Heavy Weather

Kendal made a number of changes with Matty Houghton and Ben Leacock coming in for Richard Harryman and Phil Murphy, with Liam Hayton moving into the front row, and James Thompson, moving into the second row. Behind the pack, Mark Carruthers replaced Damian Armstrong, with Zane Butler moving into the centre.

Kendal made an explosive start. From a lineout, the ball was moved into midfield, where Dini Noyo appeared and broke a tackle to go through for a score within a minute of the kick off. Glenn Weightman added the conversion 0v7.

Kendal had a chance to double the score almost immediately. Dini Noyo made a break down the right, his pass found Chris Downham, who almost made the line, only to be dragged down. When the ball came back, the pass was knocked on.

For a second week, there was friction between the two teams. Glenn Weightman was taken out with a late tackle, but then put the penalty dead to lose the advantage.

After the open start, the Kendal forwards were keeping the ball tight, taking it through multiple phases, but making little progress against a rock solid Carlisle pack, whilst options outside them were being ignored. Carlisle also had the advantage in the scrum, where the Kendal pack was often under pressure on their own put in.

Slightly against the run of play, Carlisle drew the scores level after twenty minutes. They were awarded a penalty near the Kendal line, when the referee adjudged the Kendal defence to have come up too fast. A player disagreed with the decision, and the penalty was moved to the line. Carlisle opted for the scrum, and the ball was moved to a centre who broke the defence to score. 7v7 with the conversion.

Kendal regained the lead five minutes later. Chris Downham stole Carlisle lineout ball and broke down field. When the move broke down, it appeared a Kendal boot had accidently kicked the ball through to Carlisle, but the referee adjudged that Carlisle had transgressed, and Glenn Weightman put the penalty over. 7v10. This remained the score at half time.

Carlisle started the second half the better, and were on the attack in Kendal’s twenty two, when James Gough managed to steal the ball. Instead of kicking the ball clear, Kendal tried to run the ball out of defence, only for the Carlisle centre to intercept, and go in for his second try, to give his team the lead for the first time. 14v10. Matty Houghton was replaced with Jack Morphet coming on.

Kendal had the lead back five minutes later. Kendal won a penalty at a scrum close to the Carlisle line. James Gough took it quickly, and found Chris Downham who powered over for the try, which Glenn Weightman converted. 14v17

Kendal quickly increased their lead. From deep in their own half a clearance kick appeared to have given Carlisle the ball back, but for once the bounce favoured Kendal, and the three Carlisle players made a total mess of it, for Dini Noyo to get a boot to the ball and hack it through, managing to then gather the bouncing ball, and power through for the try, which Glenn Wightman again converted. 14v24.

Carlisle struck back almost immediately. Kendal were on the attack deep in the Carlisle half, but when the ball was lost, Carlisle kicked up field and their wing gathered to go over for a converted try 21v24.

When Kendal were awarded penalties Glenn Weightman had two opportunities to extended the lead, but was unable to hit the target.

With a quarter of an hour to play, Kendal made further changes with Jack Lashley coming on for Ben Leacock, and Chris Park for Mark Carruthers. They were then forced to replace Garry Holmes, who had taken a knock, with Matty Houghton returning at hooker.

Carlisle tied the scores with five minutes to play. They were on the attack in the Kendal twenty two, when Kendal managed to turn the ball over. Rather than kick downfield, Glenn Weightman made a break out of defence, but lacked any support, and was fortunate that Jack Morphet was able to gather a loose pass. Morphet was however isolated, and was forced to concede a penalty, which Carlisle kicked. 24v24.

Garry Holmes returned to the field in place of Glenn Weightman, who had been struggling against his former club. Matty Houghton moved onto the wing, his third position of the game.

Nathan Wooff, moved to outside half and made an immediate impact. Carlisle failed to gather the kick off, and when Kendal won the ball, Wooff made a break into the twenty two, Jack Lashley was in support and powered over, but Carlisle were able to prevent him grounding the ball. The relief was however short lived. Kendal secured the scrum and Chris Downham powered over from short range. Chris Park put the difficult conversion over from close to the touchline. 24v31

The Kendal pack played simple possession rugby, to run the clock down, and not give Carlisle any opportunity to get a late score.

A good win against a Carlisle team, whose pack were again extremely hardworking, whilst their backs took their opportunities well when they had them. However Kendal to often took the wrong options, getting tied into a forward battle in the first half, which was clearly more to their opponents liking, and too often failing to use the talent behind the pack, but at the end the pack came good to grind out victory.

It does not get any easier next weekend, with a home tie against another Cumbria rival in Penrith, who after an opening day loss at Vale of Lune, have now run of four wins in a row.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH : Chris Downham