Another Good Performance and Excellent Victory

who will play in the North East equivalent of the same League as Kendal. Ilkley’s pre-match warm up showed they were taking the match very seriously.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, with both teams testing the oppositions defences.

The opening score came after ten minutes. A long Dan Lowther kick out of defence was gather by an Ilkley player just outside his twenty two, but good Kendal pressure forced a mistake with the return kick being put directly to touch. A good throw from Garry Holmes, making his debut as a hooker, saw the pack take clean ball and then set up an excellent drive to the line, for Matty Houghton to come up with the try. Chris Park converted 7v0.

Kendal’s second try came five minutes later. Ilkley conceded a penalty near halfway, and were penalised a further ten metres for questioning the referee’s decision. Dan Lowther put the ball to touch and when the lineout ball was won, the pack set up a position in mid-field for the ball to be moved back to the left wing, for Alistair Thompson to gather a long pass to score in the corner. Chris Park judged the difficult kick perfectly, to add the conversion 14v0.

The extended lead was short lived. After Kendal had secured the kick off ball, Ilkley gathered the return kick, and despite a number of good Kendal tackles, Ilkley kept the ball moving, for a try by the No.8, which the outside half converted 14v7.

Ten minutes later the scores were level, with another converted try after a long period of Ilkley pressure in the Kendal twenty two. 14v14

Ilkley took a half time lead in first half injury time with another converted try. 14v21

Kendal opened the second half well with a long period of good ball retention. This was rewarded with a penalty try after seven minutes of play. The referee had twice awarded penalties, against Ilkley, for scrum offences on the line, and when they offended for a third time, the referee headed behind the post, giving Chris Park an easy conversion to level the scores again. 21v21

It was then Kendal’s turn to defend, and having to withstand a number of lineouts and scrums near their line.

On an evening when again a number of the young players showed up well, the winning try was set up, used all his years of experience, by Billy Coxon, who managed to steal Ilkley ball on the ground near halfway. The ball was moved to Dan Lowther (?) who made an excellent powerful run, evading numerous attempted tackles, to score near the corner, but Chris Park managed to put conversion over 28v21.

There were still twenty minutes to play and the Kendal defence had to withstand a number of concerted attacks by a strong Ilkley team, but managed to hold out for an excellent victory.

Another performance to please the coaches, with the forwards looking as powerful as last season, and again it was clear that there will be plenty of completion for back row places. The back division looked stronger in defence than last season, but also seemed to pose more of a threat in attack, with Dan Lowther again looking on top form.

Next Saturday (30th) sees a home game in the Cumbrian Cup against Hawcoat Park, who beat Kendal in a pre-season game at their own ground last season.

Photo : The build up to the second try