the game where they failed to take a late penalty for victory) and then Kirkby Lonsdale, had been beaten on the 3G before Christmas.

We were back on the grass, and two of the opposition were back in Kendal, as both Reece Tomlinson and Joe Robinson were in the Rossendale team, whilst centre Curtis Strong had played for Kendal in a pre-season game, but did not make the switch.

Kendal were without Duncan Green, who had been in hospital over Christmas having his appendix removed, whilst Ben Dixon made his first start in place of Chris Downham.

Not a good start as the team was seven points down and temporarily down to fourteen men after just seven minute. Conceding a penalty try when trying to defend a forward drive and Jacob Sutton got a ten minute rest for his part.

A strong defence caused Rossendale to make a number of handling errors, and the team held out until returned to fifteen.

After twenty five minutes, against the run of play, we were back on level terms. As the forwards drove towards the line, Ben Dixon broke away and powered over, scoring under the posts for Glen Weightman to convert 7v7

Rossendale re-took the lead after the referee had decided (possibly mistakenly in my view) that Nathan Wooff knocked the ball on when having difficulty with a kick through. From the scrum, a gap opened up in the centre for a try. 7v14

The team started the second half well, and having stolen Rossendale ball, when they tried to steal it back, Jacob Sutton won a penalty, which Chris Park, who had come on as a replacement for the injured Mike Fearon, put over 10v14

Rossendale extended the lead again with a try, when the defence had been sucked in to defend a forward drive, only for the ball to be moved wide. 10v19

Another injury for Kendal saw Liam Hayton limp off, with a knee injury which ended his season.

With five minutes to play the Rossendale pack rolled over for a further try, after a penalty for a high tackle 10v24

A quick re-start caught out Rossendale, and Glen Weightman then rolled a kick into the corner for Nathan Wooff to follow and touchdown. Chris Park put over an excellent conversion kick from near the touchline, to bring Kendal within a score of a draw. 17v24

Rather than run the clock down Rossendale went looking for a bonus point fourth try, but Kendal probably had the better chance, as a passing move near halfway, seemed to be opening up space on the right, but a difficult pass went to ground.

Despite the result, in my opinion (at the time) it was a much better performance than either of the pre-Christmas wins.

15 Chris Park
14 Damian Armstrong
13 Danny Barker
12 Mike Fearon
11 Dini Noyo
10 Glen Weightman
9 Mattie Kaye

1 Glenn Chesher
2 Garry Holmes
3 Dom Musetti (C)
4 Liam Hayton
5 Ben Leacock
6 Matt Charters
7 Matty Houghton
8 Will Montgomery

rep Duncan Green
rep Ross McKay
rep Mark Carruthers

5th January 2013
Harrogate (Home)
Both teams had been relegated at the end of the previous season, but were now heading in opposite directions. Harrogate back to where we had come from (via a play-off), whilst we were to face a double relegation.

Harrogate had won their ten opening games, but then lost three of the four in the run up to Christmas. Kendal were at the foot of the table with just two wins.

After an even opening Harrogate took the lead after twelve minutes with a penalty and six minute later added a converted try 0v10

Harrogate continued to attack, but the Kendal defence was equal to it, with Dini Noyo and Jason Poleman making a number of key tackles.

The only further score before half time was a Harrogate penalty for a 0v13 deficit.

Early in the second half Harrogate added a second converted try 0v20, but it was mainly a repeat of the first, with Harrogate attacking but the Kendal defence holding firm.

Kendal brought on Ian Voortman and Peter Redhead which seemed to inspire the team and they worked their way out of defence. Harrogate had two players yellow carded and were luck not to permanently lose another, as he appeared to stamp on Reece Tomlinson in an off the ball confrontation, but it was not spotted by the referee.

Kendal pulled a try back when captain Liam Hayton was driven over for a try, but outside half Dan Rayson was unable to convert. 5v20

Restored to a full team Harrogate finished the stronger and added a late converted try, but could not get a fourth for a bonus point. 5v27

15 Chris Park
14 Leo Mercer
13 Jason Poleman
12 Dan Lowther
11 Dini Nayo
10 Dan Rayson
9 Simon Davidson

1 Alistair Livesey
2 Duncan Green
3 Richard Harryman
4 Liam Hayton (c)
5 Reece Tomlinson
6 Dan White
7 Garry Holmes
8 Matty Houghton

rep Ben Leacock
rep Peter Redhead
rep Ian Voortman

5th January 2008
Hull (Away)
If you read the list of my “favourite” games at the end of last week’s reports, this is there. I had no idea at the time I would get the chance to use it.

A perfect illustration that what on paper was an unbeaten Promotion season was at times far from plain sailing.

Chris Park had been named on the wing in place of the injured Luke Ladell, but as he was standing on the sidelines watching the warm up, it was clear he was also out. Dan Murray came off the bench, with Nick Mitchelini replacing him.

From the sidelines it appeared there was a slight breeze in Hull’s favour in the first half, but it soon became clear it was actually a strong wind, as the Hull outside half kicked for position and looked for Kendal to make mistakes.

The first came after five minutes, when Ian Voortman lost the ball on the crash ball. It was gathered by Hull for the centre to score 7v0. Hull then added a penalty for offside and were 10v0 up after less than quarter of an hour.

The Kendal support (which may have outnumbered the home supporters, despite running no supporters coach), comforted themselves that Hull had lost a twenty point lead in the last ten minutes at Huddersfield

Fortunately we did not have to wait that long, as just three minute later the pack drove Billy Coxon over for a try 10v5

On the half hour Hull extended their lead. As they attacked, they appeared to knock on. Kendal stopped, but Hull didn’t and the scrum half went through and the score stood. 17v5

Kendal had a chance to strike back before halftime, with a lineout near the Hull line, but the throw was not straight and the chance was gone.

So there was a twelve point deficit to make up at in the second half.

My notes suggest that the Kendal “weren’t playing well, especially outside half Dan Stephens, whose kicks were going to Hull players rather than touch, and no one was buying his dummies”. He was to make amends in the second half, in unusual fashion.

It was soon clear just how strong the wind was, as play continued in the same direction after half time.

After seven minutes Kendal had five points back. The forwards rumbled over, but the man who came up with the ball had two numbers on his back. Dan Stephens had added his weight and got the touchdown – but could not convert his own try 17v10.

Ten minutes on and the forwards did it again, this time a more conventional scorer, with Billy Coxon coming up with his second – still no conversion (it was a windy afternoon and tries were coming from lineout drives, so would have been near the touchlines) 17v10.

Hull dominated the next ten minutes, and it took a good tackle from fullback Hoani Moore on the corner flag, to prevent Hull extending their lead.

Hull had lost their No.8 to injury near halftime, and it increasingly becoming clear that his replacement was not enjoying his afternoon, but James Gough certainly was, often getting in quickly to cut off Hull possession at scrums.

With just five minute to play, Kendal had the lead for the first time. Yet another penalty to the corner, the forwards rumbled over, and this time it was back row man Nick “Noodles” McKain who emerged with the ball. Still no conversion, but suddenly the Kendal support were less concerned about Hull time wasting, and more hoping the referee would not add on all the extra time for Hull’s previous “injuries”.

Hull tried to attack from their own half, but the Kendal defence was holding firm. Hull then managed to steal a Kendal lineout throw, but it was James Gough who was first to the tap down. The Kendal pack “imitated the Westoe combine harvester” and drove over him, allowing him to emerge, take the ball off them, and put a kick into the corner. The defender failed to control the ball and was forced to put it into in touch. The forwards did it for a fifth time - only yet again it was Kendal’s extra flanker, wearing the No. 10 shirt, who emerged with the ball. He still couldn’t convert , but we were two scores ahead and were safe, despite the referee playing on due to the Hull “injuries” 25v17

The strange thing was Hull had also given us a hard game at the start of the season, had only lost late to second place Huddersfield, and in the Cup had led 8v0 at half time against Tynedale from a higher league, and despite finally losing that game 8v17, had only been two points down in injury time before a later try, but were in the lower part of the table.

15 Hoani Moore
14 John Ladell
13 Ian Voortman (C)
12 Renier Bester
11 Dan Murray
10 Dan Stephens
9 James Gough

1 Billy Coxon
2 Duncan Green
3 Richard Harryman
4 Liam Hayton
5 Gareth Gore
6 Andrew Hudson
7 Nick McKain
8 Mark Wilson

rep Allen Martindale
rep Rob Quarry
rep Nick Michellini

25th January 2003
Stourbridge (Home)
Not really “Now”, but it was the closest I had a report from. The previous one had been at the start of November. We beat Fylde by 35v17 on the 28th December at Mint Bridge (one of only six wins that season, and part of a double against the only team to finish below us). I was in Wales so missed the game, which been rearranged from a week earlier, when I would have been there. We then lost away at champions to be Penzance on the 4th January by 51v21 (when they had earlier come to Cumbria they flew, but it proved too costly for us, so the team went by train). I was in Kendal for the Sedgley Park game in mid-January, but it was off due to frost or snow.

I was also not at this game but there is a very good “View from the Touchline” in a later programme, to take details from.

Kendal were in the relegation places, but Stourbridge who a season earlier had been defeated to maintain Kendal’s National League Two status for a further season, had put together a string of seven wins in eight games, to sit safely in mid-table, so arrived in confident mood.

Kendal were without Bill Coxon, Steve Healey, Dan Stephens and Mike Capstick, so the report suggests had a team of “old stagers” and “young bloods” (I will leave it to you to decided which were which, from the list below)

Kendal were unable to capitalise from early territorial advantage, and instead it was the visitors forwards who provided the opening score, and when a flowing back move made it 0v14 after nineteen minutes, “the omens were not looking good”.

However Kendal struck back, and in an “exhilarating patch of play” centre Martin Armstrong, created an opening for Ian Voortman to score. Then following “sustained pressure a clearly delighted Colin Wolstenholme” touched down. Then “a perfectly weighted cross kick from makeshift fullback James Hadwin” (normally a scrum half), “was rewarded by Jason Balmer crossing the line for a 17v14 lead

Stourbridge got a penalty in added time to bring scores level again 17v17.

At the restart Stourbridge went on the offensive, and from the base of a scrum their scrum half weighting up the marking and darted through for a try

Martin Armstrong made a number of breaks, whilst Jason Balmer with only the fullback to beat saw his kick ahead retrieved. A penalty and drop goal were also missed

Finally Mark Bowman went over for a try which Mike Scott converted to tie the scores up again.

Both teams had chances to get the winning score but the game finished even,

The writer of the “View from the Stand piece “JC” felt the makeshift team had been unlucky not to get a win, and thought Martin Armstrong had been Man of the Match.

15 James Hadwin
14 Jason Balmer
13 Martin Armstrong
12 Ian Voortman
11 Luke Ladell
10 Mike Scott
9 Dumile Jijane

1 Nigel Pearson
2 Ian Gowing
3 Ian Thompson
4 Keith Robinson
5 Andrew Hudson
6 Colin Wolstenholme
7 Mark Bowman
8 Adrian Bateson

rep Alan Holmes
rep Dave Preston (7)
rep Dan Bowman (8)
rep Duncan Rose (14)