Well Beaten Despite Plenty of Effort

When the fixture list came out this looked a difficult fixture, away at a team who had only lost twice last season. Kendal’s two pre-season games had not improved confidence. In the warm up the Durham pack looked much bigger than their Kendal counterparts.

Kris Bratton was away, so recruit from Ulverston Daniel Crabtree made his debut in the centre. Joe Cook, Dane Blenkharn, Tom Mouton and Greg Wrathall were all also making their league debuts.

Durham also play in Black and Amber, so turned out in a changed strip, whilst Kendal have this season returned to their traditional black with a single amber hoop. It was a warm sunny afternoon, but the breeze was a very cool in the shade.

Durham made a fast start attacking from the Kendal kick-off. Moving the ball from right to left, they created a overlap, but somehow Chris Park was able to stop the move, but to no avail as the ball was recycled and moved right and with Kendal’s defence out of position, a gap opened for outside half Charlie Scott (?) to score. Captain, scrum half Paul Armstrong added the conversion. 7v0 after just a minute of play.

Durham again ran the kick off back, but an error finally gave Kendal the ball.

Whilst Durham continued to dominate, Kendal had their chances when they could get the ball. Glen Weightman seemed to have broken the defence, only to have the ball ripped from him as he went for the line.

Durham looked to be about to add to their score, with a good break down the right, but Joe Cook managed to somehow get back, to get in a tackle which put the Durham player to touch.

Durham did finally double their lead after twenty five minutes. From a scrum a gap opened up for a score, which Paul Armstrong again converted. 14v0

The powerful Durham players had left a number of Kendal tacklers injured, and after half an hour of play, Dini Noyo needed to go off for treatment, with Alistair Thompson coming off an all forward bench to replace him, with Chris Park moving to scrum half, but fortunately Dini was soon back.

As the half came to an end the heat seemed to be getting to the larger Durham team, and Kendal were coming back into the game. Two kicks were taken at goal but both failed to hit the target.

There was an altercation involving Steven Nelson, but it was one of the burley Durham centres that was yellow carded for a punch.

As Kendal looked to open their score, Durham fullback Josh White anticipated Glen Weightman’s pass and Intercepted, to go in unopposed for a try from within his own half. Paul Armstrong added the conversion.21v0.

This was in the fifth minute of added time, but with a number of stoppages, referee Gareth Foreman, allowed the half to continue, and Durham took full advantage to add their fourth try, with a mixture of good build up work and missed Kendal tackles in mid-field and on the wing as the try was scored. 26v0 at half time.

Kendal made changes at half time, with Dan Greenwood coming on for Steven Nelson, one of those who had needed treatment in the first half. Alistair Thompson also came into the centre for Daniel Crabtree.

Durham continued to dominate, but did not add to their score for quarter of an hour, when a Durham, pass that went astray then fell well for their centre Craig Dominick, who wrong footed the Kendal defence, for a try which Paul Armstrong converted. 33v0.

Kendal immediately made another change with Archie Barber coming on for Tom Moulton. After the difficulties in the two warm up games, this time the pack held their own in most scrums, conceded few penalties.

Another Kendal error resulted in the next score. From a long Durham kick of defence, one of few kicks that Durham put in all afternoon, Kendal took a quick throw, but the ball went loose in mid-field and a Durham played snapped it up to go over for a try, again converted by Paul Armstrong. 40v0 after twenty minutes.

Despite their large lead, Durham were conceding a number of penalties, and a substitute was yellow carded for illegally slowing Kendal ball.

After some good build up work Kendal were finally rewarded with a first score with quarter off an hour to play. Greg Wrathall who had had a very good afternoon, making ground on a number of occasions, was rewarded as he powered over from close range. 40v5

Durham hit back almost immediately. Kendal lost the ball as they attacked from the kick off, and Durham outside half Charlie Scott, chipped the ball into the corner for a substitute to run onto to score. 45v5.

There was no further scoring in the last ten minutes.

Not knowing the strength of this league, it was difficult to know if this was just an exceptional team or if this is going to be another long hard season for an inexperienced Kendal team. Durham certainly looked a good team.

Despite the scoreline there were positives for Kendal. Greg Wrathall played well, Alistair Thompson did well back in the centre, when he came on after half time. Joe Cook pulled off a number of important tackles on much larger Durham attackers. John Dervey and the front row worked hard for little reward.

Playing together more often will hopefully improve the defence and cut down the handling errors which gifted Durham a number of their scores.

Your MAN OF THE MATCH : Greg Wrathall
No doubt this week, with more votes than all the others who got a vote put together. A really positive league debut from Greg who was often at the centre of the action, making ground against a very solidly built Durham defence.