Sixteen weeks after the last game at Mintbridge, the new season started with the first of two home warm up games (Sandbach visit at 3.00pm next weekend). A number of the new signings were included (see Steve’s summary elsewhere on the website, for more details of who they are, where they have arrive from, and which positions they play in) (link)

After a good start by Kendal, Blackburn had the better of the opening exchanges, as both teams tried to keep the ball in hand, but the defences held firm.

Kris Bratton, playing at fullback, had proved his defensive strengths with a good tackle when a Blackburn player had broken through the rest of the Kendal defence, but was not involved in early attacks. Then when the ball came to him deep in his own half, he powered through the Blackburn defence, only to be stopped on the line, and whilst the ball was re-cycled, a knock-on meant the chance was lost.

Kendal took the lead after ten minutes. Blackburn ball was turned over on the right, and when moved into mid-field Kris Bratton made another long break, when he was stopped, Dini Noyo was in support and just when it looked as if a Kendal move was to be stopped on the line again, new scrum half, Alex Pantechis, who had done well just to be in support of the two flyers, was on hand to take the pass and go over for the try. 5v0

The lineout problems of past seasons were continuing with Kendal penalised twice early in the game.

Dini Noyo was forced off after twenty minutes, which gave a start to new signing Myles Harrop, who was soon involved in the action, making a number of good breaks.

Despite adding bulk and experience in new prop Mark Irving, Kendal were often struggling in the scrum, but made no mistake when awarded a scrum on the line after half an hour, and drove over for new flanker Steven Nelson to touchdown. Glen Weightman added the conversion. 12v0

A third try came five minutes later, when after good build up work, Garry Holmes was on hand to spot a gap in the defence, and go over. Glen Weightman again converted. 19v0.

The final score of the half came from a lineout on the right. The ball was moved into mid-field and Nick Carlton made good ground, and when stopped passed to Zane Butler, who quickly returned the pass to allow Carlton to squeeze in in the corner. 22v0

After the scoring of the first half, the second was a lot quieter.

Garry Holmes was forced off after five minutes which saw only the second Kendal substitution, whilst Blackburn had been regularly swapping players. This saw Jack Lashley come on and play hooker.

Mid-way through the half Kendal made mass changes with Rob Wightman, Alistair Thompson, Ross McKay, Jordan Johnson, Chris Park, Mark Carruthers and Matthew Kaye coming on.

Rob Wightman was later forced off, with John Dervey returning.

Just before the half hour Blackburn, who despite the changed Kendal team had spent most of the half in defence, opened their scoring when a prop went over for a try 22v5

Before the restart, Garry Holmes returned in place of Dom Musetti

With five minutes to play, Kendal added a further score after Dini Noyo started an attack out of defence on the left, and the move was finally finished on the right by Jordan Johnson. Chris Park added the conversion. 29v5

Blackburn had the final score with a second try for their prop 29v10.

A good run out to allow the new team to get to know each other in a competitive environment, and it was pleasing that the team held its own (if losing 7v10) when the line-up was shaken up in the second half.

The most notable performance of the newcomers was probably wing Myles Harrop, who took his opportunities well, but will find himself in one of the positions with the greatest competition, with Zane Butler, who missed most of last season, another who had a good game. Scrum half Alex Pantechis also looked as if he could keep the ball moving to give the talented back division more space. The new forwards may take a little longer to settle in together. Of the second half “finishers” Alistair Thompson and Ross McKay probably had the best games.

Next weekend's visitors are Sandbach, who play at the same level as us, and who ended up scoring fifty points against us at the same time last season (in a game which started as if we could have done the same to them), should offer a much tougher test will tell us and the coaches a lot more about the strength of the squad for the new season.

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For those of you (like me) who do not have your finger on the pulse of what is going on around the club over the Summer, departures mentioned at the game were Ben Leacock to join up with Matty Houghton at Wharfdale; Nathan Wooff to Penrith, and James Gough to Preston Grasshoppers.