A second visit to Bowdon, the first in the 2021/22 season on an afternoon of wild weather saw Kendal win 11v28, and a week later in a re-arranged game at Mint Bridge, they won 64v14.

The two teams came into the game with almost identical records of only one win from their first five games; a number of which had been against teams currently in the top half of the table, both had a losing bonus point, and even the points difference was within two. Only an extra try scoring bonus points putting Kendal two places higher in the table. So a close game was expected and was exactly what happened.

Changes in the Kendal team saw the unavailable Matt Houghton replaced by Dylan Douglas in the back row, whilst Dev Coyle had broken his nose last weekend, so Ollie Rose was back at scrum half, but Ben o’Halloran stayed on the wing with Chris Rochelle promoted from the Second XV at fullback.

Toby Merrick was back on the bench having missed last week’s game whilst there were also two new names on the bench, both back-row men, Zack Dodds, who is with Darlington Morden Park’s Academy after being with Leicester Tigers’ last year, and having previous been at Kirkby Lonsdale, whilst Greg Jones, who on the past has played for Harrogate; Hull and Caldy.

The Bowdon team included former Stockport scrum half Alex Pantechis, who played five games for Kendal in 2018/19.

Before the game the referee was clearly concerned that the two sets of shirts were too similar, but there was no change.

After the wild weather last weekend, it was sunny afternoon, with a cool breeze, and the Bowdon pitch was in excellent condition.

Bowdon kicked off attacking the clubhouse end of the ground and had the better of early play.

It was however to be Kendal who got the opening score. Zane Butler made a break on the left, but could not get a pass away to Angus Knight in support. Knight was however not to be denied a second time, as then the ball was recycled he broke through, and whilst he had support outside him, he broke a few half hearted tackles to go through for the try, which Aaron Stephens converted. 0v7, after fifteen minutes.

After twenty five minutes Kendal made a tactical change with Joe Anderson being replaced by Finn Kennedy.

Bowdon continued to be playing the better rugby, and moved the ball well, whilst poor kicks and handling errors were stopping Kendal gaining any momentum.

Bowdon were also finding gaps in the Kendal defence, but like last weekend when he came to the line, the Kendal defence was rock solid.

After half an hour for a second weekend Zane Butler was yellow carded for a high tackle. A Bowdon player had brushed off several Kendal tackles and Butler’s unorthodox tackle which stopped him was illegal.

Unlike last weekend Bowdon failed to exploit the extra space on the wing, despite their left wing regularly calling for the ball. Instead they played into Kendal’s hands by trying to attack down the middle of the field, where the Kendal had numbers to repell them.

As the half came to the end Bowdon finally got the equalising score. Kendal had turned the ball over but not for the first (or last) time were slow to support the ball carrier and saw a penalty conceded. This set up a position for a Bowdon attack and when Kendal were penalised again, the penalty was taken for a try which was converted. 7v7.

Both teams stayed out at half time.

Toby Merrick came on at the re-start for Alistair Thompson.

Kendal could not have hoped for a better start to the second half. The return kick from the restart, was delayed, and Oscar Coxon charged it down. The ball ricochet over the Bowden line, and the question was would it harmlessly go out of play, but it held up and Coxon quickly followed up for the score, with Arron Stephens again adding the conversion 7v14

The gap was quickly narrowed with a second Bowdon try with players evading a number missed Kendal tackles. The kick would have tied the score but despite looking straight forward it failed to find the target. 12v14.

This prompted a Kendal change with Zack Dodds replacing Dylan Douglas.

The lead was extended again after fifteen minutes. Bowden had a lineout and tried a short low throw but it backfired as the ball was not gathered and instead Kendal took it and mounted an attack. The referee signalled a penalty and played a long advantage but when it didn’t come Aaron Stephens was given the kick at goal. 12v17.

Kendal made further changes with Greg Jones and Dan Shorrock came on for Patrick Woltsenholme and Ben o’Halloran, whilst Joe Anderson and Alistair Thompson returned in place of Finn Kennedy and Toby Merrick.

After half an hour the scores were level again as Bowdon added a third try, with a breakdown the left. The referee was playing advantage for a high tackle, but no further action was taken. Again the conversion, this time from a wide angle, was not successful. 17v17.

Bowdon were clearly tiring, and Dan Shorrock made a number of good runs down the left wing, but always a Bowdon player finally caught him.

Moving into added time, which the referee had earlier indicated at least two minutes would be played, it looked as if the game was going to be a draw, which would probably have been a fair result.

However Kendal mounted another attack with a good passing move. Aaron Stephens found the defence up quickly to cut off a pass, and rather than risk an interception, went for gap himself. When caught he got a pass away to Ollie Rose, but it was forward. Had Kendal’s last chance gone, and was this a late chance for a Bowdon attack and score ?

Whilst Joe Anderson had been off the Kendal scrum had been under pressure and conceded a number of penalties. Whether it was a good Kendal scrum, or a bit of Bowdon gamesmanship, hoping to win a penalty to put Bowdon on the attack, if the latter it spectacularly backfired, as the referee instead penalised the Bowdon front row.

Aaron Stephens was given the pressure kick, and made no mistake. The referee immediately blew for time, giving Kendal a dramatic victory. 17v20.

Another Kendal performance, well below the standard of the two opening games (where both the teams played are still unbeaten and in the top three), but Bowdon look a far better team than their League position suggests, so an excellent result, which moves the team into the top six.

If both teams are to prosper they will need to cut out the errors, with most of the scores coming following errors.

Next weekend a trip to Dronfield, in a game reversed due to the Fireworks at Mint Bridge on Friday evening. Dronfield are bottom, but last week beat Bowdon, and with others at the bottom having tough games next weekend, a win could move them out of the bottom four. So another important hurdle to cross.

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Aaron Stephens

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