After the long Summer break, and delayed start to the season, it was the third round of games, and after two good performances, a win was needed to push the team up the table. This would have been a free weekend, but instead it was the round of games which should have been played in mid-September.

Visitors Leek had finished last season in fifth place and started this season with a loss against relegated Rossendale, but last weekend had a win against promoted Vale of Lune.

No Ben o’Halloran or Finn Kennedy, so Dan Shorrock (who had scored five tries in a run out as fullback for the Second XV last week) and Owen Slater came in.

As forecast an afternoon of sunshine and showers.

Kendal started the game playing towards the river end, with the breeze in their favour and had the better of early play but could not turn pressure into points.

After conceding twice early in their first two games, this time it was Kendal who got the opening score with Aaron Stephens given a kick at goal after Leek had been penalised at a ruck in front of the posts. 3v0

Five minutes later Kendal had their first try. Leek were again penalised for interfering at a ruck, and when a player spoke out they were marched back ten metres, then Aaron Stephens put long kick to touch. The lineout was won and Angus Knight broke away to feed Zane Butler who powered into the right hand corner. Aaron Stephens put over an excellent kick from near the touchline. 10v0

The next score five minute later came from a second Aaron Stephen’s penalty, from a decision at a ruck which could have gone either way (the Kendal player certainly looked isolated) 13v0.

Kendal scored again just before the half hour. Leek lost the ball near halfway and Aaron Stephens put a long kick to touch in the Leek twenty-two. He must have just been in the Leek half, as the throw went to them, but it did not matter as it was stolen. The ball was quickly moved left, and Zane Butler appeared on the opposite wing to go through to score. He could not narrow the angle for the conversion, but it did not matter as Aaron Stephens proved he was as good off the left touchline as he had been on the right put over another excellent kick further extending the lead. 20v0

Leek quickly pulled some points back, despite being well behind, they took a kick at goal by centre Jack Newton-Taylor. 20v3

Matt Houghton, who had previously needed treatment, was forced off with Isa Muschamps coming off the bench.

The third try came from long range. A Leek knock-on deep in the Kendal half resulted in a scrum. The ball was moved left and Ben Dixon opened up the Leek defence making a lot of ground. He got the ball away to Ollie Rose and whilst he was finally stopped, he got the ball to Zane Butler on the move for his third. 25v3

The bonus point fourth try came as the half came to an end. Ben Dixon made a break on the left, and again Ollie Rose was in support for the pass. It looked as if he should have got the ball away to others in support, but it did matter, as he cut inside and weaved through a few attempted tackles to touch down. Aaron Stephens added the conversion. 32v3

There was still time for Leek to get their first try. There was a drive from a lineout, stopped illegal by Kendal giving away the penalty. The ball was moved from the resulting lineout and kicked though. It looked as it Kendal players had it covered, but clearly not well enough as the referee’s arm went up for a try, credited to left wing Samuel Charles Brereton. Centre Jack Newton-Taylor added the conversion with the final action of the half. 32v10

Leek came out fired up and had the better of the opening exchanges with Kendal giving away a string of penalties, but Leek did not punishing them due to a string of handling errors.

Kendal were temporarily reduced to fourteen after seven minutes. Aaron Stephens chased a kick out of defence but caught the player who gathered the ball with a high tackle, and was yellow carded.

Kendal made a second change with Dylan Douglas coming on for Toby Merrick.

After failing to take more opportunities, Leek finally got their second try. After good build-up in mid-field a long pass was put to the left wing for a try by centre Jack Newton-Taylor.

Shortly afterwards numbers were evened up, when Leek No.8 Elliot Anderson, caught a Kendal player with a high tackle, and was given ten minutes on the sideline.

Kendal had a long period in the Leek twenty-two. Three times Leek were penalised and Ollie Rose put a kick to touch. The lineout was won, but the drive quickly brought down, before Kendal could build the momentum that led to tries last weekend.

Matt Houghton returned in place of Dane Blenkharn

After more good build up work, it looked as if Patrick Wolstenholme had scored but the ball was dislodged from his grasp after crossing the line, as he tried to get it down for the try.

There was another good passing move and it just needed a good pass and Zane Butler was in for his fourth try, but the pass was poor. Butler however was quick to react, he got back to regain the ball and the ball was swept back left, for Ben Dixon to power over for the try. 37v15.

This triggered multiple changes with Zane Butler; Patrick Wolstenholme, and Dev Coyle coming off and Dan Shorrock; Dane Blenkharn and Chris Rochelle, with Rochelle going fullback and Ollie Rose moving to his normal scrum half position.

Leek came back and when awarded a penalty, it was taken quickly and Isa Muschamps, tacked the player who took it straight away, becoming the second Kendal player yellow carded.

Having played seventy-one minutes, Joe Anderson was replaced by Owen Slater.

When it was time for Muschamps to returned, he was instead replaced by a returning Toby Merrick.

In added time Leek got a third try, through scrum half James Milan, with Joseph Newton-Taylor, adding the conversion. 37v22.

There was still time to play, and a try would get Leek an unlikely bonus point, but instead it was Kendal who had the final word.

Leek knocked the ball on. From the scrum, rather than run Dylan Douglas at No.8 passed to Ollie Rose, who put a kick to the corner for Dan Shorrock to chase, which he successfully did. Shorrock still had to gather the ball on the line, but no knock-on, and momentum took him over. 42v22

This was the final action of the game.

A little confusion about the final score. The RFU site says 44v22 - but also that Aaron Stephens was only successful with three conversions. The disputed one seems to be the final one as the half time score was 32v10, and the scoreboard had 37v15, when I checked after the final Leek try.

No matter it is a WIN and FIVE points to drive the team up the table

Another good attacking performance. If there is an area which needs working on. it is discipline around the tackle area. It was clear this referee was favouring the team with the ball, so against a team which offered limited threat in attack, it would have been better to have not competed and avoid risking penalties.

The real positive from the game, whether due to Angus Knight’s throwing, or more likely a final realisation that keeping the lineout simple wins ball. The lineout was near perfect (and they even disrupted a lot of Leek throws and stole some ball).

Next week a tougher task again, away at unbeaten Wirral who inflicted a third defeat of the season on Kendal’s next opponents at home in a fortnight, Blackburn, who find themselves bottom of the table (they had played well in our pre-season game – so not to be underestimated.)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Zane Butler

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OTHER RESULTS

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