Job Done

A fourth away game in a row, and a first visit to newly promoted Pocklington.

Mark Carruthers came in on the wing for the unavailable Damian Armstrong, whilst Ross McKay and Liam Hayton swapped places, with Liam starting on the bench. Nathan Wooff had dropped out with an injury, and his place on the bench was taken by Brett Ashley.

The game started at a frantic pace with both teams making errors.

There was a blow for Kendal after ten minutes. Dini Noyo was making a break down the left wing, and when tackled a second player came in and Dini’s head collided with the players shoulder. Fortunately the Pocklington physio was quickly on the spot to treat him, and after assessment by the Kendal medical team, was back on his feet, but played no further part in the game. Therefore Brett Ashley had an early introduction.

The frenetic play continued and Pocklington were fortunate several times that the ball went backwards into their own players hand, after some wayward passing.

The deadlock was finally broken after twenty minutes. Glen Weightman made a break, but was forced into touch. From the lineout Pocklington moved the ball into midfield and a kick was put upfield, the bounce confused the Kendal defence and the ball was gathered by the Pocklington right wing. Brett Ashley got back and made a tackle, but Pocklington re-gathered the ball and went over for the first try. 5v0

Kendal were quickly back onto the game, and after several forward drives that Pocklington seemed to have under control, Matty Houghton broke away, and found gaps in the defence to score. Chris Park added the conversion. 5v7.

Matty Houghton and Brett Ashley both made good runs only for the ball to be lost.

Kendal took the lead after half an hour. A long pass failed to find Brett Ashley, but he managed to improvise, chip the ball ahead, to then re-gather, and when tackled, the Pocklington hooker failed to release, and the referee awarded Kendal a penalty. After some discussion the ball was put touch, Will Montgomery was lifted high to win the lineout, and the forwards then drove to the line, with Garry Holmes emerging last with the ball. Chris Park added the conversion. 5v14.

Jack Walters the Pocklington right wing made another good run, but again Brett Ashley got back to bring him down.

The final score of the half was the best of the game. Glen Weightman took the ball near halfway, and somehow managed to weave his through the Pocklington defence, without being tackled to score. Again Chrs Park added the conversion. 5v21.

The referee played seven minutes of injury time due to the long stoppage for Dini plus several other stoppages for treatment. Glen Weightman was tackled late, after putting a kick down field, when play stopped, the referee yellow carded the Pocklington tackler.

At half time Duncan Green came on for Dom Musetti.

Kendal picked up their bonus point fourth try from the restart. The Pocklington kick off did not go the required ten metres and from the resulting scrum, Will Montgomery showed his sevens skills, and a great burst of speed to pick up from the scrum and run in unopposed from halfway. The try was again converted by Chris Park. 5v28.

Kendal made a second changed with Liam Hayton coming on for Ross McKay.

The next try came from what had appeared to be a poor lineout throw, which missed all the jumpers, but then fell into the hands of Glenn Chesher at the back of the lineout, who went for the line. Whilst he was stopped, the forwards recycled the ball, and when it came back to Glen Weightman a long pass put Mark Carruthers in at the corner. 5v33

After ten minutes of the half Pocklington pulled a try back The ball was lost as Kendal attached down their right and Pocklington move the ball to the opposite wing for a try for their fullback Dan Elliott, which was converted by outside half Matt Procter. 12v33.

The next Kendal try came from Danny Barker. He was tackled some distance from the line, but could not get the pass away, so continued driving for the line, and managed to power on to get the touchdown. Chris Park added the conversion. 17v40.

When Pocklington launched a high crossfield kick, Brett Ashley did very well to get to it, making an excellent jump to gather the ball in the air, but unfortunately the referee had already been playing advantaged for a penalty, and called play back.

After a quarter of an hour Ross McKay returned for Matty Houghton.

Pocklington continue to press, and were able to put the ball through multiple phases to stretch the Kendal defence in their twenty two, but then a loose pass was intercepted by Mike Fearon, who went the length of the field to score. 12v47.

Two minutes later Kendal had a second interception, this time Mark Carruthers anticipated a pass on halfway to score. 12v54

More Pocklington pressure resulted in a yellow card for Matthew Charters.

Ross McKay was forced off with a cut, with Matty Houghton returning

Some slick handling saw Pocklington add a third try. 19v54.

There was another injury for Kendal, with Mike Fearon having to be helped off. Dom Musetti returned, with Garry Holmes moving into the back row, and Matty Houghton to the wing.

After pressure in the Pocklington twenty two, Matty Houghton added Kendal’s ninth and final try, with Chris Park adding his eighth conversion 19v61

In injury time Pocklington went looking for a bonus point fourth try, and from a penalty drove to the line for the score which was converted with the final kick of the game 26v61.

Whilst this was another good performance, there was plenty of room for improvement, which will be needed before next week’s visit of second place Preston Grasshoppers. There will be concerns for the fitness of Dini Noyo and Mike Fearon, with the team already missing a number of key players in the back division.

Despite the scoreline, Pocklington looked a good team especially in attack, but may find the power and pace of the opposition in this league hard to cope with.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH : Glen Weightman
The amazing try probably sealed it, but another excellent game for Glen, in attack and defence.
Matty Houghton was a few votes back.

QUIZ QUESTION : This was only Brett Ashley's second appearance since 2009/10. The last one ended in an unexpected win, with the inexperienced back three made up by Anthony Gage on the other wing and Mark Carruthers at fullback.
Who were the opposition ? (I did know this without looking it up !)

Answer in next week’s programme (or match report if it does not make the edit)