Due to the Community Fireworks at Mint Bridge on Friday night, what was originally a home game was moved to Stockport. Stockport came into the game in seventh, the same position they finished last season, two places and three points better off than Kendal, but had had some good results in defeat against the top teams.

Matt Houghton was out after the birth of his child on Thursday evening, and was replaced by Jack Blocksidge. Steven Nelson had picked up an ankle injury in training on Thursday night, and whilst he travelled to the game, he dropped out with Dane Blenkharn coming off the bench to No.8, with Tom Keast being drafted in from the Second team, who were also at Stockport, to the bench.

Stockport had the better of the early exchanges, and when Kendal had the ball, the Stockport defence quickly stopped Kendal players making any ground.

It took a quarter of an hour of play before the deadlock was broken. Kendal were penalised for a high tackle near their tryline, and Stockport chose to take a scrum. The Kendal front row were then penalised, and the penalty was taken quickly for a try. The conversion was added. 7v0

Five minutes later after treatment left wing Dan Shorrock, who had had an excellent game at Stockport at the end of last season, was forced off with an injury. With no backs on the bench, Greg Wrathall came on, and Patrick Wolstenholme yet again found himself on the wing.

There was a chance for Kendal when Ben Dixon broke through, and kicked ahead for himself, but was unable to gather the ball, and knocked on.

Kendal stayed on the attack, and shortly afterwards opened their scoring with an Aaron Stephens penalty. 7v3.

There were more injury problems for Kendal with Leo Mercer forced off, fortunately Dan Shorrock was able to return, and went on the right wing, with Mark Caruthers moving to the centre and Patrick Wolstenholme, retaining his place on the left wing.

Shortly afterwards Stockport extended their lead with a try following some weak Kendal tackling 14v3

Five minutes later a third converted try followed 21v3

This saw Nathan Wolstenholme come on for Joe Anderson

The final try of the half came in added time. Stockport put a good kick through, and whilst Devin Coyle, got back, he was forced to concede a penalty near the line, and the ball was run for a further Stockport converted try 28v3 at half time and a long way back for Kendal, needing a repeat of a fortnight ago at Birkenhead Park.

Instead things got even worse as four minutes into the new half, Dan Shorrock was again injured and Tom Keast had to replace him, with Alistair Thompson joining the back line.

Stockport added two further converted tries after six and eighteen minutes, the first after a drive from a penalty lineout, from which a Stockport player broke away to score, then what initially looked a good kick out of defence was run back. 42v3 with twenty minutes to play.

After the second try, Ben Dixon was the third of the back division forced off, to be replaced by the unlikely figure of Joe Anderson. He was spared the place in the back division, with that role being taken by Tom Keast who went on the left wing, with Alistair Thompson moving to the centre.

There was another re-organisation in the Kendal back division with Devin Coyle going to scrum half, Ollie Rose to outside half and Aaron Stephens to fullback, all positions they have past experience of.

Despite the disruption and scoreline, the team came back and played some of their best rugby of the game. Alistair Thompson made a good break, and there was a lot of good work by the forwards, but the Stockport defence was solid, often driving tackled players backwards, and whilst quick, unlike a number of teams played recently, it appeared legal.

Kendal did get a cross the line, but the ball was held up for a goal line drop out.

In the last ten minutes Stockport added two further tries, the second being the only one in the afternoon not to be converted. They seemed keen for more but the young referee, who had had a good game, had seen enough, despite adding no time.

With a full team the points for would have been bigger, and points against smaller, but Stockport looked a good team, especially in defence, and their mid-table position again shows the strength of the League this season.

With Stoke getting a narrow win against Leek, they overtake Kendal, and the double bonus point for Leek narrows the gap to Kendal, who travel to them next weekend. The question is how many fit players will be available for selection ?

MAN OF THE MATCH :

Ollie Rose

ACTION

TEAMS :

OTHER RESULTS

TABLE

So Stoke's win sees them go above us, and the double bonus point brings next week's opponents Leek, who currently sit in the relegation places closer.

So a BIG game next week, if we can find eighteen fit players.

SECOND XV

84v5

WASPS

More Bad News

After the struggles last weekend, a strong team was selected for the visit to Blaydon, but the game was called off.

According to the Wasps Facebook page due to illness, but the RFU site has it as a Home Walkover.

JUNIOR COLTS
No game this weekend (as far as I can see)

I think some may have been drafted in to help the Second XV