So Close - in a Game of Two Halves

On a warm sunny day the team travelled to Yorkshire for a game, originally scheduled to be at Mint Bridge, but switched to allow extra time for final preparations at the new ground.

Two new faces in the team were Mike Fearon playing at inside centre, and Matt Charters playing at No.8. Nathan Wooff played fullback and Matt Houghton started on the right wing, whilst Garry Holmes played hooker, with Duncan Green and Danny Barker starting on the bench with Mark Carruthers.

Ilkley made an excellent start, and had the lead after just two minutes. A break from outside half Charles Morgan through the centre, was finished by scrum half Jack Maplesden, with Morgan adding the conversion. 7v0.

Glenn Weightman pulled three points back after seven minutes, after Ilkely were penalised for illegally ending a good period of Kendal pressure. 7v3

The gap was almost immediately extended. From the kick off Kendal tried to run out of defence and the ball was worked to Dini Noyo on the left wing, but he just failed to get away, and was forced into touch. Ilkley won the resulting lineout and moved the ball into midfield where there was a break to the line, with outside half Morgan again adding the conversion. 14v3

Ilkely continued to look dangerous whenever they had ball in hand, but Kendal also had their chances.

Dini Noyo was put through on a break to the line, and only a desperate last gasp tackle stopped him going over.

Glenn Weightman put a kick to the corner which caused confusion in the Ilkley defence. Damian Armstrong gathered the ball, but was held up over the line unable to ground the ball for a try. From the resulting scrum, the Kendal pack were drive over the line, but then lost control, with ball coming out, and the opportunity was lost.

After twenty five minutes, Glenn Weightman narrowed the lead with another long range penalty, after Ilkley had been caught offside in midfield.

Ilkley left wing Lewis Johnson was forced off with a leg injury after been caught with a dangerous tackle, but the resulting penalty failed.

There was another missed opportunity for Kendal as after making an excellent run up the right touchline, Matty Houghton lost the ball in the tackle.

With the final action off the half, Charles Morgan added a penalty for Ilkley. 17v6.

At halftime Mike Fearon was replaced by Danny Barker in the centre for Kendal

Kendal started the half well, with Chris Downham prominent in a number of moves, but again handling errors let Kendal down.

After ten minutes Kendal made two further changes with Mark Carrurthers and Duncan Green coming on for Ross McKay and Dom Musetti.

Kendal were forced into a further change ten minutes later when Chris Downham was had to go off with an injury.

The Ilkley pack were clearly tiring under the pressure from Kendal, but lack on invention meant Kendal were not threatening the Ilkley line.

The Ilkley defence was finally breached after twenty minutes, after good work from the Kendal forwards on the right, the ball was moved left where a break by Damian Armstrong was finished off by Nathan Wooff, with Glenn Weightman adding the conversion. 17v13.

Ilkley were then given a lifeline, after a loose Kendal kick upfield, was run back, then kicked downfield, and there was a needless late tackle, which gave Ilkley the chance to add a second penalty to extend the lead so Kendal would need two scores to win 20v13.

When Kendal were awarded a penalty with eight minutes to play they chose to go for the posts to give them a chance for victory, and Glenn Weightman continued his excellent kicking form. 20v16.

Mike Fearon then returned in place of Nathan Wooff.

With time running out Kendal were awarded another penalty in the Ilkley twenty two, and having dominated up front, they took the scrum. This set up a powerful drive to the line, but then somehow Ilkley stole the ball, allowing them to clear their lines. The Kendal throw to the resulting lineout was not straight, and Ilkley ran the clock down for victory.

After the opening exchanges Kendal would have welcomed a bonus point, but by the end this was a victory that got away, due to too many errors. Ilkley will be relieved to have held out, but will also be disappointed to have failed to add a try scoring bonus point after such a good start.

A tough assignment next weekend sees the team travel to Kirkby Lonsdale, to try spoil their party and break a season unbeaten league record, and the unbeaten home league record which goes back several seasons

WEBSITE KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH : Ben Leacock
A key part of the effort that almost snatched a victory that seemed so unlikely after the first ten minutes. Hopefully they can go one better at the weekend. Ben just edged out Glenn Weightman, with eight of the squad getting at least one vote.