Tough Afternoon

Ben Leacock had picked up an injury, so he was replaced in the second row by James Thompson, whilst John Dervey came off the bench into the back row, and Richard Harryman replacing him on the bench. There was a debut for Barrow Rugby League player Jo Hambley on the left wing, whilst Dini Noyo continued at scrum half.

Kendal started well, and early in the game when Huddersfield lost the ball, Liam Hayton tidied it up for Zane Butler to make a break down the right wing. When he was stopped the ball was moved wide, but a difficult pass was knocked on.

Kendal had a good spell on the attack, and when the ball was moved wide, Matty Houghton made good ground, but had missed Nathan Wooff and Zane Butler in more space outside him, and the move came to nothing.

Having withstood the onslaught, Huddersfield came back and forced a penalty for the opening score after quarter of an hour of play 0v3. The lead was doubled with a second penalty seven minutes later 0v6.

Kendal were starting to force handling errors from Huddersfield, and after being caught when he tried to pick up an earlier dropped pass, when given a second opportunity came, Glenn Weightman hackled the ball through, but then again picked it up, rather than kicking through again, with Matty Houghton steaming up outside him, and the Huddersfield defence got back to end the danger.

Kendal momentum was also being disrupted by giving away a string of penalties.

Just before half time Blake Robinson was forced off with an injury and was replaced by Robbie Collinson, who was immediately into the action.

John Dervey managed to charged down an attempted Huddersfield clearance kick, but the rebound went to touch before he could gather it.

Kendal stayed on the attack and were finally rewarded in first half injury time. Dini Noyo quickly took a penalty, and when he was stopped Glenn Chesher took the move on, before the ball came to Jo Dervey, who found wing Joe Hambley who went over for a debut try. 5v6.

Huddersfield hit back quickly. Another penalty conceded by Kendal was put to touch and their pack drove for the line. It looked as if the Kendal pack had managed to hold them out, but they managed to re-cycle the ball for a try in the corner, which the outside half converted from close to the left touchline for a 12v6 half time lead.

Early in the second half a rare Kendal penalty allowed Glenn Weightman to put the ball to the corner, only for the ball to be lost in the line and a long kick be put down field, with Nathan Wooff doing well to get back and put the ball to touch, to stop the Huddersfield attack.

After quarter of an hour Blake Robinson returned with Dom Musetti going off, and Robbie Collinson moving into the front row

Shortly afterwards there was a blow for Kendal, when Dini Noyo was yellow carded, possibly for failing to roll away from the tackle, after being warned earlier.

Huddersfield put the resulting penalty to touch and from the lineout rumbled to the line. Again the Kendal pack managed to hold them out, but when the ball was moved to a forward on the wing, despite a desperate attempt by Liam Hayton, Kendal were unable to prevent a score. Again there was an excellent touchline conversion from the outside half, this time from the opposite right hand side of the field. 5v20

Kendal came straight back, but despite having Huddersfield on their own line, conceded a second third try three minutes later. Kendal seemed to have disrupted a Huddersfield scrum, but their pack got the ball away, and instead of a clearing kick, they ran the ball from their own line and went the length of the field, with a centre just keeping the gap to the chasing Nathan Wooff too great for any hope of a try saving tackle. Yet again the outside half added the difficult touchline conversion, back on the left. 5v27.

Richard Harryman was brought on for Robbie Collinson, and Chris Park for Nathan Wooff.

Kendal continued to looks for openings, but were well marshalled by the Huddersfield defence, and the Kendal defence was equally strong when Huddersfield attacked.

On full time James Thompson was forced off with an injury for Robbie Collinson to return.

Twice Jo Hambley was put in space, but the Huddersfield defence was quickly across to stop progress, and it was Huddersfield on the attack at the final whistle, but they could not find a way through for the bonus point fourth try.

In conclusion an odd game. Huddersfield were clear the stronger team, but if Kendal had converted some of their first half opportunities, the score could have been a lot closer. Despite their dominance two of the Huddersfield scores came from well organised muscle from short range lineout throws (which Kendal have known all about in previous seasons), whilst the third came from a freak audacious attack from their own line. Whilst they were unable find a way through the Kendal defence for a fourth try. So maybe things are not quite as bleak, as they appeared at the final whistle

It also seemed towards the end, that the Kendal players were concerned that they were getting penalised, when Huddersfield were not for similar offences. As the season progresses it will be important to answer this question fast, to cut the penalty count, that is giving the opposition too much free ball.

The more physical game is also taking a toll on Kendal with a number of injuries, meaning resources have to be juggled.

Again the question is whether Huddersfield are representative of what is to come, or have we just been unlucky to have encountered two of the promotion candidates at home in the first month

It does not get any easier next weekend, with an away trip to last season’s runners up Wirral, who currently top the table.

Website KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH John Dervey
A tight contest this week with votes spread over nine different players