Just Champion !

After a close first half, they dominated the second half for victory and promotion.

Phil Murphy and Chris Downham returned to the Kendal pack, whilst Chris Park replacing Zane Butler, who had broken his leg against Leigh. In a shock move Richard Harryman came in on the bench, for his first game since injury in his only start of the season, against Widnes in late September.

There was a bumper crowd and the threatened rain held off, although there was an icy wind blowing across the pitch.

Kirkby had the better of the opening exchanges, and Kendal conceded a string of penalties for slowing the ball at the breakdown. Kirkby had an early chance to open the scoring, but the penalty missed the target.

There was another fright for Kendal as Nathan Wooff’s kick was charged down, and fell to Kirkby Wing David Bird, but he was hauled down.

When, after less than ten minutes play, Jack Lashley became the latest offender, the referee gave him a yellow card, which when a scrum was awarded shortly afterwards, brought an earlier than anticipated appearance of Richard Harryman, with Josh Chaplow being sacrificed whilst Lashley was serving his time.

Almost immediately Richard’s appearance paid dividends, as the seven man Kendal pack won a penalty, when defending a scrum near their line.

Against the run of play, after a quarter of an hour, the first score went to Kendal, whilst they were still down to fourteen men. Glenn Weightman put a long touch finding kick out of defence. From the Kirkby throw, Phil Murphy managed to tap the ball back on the Kendal side. When the ball came back Matty Houghton made ground, before Glenn Weightman evaded some tackles, and when he was stopped, Danny Barker weaved his way through for the try. Unfortunately Glenn Weightman miss hit his conversion kick. 5v0

Shortly after there was another blow for Kendal, as Liam Hayton was forced off with a cut, which saw the return of Josh Chaplow, but Liam was soon back in place of Richard Harryman, as Jack Lashley finished his spell on the touchlines.

There was a further fright for Kendal when Kirkby seemed to have a overlap on the left, but Chris Park’s tackle ended the immediate danger.

Kendal were coming more into the game, with Danny Barker having one of his best games of the season, often squeezing through the Kirkby defence. Also the lineout, frequently a weak point in the Kendal game, was well on top, and it was Kirkby struggling to win their own ball.

After twenty five minutes, Kirkby finally opened their account, after Phil Murphy had been isolated when running a ball out of defence, and was penalised for failing to release the ball when tackled. 5v3.

Kendal had an opportunity to re-establish the lead, but the penalty kick missed the target.

With five minutes of the half to play, Richard Harryman returned when Jack Lashley was forced off with a cut to his head. Chris Downham was also forced off, with Josh Coyle temporarily replacing him.

Another penalty missed the target in injury time, but when Nathan Wooff gathered a long Kirkby kick out of defence, he made a long break onto the Kirkby half. Glenn Weightman then took the move on evading several tackles, and when he was stopped Kendal were awarded another penalty, and this time there was no mistake with Glenn Weightman converting it with the final action of the half. 8v3.

There was a frenetic opening to the second half, with both teams moving the ball, but Kendal were starting to take control, with James Gough frequently finding gaps and making ground, whilst also causing the Kirkby back row all sorts of problems at scrums.

A further missed penalty meant Kendal failed to pull further away, but the referee was now getting frustrated with Kirkby conceding penalties, and finally after a number of warnings, after a quarter of an hour of play, a Kirkby player was issued with a yellow card.

There was further concern for Kendal, as Matty Houghton, who had been having another excellent game, limped off and Josh Coyle returned to the field.

Shortly afterwards Glenn Weightman put over a penalty to extend the Kendal lead to two scores 11v3.

Kendal were beginning to dominated the scrums, but after twenty five minutes when awarded a penalty at a scrum in front of the posts, went for the almost guaranteed extra three points, and Glenn Weightman opened the gap up further 14v3.

From the kick off James Gough was laid out. After he had received treatment, the remorseful Kirkby player, was issued with a Red card by the referee.

A further penalty at a scrum, gave Glenn Weightman the opportunity to extend the Kendal lead to two converted tries, with less than ten minutes to play, with Kendal only needing a draw to guarantee promotion. 17v3.

Kendal continued to press for more points, and a long cross field kick by Nathan Wooff was excellently gathered by Chris Park on the right wing, but the Kirkby defence got back to prevent him scoring.

Kendal stayed on the attack and forced three scrumage penalties on the Kirkby line, each time going for another scrum, but the Kirkby seven continued to keep Kendal out.

Finally Kirkby stole the ball at the scrum, but back row man Lwazi Ngcumgama, who had been the star player at the fixture earlier in the season, but this time had had a very quiet afternoon, undid the good work losing the ball. James Gough quickly swooped, and whilst held, managed to get over for the try, which Glenn Weightman converted 24v3.

The referee decided there was time for a restart, but when Kendal won the ball at a scrum, Glenn Weightman put the ball dead for the celebrations to begin.

Another excellent performance against a tough opponent, and despite a number of injury problems.

Good Luck to Kirkby in their play-off against Morley, as with most fixtures being long distance next season, a local derby and another afternoon like this would be a bonus.

For the moment Kendal regain their position as highest placed Cumbrian team, after relinquishing it to Penrith and then Kirkby for the last three seasons

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH : Danny Barker

In the biggest vote of the season (with the biggest crowd at Mint Bridge for many years), Danny was the clear choice, with Richard Harryman a little way back, with James Gough and Matty Houghton just behind him. Not surprisingly with such an excellent performace 13 of the 17 who took the field got a vote (and the other four deserved to too) .

Look out for a "Man of the Season" vote to follow shortly

PRESS here to read the Kirkby report

PHOTO : No Contest ! Phil Murphy rises high (with a little help from his friends) to steal Kirkby ball, which set up the opening Danny Barker try