The two teams came into the game on equal points with Northwich only above Kendal due to conceding fewer points

Last season Northwich had failed to win a game, but a strong recruitment, with reputably ten overseas players in their team, had turned their fortunes around and they have had good wins over Macclesfield and Sandbach.

Kendal made three changes from the team which had won against Manchester, with Joe Anderson coming in for Dan Reid, Glen Weightman returning from injury to replace Dan Lowther, and Mark Carruthers coming in on the wing for Dan Shorrock. Alex Ryder started, with Liam Hayton taking a turn on the bench joining Aaron Stephens and Tadhg Butler

Northwich started the better and dominated early play with Kendal trapped in their own half, The opening try after six minutes came from a kick to the corner. 5v0

Kendal came more into the game and Glen Weightman pulled three points back with a penalty after a quarter of an hour 5v3.

A second Weightman penalty after twenty five minutes followed some excellent handing and re-cycling, but when they could not find a way through, the points and lead were taken 5v6.

A second try for Northwich came after half an hour following a penalty for a lineout. The ball was gathered and instead of a drive was passed back to a man on the touchline for the try 10v6.

Northwich were starting to concede a number of penaltes and the referee issued a warning, whilst Glen Weightman line up his third successful kick at goal 10v9.

Five minutes later a Northwich player ignored the warning and got an early half time following a yellow card. This time the penalty was put to touch, but the team could not score.

Northwich started the second half well, and an amazing side stepping run from young fullback Entyn Martin (who their supporters suggested is a New Zealander), took him over from halfway for a score which this time was converted. 17v9

Northwich were soon back on the attack, and after nine minutes with Northwich just back to a full team, Kendal were down to fourteen for ten minutes, as Mark Carruthers was yellow carded for an offence on the line – but no penalty try.

Instead it was Kendal who scored next in strange circumstances. Northwich were attacking near halfway, when Ben Dixon came in for a tackle, but managed to ripped the ball in the tackle and had the pace to break away for the score to put Kendal back in the game 17v14.

After the score Kendal made their first changes with Liam Hayton and Tadhg Butler coming on for Reece Tomlinson and Joe Lashley.

Having got back in touch Kendal almost immediately conceded again. Failing to take the restart and after more good recycling of the ball by Northwich, their forwards drove over for a try which was then converted. 24v14.

Kendal had also offended after the score to concede a penalty at the restart, where Northwich chose to take a scrum.

Kendal had a number of chances, with a run by Ben Dixon, which was taken on by Ignacio Cisint, but when he passed to Mark Carruthers he was caught.

Then another good run by Ignacio Cisint, but this time it was Joe Fiddler who was caught.

They were punished with a further Northwich try after twenty five minutes, after some good passing by their backs, Mattie Kaye made a tackle on the line, but could not stop the score. The conversion from a wide angle hit the post. 29v14.

After the score Kendal made a further change with Aaron Stephens coming on for Mattie Kaye, with Glen Weightman moving to scrum half.

The Kendal pack ran a penalty and drove for the line, but were held up to give Northwich the ball.

Northwich continued to concede penalties, and with time running down another yellow card was issued.

Again the penalty was run and this time the forwards drove over for a try, with Joe Lashley the last man up. Glen Weightman drop kicked the conversion attempt quickly to give the chance to come back for another score. 29v19

Reece Tomlinson returned in place of Alex Ryder.

Liam Hayton gathered the restart kick, and when the ball came back Aaron Stephen moved it wide to Ben Dixon. Dixon had a lot to do, with a number of Northwich players in front of him, but several changes of pace saw him through for the try, the conversion failed, which was the final action of the game 29v24, for a losing bonus point gained, but it could have been more.

Northwich, despite their influx of players who will not have played together regularly played some good rugby in their backs, and Kendal did well to hold them, but when mistakes were made were too slow to react, allowing Northwich to re-group.

The best news of the afternoon, was the lineout worked a lot better.

A fortnight off before Rossendale are the visitors, and if the team (possibly with some other returning from injury) can return to the standards achieved against Manchester, there is still a chance to overtake Wirral at the halfway point of the season.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ben Dixon

Only a small vote this week, but even for his two outstanding performances against Carlisle last season, Ben didn't have such run away support. Almost two third of the votes, with only two others, Alistair Thompson (another really hardworking performance) and Robbie Collinson, picked up votes

I was standing close to where Ben took the ball for his first try, and still have no idea what happened. One moment a Northwich player was heading in one direction with the ball, the next Ben was on his way to the line. The second try (which got the losing bonus point in added time) was equally spectacular, according to those on the other touchline who got a better view. He also got back to make some key tackles (and save the blushes of others who had missed them).

Sadly after the late start to the season, it will shortly be an early finish. Sadly for us - probably not for him as he heads "down under". Then when he returns I am told he will be working away from Kendal, but if he puts in the same dedication to his new career as has for us, our loss will be his new employers gain.

OTHER RESULTS

A losing bonus point for Burnage
Blackburn and Lymm win
Stockport get a narrow win to see Wirral drop below Northwich

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