The two teams had started the season in contrasting ways. Ilkley had a big win against last season’s fourth place team York, whilst Kendal had played well but were eventually well beaten by a strong Heath team. However, this was a game Kendal could and probably should have won, but errors at crucial moments meant it slipped away.

The Good News was Matt Houghton and Oscar Coxon who had picked up injuries against Heath were both in the team, whilst Alistair Thompson who had been away, was back. Thompson however found himself partnering Oscar Coxon in the second row in place of Reece Tomlinson, whilst captain Ben Dixon moved from the centre to his old role in the back row, with Andy Rogers starting on the bench. Leo Mercer moved to centre and Dan Shorrock from the bench to the right wing, with Ben O’Halloran switching to the left. The only other change to the squad saw Johnny Swallow taking Tadhg Butler’s spot on the bench.

Despite their big win last weekend, there were a number of changes to the Ilkley squad.

A poor crowd (there were even spaces in the car park), possibly deterred by the forecast of heavy showers, with most at the game taking to the stand and balcony, but the showers did not really come. There was a wind down the ground towards the river end which favoured Ilkley in the first half.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, with Ilkley probably having the better. Kendal struggling with the lineout, whilst Ilkley players were penalised a number of times for high tackles.

The breakthrough came after twelve minutes, and went to Kendal, but could have gone the opposite way. Kendal were on the attack near halfway with the ball being moved to the left wing, when an Ilkley player went for an interception but failed. Ben Dixon reacted quickly gathering the ball and used the confusion to make a break down the wing. Whilst he could probably have scored himself, and had support to his right, instead he passed left to Ollie Rose, who not only went over for the score but also narrowed the angle to make Evan Moir’s job easier. 7v0

The lead was quickly reduced four minutes later. A long Ilkley pass to the left found Dan Shorrock marking three Ilkley players, and having committed Shorrock to the tackle, the ball was passed for the score, but too wide for the conversion to be successful, to leave Kendal with a narrow lead. 7v5

After twenty minutes Kendal made a double tactical substitution bringing Glenn Chesher and Joe Anderson off and replacing them with Andy Rogers and Nathan Wolstenholme. Wolstenholme was soon making a number of powerful runs sucking the defence in, but with the defence coming up very (too ?) quickly the Kendal backs could not take advantage.

On the half hour Kendal extended their lead. Ilkley were penalised at a ruck in front of the posts, then a bit of gamesmanship saw them make sure Ollie Rose could not take it quickly. So Kendal had to settle for a kick from Evan Moir 10v5

There was worry for Kendal as Matt Houghton was forced off, but they had another back row man on the bench with Johnny Swallow coming on.

Two minutes later the scores were level, an Ilkley player chipped the ball ahead then gathered his own kick to score, again no conversion. 10v10

Kendal struck back almost immediately. After a number of long restarts, Evan Moir kept this one short and Oscar Coxon gathered the ball and made ground. Good work by the forwards took the ball to the line, but several attempts by Kendal players to force their way over failed. When the ball came back, it was quickly moved wide to Dan Shorrock who scored in the corner. Evan Moir judged the wind perfectly swinging a low conversion over (possibly after advice from his kicking guru Reece Thomlinson ?). 10v17.

There was still time for Ilkley to hit back and tie the scores at half time. Kendal conceded a penalty at the re-start and the kick was put to the corner and planned move saw a try from short range and this time the conversion from wide did go over, with the last action of the first half. 17v17

At half time Joe Anderson and Glenn Chesher returned for Nathan Wolstenholme and Andy Rogers

In his programme piece, Head Coach Dan Bowman had said of last week’s game “unfortunately conceding either side of half time put us under pressure”, and the same was to happen. Ilkley’s restart kick was returned with a long kick, but whilst Ilkley had made sure in the first half the ball, stopped before the try line this one rolled dead to give Ilkley an early attacking scrum.

Again Ilkley attacked the vulnerable Kendal left touchline and scored. The conversion was put over from the touchline, to give Ilkley the lead for the first time. 17v24.

Kendal pulled three points back after a quarter of an hour with a second Evan Moir penalty 20v24

With twenty minutes to play, Kendal made a double change with Matt Houghton and Andy Rogers returning for Robbie Kincart and Glenn Chesher, with Houghton joining the front row.

With ten minutes to play the lead was back to seven points with an Ilkley penalty, 20v27

Evan Moir put over a penalty from halfway with four minutes to play, to put Kendal back within a score of victory, 23v27

Ilkley ran down the clock giving Kendal no chances, and when time was up put the ball dead to seal a narrow victory.

Disappointment to have got so close and ended up with a second home loss, but the positive was after coming up against a number of top class players last weekend, these two teams were closely matched, and there was no one in the Ilkley team any better than in Kendal’s, just they made the right decisions at important moments to expose Kendal weaknesses.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Patrick Wolstenholme

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