1st XV v Wilmslow

Wilmslow 12 Kendal 32
In actual fact scored the first try of the game by their right winger, Harry Patch, when he finished some good passing in the right corner.- 5-0.
But Kendal soon rallied, when Phil Murphy won a line out close to the try line, and put Liam Hayton over for his first try., plus a simple conversion by Nathan Woof.- 5 - 7.
Nathan Wooff linked up after 23 minutes down the left wing with a superb long pass to Dini Noyo and Dini left the Cheshire lads straggling from 40 metres to the corner. - 5-12
Unfortunately Nathan Wooff limped off with a sore hamstring. Zane Butler moved to the full back role, and Mark Carruthers took Nathan's place on the right wing.

For a period, Wilmslow, attacked, but Kendal's defence was superb, including one fine tackle By Matty Houghton which saved an almost certain try .

Kendal were pinned in their own 22 metre area for what seemed a long period of time. They won two line outs from opposition throws and the back slapping for their own players as they stopped the opposition had to be seen to be believed - great spirit by the black and ambers team..

Then Chris Downham made a magnificent break through the middle just like he made in last season's game, and James Gough and others followed him like a lap dog and James scored a try. The conversion was missed - 5-17.
The half time whistle blew and Kendal were well in front - 5 - 17.

Wilmslow started the second half like the first, with the same man, Harry Patch scoring another fine individual try, converted by McCallum , their fly half - 12 -17. They thought Wilmslow were back in the match , but they need not worry too much!

Some of the good Cumbrian supporters were not too worried, because Glenn Weightman used a very strong wind, blowing from one corner to the other to his advantage. This forced Wilmslow back to chase his good kicks, with others too following his example.
The Cheshire players admitted after the game, that they did not use the wind as well as we did!
Ironically, in other respects the conditions were excellent, with no rain at all!
Weightman kicked a high penalty goal - 12-20.

Finally the ice was broken when Phil Murphy took the ball at a 40 metres out line out and charged right to the line to score. This was the fourth bonus try!- 12 -25.
Phil retired to take a well earned rest, to be replaced by Ben Leacock.

Jack Lashley ran through soon after, but sprained his knee to be replaced by James Thompson, and Garry Holmes moving back to the front row. This made no difference, because the Cumbrian confidence was so good by this time, and Chris Downham charged straight through from a twenty metre scrum break-away and cut through a fine gap in the middle. Not a person touched him. Weightman kicked the simple conversion to finalise the scoring - 12 - 32.

After match comments from Steve Whitehead -
"From a personal point of view, this was one of the best moments in my rugby career! The concentration levels were tremendous.

The concentration was fine yesterday.
The cameraderie has improved game by game this season and last also. It just gets better every week.

Steve W.