Back on the Winning Road

After the disappointment of last weekend, James Thompson and John Dervey came into the side with Ben Leacock starting on the bench, whilst Damian Armstrong, replaced Mark Carruthers on the right wing.

A harder than expected frost had meant the re-arranged game was also in some doubt, but the morning sunshine, meant that the pitch was in good condition for kick off.

Kendal started well, but Ilkley were quickly up in defence to cut off ball to the Kendal back line, whilst their pack was proving a match for their opposite numbers.

Kendal had the better of play, but whenever they had the ball, powerful running meant Ilkley were breaking tackles, and several times the Kendal defence had to be sharp to end Ilkley attacks.

Whilst playing better than last week, Kendal were making life difficult for themselves, kicking ball away, losing the ball in the tackle, and several times players tried to break the line themselves, rather than using better options outside them.

Ilkley seemed content to keep ball in hand, and their wings were seeing more of the ball than Dini Noyo and Damian Armstrong, despite their team having less of the possession.

It looked as if the half was going to be scoreless, when with the last action of the half, Ilkley centre C. Gemmell was successful with a drop kick, to give his team a slender half time lead, slightly against the run of play. 0v3.

Ilkley left the field at half time, and the referee had to go looking for them at half time.

Kendal continued to have the better of play and finally made the breakthrough after ten minutes of the half. James Gough broke the defence from a scrum, and when stopped the forwards pounded the Ilkley line. When they were held out, the ball was moved wide, with a clever pass from Danny Barker putting Zane Butler in for a try. 5v3.

Ten minutes later, the lead was extended. Kendal were awarded a penalty in midfield, after a rare Dini Noyo run had been stopped by a high tackle. Glenn Weightman put a long penalty kick deep into the Ikley twenty two. Liam Hayton gathered the throw and the forwards drove to line, with James Thompson breaking away for the score, and Chris Park putting the conversion over to extend the lead to two scores. 12v3.

Kendal made their first substitution with John Dervey replaced by Ben Leacock.

The lead was to be short lived. Kendal failed to deal with the well placed kick-off and Ilkley re-gathered the ball and set up an attack, with centre C.Gemmell finishing the move with a try on the right, but was unable to convert his own try. 12v8.

Ilkely were caught out by a quick re-start by Glenn Weightman, which put them on defence deep in their own twenty two. They won the line out then broke away to clear the immediate danger.

With ten minutes to play Robbie Collinson came on for Matty Houghton. Shortly afterwards Kendal scored their third try. Zane Butler burst through the centre, and whilst he was stopped, Dini Noyo took the move on, getting the ball away to James Gough who went over for the try. Chris Park again converted, to return the game to two scores. 19v8

Kendal pressed for a further try to gain a bonus point, and to put the game out of reach, but good Ilkley defence, and few kicks through that did not come off, kept them out.

In injury time, Ilkley went looking for a score to give them a losing bonus point, but instead Kendal broke from their own twenty two, and good handing made the illusive extra try looked possible, but an error meant time ran out.

Again the team were far from their best, but Ilkley proved a very strong opponent, both in attack and defence and this was a good win, to overtake Lymm in the table again, and increase the gap over Ilkley.

Another home game next weekend, when strugglers Stockport come to Mint Bridge, but there will be no room for complacency, as the team try to kick started their season again.

Kendal Website Man of the Match : James Gough
James just edged out the other James in biggest vote of the season, leaving the others trailing