Kendal 14 (7) v (10) 18 Alnwick

After two high scoring narrow losses against teams below them in the table, Kendal returned to Mint Bridge for the first time in 2026, after this game was postponed due to a froze pitch a fortnight ago, with the daunting task of taking on an Alnwick side, who had gone second last week, when they defeated previous second placed Harrogate.

Alnwick had lost only three time this season, all away from home and all with losing bonus points to Heath; Harrogate and Driffield, but Kendal had fallen just short of both a losing and try scoring bonus point in a three try scoring eight point loss at Alnwick earlier in the season.

Just the one change in the Kendal squad from last weekend’s defeat at Sandal. Matt Houghton returning in place of Reece Tomlinson. Houghton went No.8 with Patrick Wolstenholme starting on the bench. John Dervey started in the second row, whilst Andy Rogers started on the bench and Glenn Chester in the front row. Centre Ben Cakebread retained his place on the bench.

A bright sunny afternoon, but a cold strong breeze blowing from the river end towards the car park, on Kendal’s backs in the first half.

Despite the gap between the two teams, Kendal started well and had the better of the opening twenty minutes, without looking close to scoring. Again they were having problems with long throws at the lineout failing to find the intended target. Driffield used the wind to blow kicks back towards chasing players with some success.

Kendal were forced into a change after a quarter of an hour, with Dane Blenkharn coming off to be replaced by Patrick Wolstenholme, but they soon changed places again.

Against the run of play, on one of their first visits to the Kendal half, scrum half James Blackett opened the scoring with a penalty for Alnwick. 0v3

Andy Rogers came on for Glenn Chesher, but Chesher returned before half time in place of Joe Anderson.

Eleven months to Christmas, but both teams were handing out presents, and it was Alnwick’s turn first.

Alnwick were running the ball near halfway when a wild pass missed its target and instead the ball was punch on, but there was no Alnwick player to take the ball. Instead Dan Shorrock, was quickly onto Santa’s gift and was away faster than a reindeer on Christmas morning to score under the posts. His 50th try for Kendal. Evan Moir added the simple conversion for an 8v3 lead.

It is only polite to return a gift, and the Kendal lineout has been generous to a lot of teams this year, and five minutes later a throw at a defensive lineout went nowhere near any Kendal player and instead fell into the hands of an Alnwick who accepted the gift for a simple try. Scrum half James Blackett added the conversion. 8v10.

This remained the score at halftime. Mixed feelings on the touchline, on still being in touch, but Alnwick had the breeze behind them in the second half, if they could use it, although it seemed to have dropped in strength.

A good restart kick by Alnwick was knocked on by Kendal to put Alnwick on the attack and they dominated the opening exchanges without looking close to scoring.

After ten minutes Kendal made a double change, with Patrick Wolstenholme returning for Dane Blekharn, and Ben Cakebread coming on on the wing for Dan Shorrock who had earlier needed treatment.

Alnwick continued to press, but after twenty minutes a few good Kendal kicks through seemed to cause some confusion in the Alnwick defence which gave away penalties to put Kendal on the attack.

Patient build up work by the forwards was rewarded with a try, to put Kendal in the lead. Robbie Kincart broke away for his eighth try of the season. Evan Moir added the conversion for a 14v10 lead.

Alnwick came back, but continued to fail to turn pressure into points and had to be solid in defence, as Kendal looked to run the ball when they had it.

Alnwick re-took the lead with a try from a lineout drive with ten minutes to play. Their kicker took a long time over the conversion, and despite his touch judge raising his flag, the roar from the balcony suggested (correctly), the difficult kick had not been successful. So just a one point lead. 14v15

Kendal came back and when awarded a penalty, went for the posts, rather than risk a lineout (as they did successfully at Sandal last weekend). The wind caught the kick which drifted wide.

When awarded a much simpler kick, Alnwick also chose to go for the posts to widen the gap 14v18, but a late Kendal try could still snatch an unlikely victory.

However it was Alnwick who looked more likely to add to their score in the closing stages to take
away Kendal’s bonus point, but the Kendal defence held out, and once time ran out, Alnwick put the ball dead to take the victory, but without a bonus point.

For Kendal again the mystery of why they can raise their games against the top teams (with losing bonus points against Ilkley (4th); Harrogate (3rd) and now Alnwick (2nd)) but cannot overcome the lower ranked teams – and why no one has found a cure for the issues in the lineout when they throw long in over complex moves – like simply stop trying them, if they keep giving opposition cheap ball.

Finishing the season with a home game against Harrogate; then trips to Driffield and Heath, means points are needed from the four games before then, if extra play-off games (or worse) are to be avoided. Starting next weekend at Mint Bridge against Middlesbrough, who are still just five points behind, after picking up a try scoring bonus point despite conceding 73 points at Ilkley this weekend.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Aaron Stephens

TEAMS :

Kendal		Alnwick

Aaron Stephens	15	Lachlan Townsend
Ben O'Halloran	14	Harry Paul
Ben Dixon	(C) 13	Alex Robson
Alfie Bradshaw	12	Jonny Mcnickle
Dan Shorrock	11	Simon Ord
Evan Moir	10 (c)	Callum Burn
Ollie Rose	9	James Blackett

Glenn Chesher	1	Richie Elliot
Robbie Kincart	2	Duncan Smith
Joe Anderson	3	Fergus Burn
Oscar Coxon	4	Matty Gray
John Dervey	(22) 5	Will Dykes
Dane Blenkharn	6 (vc)	Jonny Young
Alistair Thompson	7	Mike O'Brien
Matt Houghton	(vc) 8	James Bird

Andy Rogers	(16) Rep	Jimmy Cowan
Patrick Wolstenholme	(21) Rep	Andrew Spark
Ben Cakebread	(23) Rep	Michael Van Vuuren

Callum Folan	Ref	-

ACTION

Action	Team	No	Name	Time	Ken	Aln

sub-on	Kendal	21	Patrick Wolstenholme	18	0	0
sub-off	Kendal	6	Dane Blenkharn	18	0	0
Pen	Alnwick	9	James Blackett	21	0	3
sub-on	Kendal	6	Dane Blenkharn	25	0	3
sub-off	Kendal	21	Patrick Wolstenholme	25	0	3
sub-on	Kendal	16	Andy Rogers	25	0	3
sub-off	Kendal	1	Glenn Chesher	25	0	3
Try	Kendal	14	Dan Shorrock	27	5	3
Con	Kendal	10	Evan Moir	28	7	3
Try	Alnwick	2	Duncan Smith	32	7	8
Con	Alnwick	9	James Blackett	33	7	10
sub-on	Kendal	1	Glenn Chesher	38	7	10
sub-off	Kendal	3	Joe Anderson	38	7	10
= = =	= = =	= = =	HALF TIME	40+1	7	10
sub-on	Kendal	21	Patrick Wolstenholme	49	7	10
sub-off	Kendal	6	Dane Blenkharn	49	7	10
sub-on	Kendal	23	Ben Cakebread	49	7	10
sub-off	Kendal	14	Dan Shorrock	49	7	10
Try	Kendal	2	Robbie Kincart	60	12	10
Con	Kendal	10	Evan Moir	61	14	10
Try	Alnwick		Michael Van Vuuren	69	14	15
Pen	Alnwick	9	James Blackett	75	14	18
= = =	= = =	= = =	FULL TIME		14	18

OTHER RESULTS

Driffield	31	14	Blaydon
Harrogate	82	0	Cleckheaton
Heath	115	5	Penrith
Ilkley	73	36	Middlesbrough
York	21	31	Sandal

A few big scores, but the big result was the final one with Sandal winning at York

TABLE

#	TEAM	W	D	+/-	TB	LB	Pts
1	Heath	15	0	460	12	0	72
2	Alnwick	12	0	241	8	3	59
3	Harrogate	11	0	223	11	2	57
4	Ilkley	10	0	172	12	2	54
5	Driffield	9	1	15	11	0	49
6	Blaydon	8	1	84	10	1	45
7	Sandal	6	1	-77	6	0	32
8	Kendal	4	1	-10	6	5	29
9	Penrith	4	0	-394	8	3	27
10	Middlesbrough	4	0	-178	7	1	24
11	York	3	0	-157	4	3	19
12	Cleckheaton	2	0	-379	4	2	14

So Sandal's win takes them above us, a try scoring bonus point for Middlesbrough despite their big loss, but nothing for Penrith

SECOND XV

Kendal 55 v 0 Wigan

Tries
Dafydd Philp
Mikey Charnley (2)
Chris Evans
Cameron Stevenson
Charlie Elbourne
Charlie Lowther
Dylan Reed
Connor Lees

Conversions
McKenzie Cousins (4)
Connor Lees (1)

Team

A few changes to the published team

Charlie Lowther moved into the front row, with Luke Middleton coming in in the back row

Mckenzie Cousins moved from 13 to 10, with Jordan Johnson coming in in the centre and Captaining the side

Dylan Reed and Liam Hayton joined the bench.

15	Mikey Charnley
14	Cameron Stevenson
13 (c)	Jordan Johnson
12	Luke Cuthbertson
11	Dafydd Philp
10	Mckenzie Cousins
9	Charlie Elbourne

1	Owen Slater
2	Charlie Lowther
3	Connor Lees
4	Evan Beatie
5	Alex Ryder
6	Luke Middleton
7	Oliver Griffin
8	Chris Evans

rep	Andres Moricz
rep	Dylan Reed
rep	Liam Hayton

Looked two strong talented teams.

Kendal R.U.F.C.

Match Preview

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Team Sponsors