The final re-arranged game (hopefully) and a first trip to Stoke in almost thirty years, in a vital game for the teams in tenth and eleventh place. Both teams had had big losses last weekend.

More problems in the back division for Kendal, who were without Tommy Calvert, who had been injured last weekend, and Leo Mercer who despite playing last weekend, had not fully recovered from his earlier injury. Captain Ben Dixon was also still out. Dan Shorrock joined Luke Atkinson in the centre, with Dafydd Philp returned from injury on one wing and Devin Coyle on the other. A more settled pack, with the only change being Greg Wrathall starting, with Patrick Wolstenholme moving to the bench. Jack Lane also returned on the bench after missing last weekend’s game with an injury.

Spring had arrived early and it was a pleasant afternoon in a very rural location.

Kendal made a good start, and had the lead after five minutes. Good Kendal pressure forced a number of handling errors for Stoke, and from a scrum which resulted from one, the ball was moved right where Dafydd Philp made ground. When he was stopped the ball was recycled and Alex Ryder went for the line. The ball was then quickly moved left, and a long floated pass found Devin Coyle on the wing who went in for they try. Aaron Stephens added the conversion from out wide. 0v7

It looked as if Kendal had a second when Aaron Stephens put a kick over the top of the quickly advancing Stoke defence, for his centres to chase. Dan Shorrock gathered and was through, but the referee called him back for starting in front of Stephens (if he was, it was close).

The second try came from another Stoke mistake. Ollie Rose put a kick to the corner, the young Stoke fullback appeared to have it covered but failed to gather the ball, and Dafydd Philp beat him to the touchdown. 0v12.

A bit of luck, was followed by some skill from the forwards for the third try. Another mistake from the Stoke fullback who gathered an Aaron Stephens kicked, but then stepped out of play to give Kendal a lineout. The ball was gathered (after some earlier problems in the lineout), and the pack drove for the line, and made no mistake, with Matt Houghton having the simple job of touching down. Another good touchline conversion from Aaron Stephens 0v19.

Stoke had looked good with the ball in hand, but the Kendal defence was on top form, quickly stopping the ball carrier, to not allow Stoke any momentum.

Stoke finally got off the mark with just under ten minutes of the half to play. Good build up, then finally a few tackles missed, saw a try down the left. 5v19.

Kendal had the final try of the half, to collect a bonus point. Stoke lost a lineout, and Matt Houghton made ground. When the ball came back Luke Atkinson got close to the line before being stopped, but Barney Coxon, who was having a good game, was on hand to force his way over from short range. 5v26, with the conversion.

Kendal had the benefit of the breeze on their back in the first half, and the low sun behind them, so Stoke had those benefits in the second, but Kendal had a slight slope in their favour.

Again Kendal made a good start to the half, with a number of players making ground, but when awarded a penalty in front of the posts, Aaron Stephens was given the kick. 5v29.

Too often when box kicks went up, no one chased, but when Ollie Rose put one up, Aaron Stephens not only followed it, but regained the ball and made a lot of ground, and whilst stopped Kendal stayed on the attack.

The ball was moved wide, and Steven Nelson was found on the left wing. Faced with a number of Stoke players he finally kicked ahead, then followed his kick, forcing the replacement fullback to carry the ball over the line for a Kendal scrum.

Inevitably Nelson then picked up and went for the line. When he was stopped the ball came back, and Glenn Chester, another having a good game, went for the line. He was also stopped, but the ball quickly came back, Luke Atkinson juggled the pass, but having gathered the ball, he was over for a try. 5v34

Stoke were coming back into the game keeping the ball well, but finding the Kendal defence as solid as in the first half.

Finally a second Stoke score came. The ball was moved left and the referee decided Dafydd Philp’s failed interception on the line was a deliberate knock on to prevent a score, awarding a penalty try and yellow carding Philp.

Kendal also lost Luke Atkinson to injury.

Stoke saw an opportunity for a comeback, but found the Kendal defence was still strong, and finally it forced a mistake. Matt Houghton anticipated a pass on halfway, to intercept and still had enough, to outpace one of the young Stoke backs. 12v41 with the simple Aaron Stephens conversion.

Restored to fifteen Kendal stepped up a gear and in a move where Barney Coxon twice made ground down the left, the ball was passed to the wing, where Matt Houghton appeared at pace for his third try. Nobody tried to stop him, but doubt they would have had much success if they had.

The Stoke restarts had all been good, but equally well dealt with by the Kendal pack. This time the kick fell too short, Oscar Coxon reacted quickly to gather and was away, but the referee had already blown for a scrum.

The final score again came from a Stoke handling error. The loose ball was gathered by Dan Shorrock, who had had few opportunities in his unaccustomed role as a centre, but given this one he was away from inside his half to score under the post. 12v53 with the conversion

The referee decided there was still time to play following a few injury stoppages, and Stoke finished on the attack, but there was another opportunity for a further breakaway try for Kendal when Ben O’Halloran, was unable to take a pass, with what appeared a clear run in front of him.

So exactly what was needed, with maximum points and preventing Stoke picking up anything. Like at Leek earlier in the season, the team took advantages of opposition errors, but in this case many were forced by the excellent Kendal team performance.

Another good young referee, who quietly got on with his job, but showed who was in charge when he needed to, twice marching Stoke back, when they disputed penalty awards.

Hopefully more of the same again when Leek are the visitors to Mint Bridge next weekend, to widen the gap to the bottom further, and secure another season at this level.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Aaron Stephens

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