Comfortable Victory .... in the End

to secure a comfortable victory.

Kersal had only lost three times at home this season, but it was Kendal who had the better of the opening exchanges.

The Kendal pack seemed to have the advantage in the early scrums, with James Gough putting pressure on the Kersal back row, but the mobile Kersal pack managed to deal well with the poor ball.

There seemed to be serious communication problems at the Kendal lineout, with balls stolen, failing to find their target, or being adjudged not straight, which meant the Kendal pack could not build up any head of steam. Kersal were also stealing ball from Kendal at the breakdown, and often isolated Kendal players were also being penalised.

Kendal finally took the lead from a midfield scum after twenty five minutes. After complex moves had failed, it was from a simple move, with a two man overlap on the right, James Gough picked up and instead fed Mark Carruthers on the left wing, who went over in the corner. 0v5.

This remained the score after half time, with more Kendal errors disrupting progress.

Glenn Chesher was brought on for Robbie Collinson at half time, with Duncan Green moving to hooker. It was Kersal however who came out the stronger, with their powerful pack keeping the ball to probe the Kendal close defence for weaknesses, but Kendal held firm.

A break up field relieved the pressure, and Kersal appeared unfortunately to be penalised, when an attempted interception was adjudged a deliberate knock on. After Glenn Weightman’s long touch finder, Matty Houghton found Phil Murphy with his first lineout throw. When the ball came back, Zane Butler made a break, and whilst he was stopped, the ball came back again to Glenn Chesher who made ground. The move was then taken on by Glenn Weightman, but he slipped near the line, but was able to set the ball up for James Gough, and the forwards drove Chesher over for the try, 0v12 with Glenn Weightman’s conversion.

Kendal almost score again straight from the kick off. The ball was moved at pace with good handling from backs and forwards, with Jack Lashley twice gathering poor passes to ensure the move continued, only for it to break down with a poor pass failing to find Zane Butler.

With Kendal stepping up several gears, Kersal were being forced into conceding penalties to try to slow the ball down, and finally the referee issued a yellow card to their hooker.

With tries needed for the bonus point, instead of going for touch Kendal twice ran penalties, and Matty Houghton was driven over for the third try. 0v19 with the conversion.

Kendal made more changes with Chris Park replacing Nathan Wooff, whilst New Zealander Josh Coyle making his debut, replaced James Thompson.

A long kick upfield by Glenn Weightman, and good chase by Mark Carruthers force a poor Kersal clearance kick to touch, to put Kendal back on the attack.

The bonus point fourth try came just before the half hour mark. Again from a simple move from a scrum, with the ball was moved to Zane Butler in space on the right, and he was able to beat several tacklers to score. 0v24.

Kendal were forced to make further changes with Nathan Wooff and Robbie Collinson replacing Damian Armstrong and Matty Houghton.

Kersal came back, with their forwards playing a brand of rugby once hallmarked by Kendal, keeping the ball and exploiting short runs to stretch the Kendal defence. The Kendal defence held firm, and as the game came to the end of normal time, when the ball was moved to the Kersal backs, Mark Carruthers anticipated a pass to intercept, and go the length of the field for his second try. 0v29

The best try of the game was to come, with excellent inter-passing setting up several opportunities, which seemed to be lost as “white line fever” got the better of players who had players outside them in more space, but the ball kept come back at the breakdown, and finally Nathan Wooff was able to go over on the right. Chris Park added the conversion with the final action of the game. 0v36.

With third place Wilmslow visiting Mint Bridge next weekend, Kendal will not be able to afford another slow start, but against a team with an excellent home record this season, once the errors were cut out this proved a good victory.

Issues for the next week will be to tighten up the lineout, which has been much better this season but has struggled in the last two games, and improving support for the ball carrier, to avoid allowing the opposition to steal ball.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH Mark Carruthers
Two tries, plenty of work in defence and growing confidence in a strong back division - after several positive mentions in various match reporters pieces, recognition from the touchline support.

PHOTO : No idea what was going on here - but it was the best of the batch from Saturday !