Another Big Defeat

Kendal made the long journey to the North East to play a Driffield team in third place in the league, having won both their opening games.

Danny Barker and Chris Evans made their first starts of the season, whilst Greg Wrathall and Joe Cook returned to the side. John Dervey and Jack Lashley were unavailable.

For a second away trip to the North East, it was a bright sunny afternoon on a pitch for good open running rugby, which suited the home team’s style.

Kendal were almost immediately under pressure with Driffield chasing a long kick and fullback Nick Carlton finding himself isolated with the Kendal support slow to get back, and was forced into conceding a penalty.

Whilst Kendal defended this early pressure they soon conceded the first try. Defending near their own line, a poor box kick was easily gathered by Driffield and run back, with play going from right to left for the opening touchdown, which was not converted. 5v0, after six minutes.

Kendal defence was being made to work hard, with Driffield offloading well out of tackles, and always seeming to have several players in support, so even when passes did not find their intended target, there always appeared to be another player to sweep up the ball and keep the it moving. This led to a second unconverted try after ten minutes. 10v0

Their third try came from a long pass which opened up the Kendal defence, and this time the try was scored under the post, allowing fullback James Watt to convert 17v0 after eighteen minutes.

Kendal came more into the game without every threatening a score, often play was going backward as the Driffield defence was quickly up, and lack of support meant few opportunities for offloads and the ball being slowed up and competed for by the Driffield pack, who occasionally turned over Kendal ball.

Kris Bratton picked up an injury, and after initially swapping paces with Ben Dixon, and moving onto the wing, he was forced off as the half came to the end, and was replaced by Jordan Johnson, who went to scrum half, with Dini Noyo moving into the centre.

Driffield added a fourth try just before half time. Kendal won their own lineout but were unable to move the ball which gave Driffeld a scrum, from which their No.8 broke to score from close range. James Watt added a second conversion, but this time a much more difficult kick from close to the touchline. 24v0, which remained the score at half time.

Kendal had been playing into a strong breeze in the first half, and it was hoped that if they could use it to their advantage in the second half, the final result could be a lot closer.

Six minutes into the second half, Kendal made a second change with Dane Blenkharn coming on for Glenn Chesher.

After ten minutes, with Kendal on the attack, and the forwards slowly making ground under the posts, the referee yellow carded the Driffield No.8 Adam Brankley.

Kendal ran the penalty and an offload from Danny Barker out of a tackle, could have gone anywhere but went to hand, and somehow Dini Noyo got over for a try. 24v5

Not for the first time this season Kendal failed to deal with the kick off. As Chris Evans waited for the ball, Driffield stole it to set up an attack. The ball went to touch only for Kendal to lose the ball,but then won it back, only for Glen Weightman’s long kick to find the Driffield right wing, but fortunately he knocked on to give Kendal a scrum. When the ball came back to Glen Weightman, using the wind he put a massive kick into the corner to give Driffield a defensive lineout.

As Kendal had occasionally found in the first half, the wind made long throws difficult, and when the Driffield throw missed its target, Dan Greenwood gratefully gathered it and only had to drop over the line for the try, which Glen Weightman converted. 24v12

Kendal were now fired up, and made a further change bringing Joe Lashley on for Steven Nelson.

Driffield weather the Kendal storm, and then stepped up several gears to stretch the Kendal defence, and three times in seven minutes stand-in wing Ben Dixon found himself in an uneven contest with speedy left wing Harry Jackson, to see Driffield stretch their lead to 39v12.

Driffield Centre Gary Stephenson then made space for a long run for the final try, converted by James Watts. 46v12.

Kendal were possibly saved from another fifty point defeat by the referee playing no extra time.

Thirteen of the Driffield eighteen had come through their junior system, and clearly had an instinctive knowledge of each others’ play, to be in place for offloads.

It was clear some of the Kendal players were struggling for fitness on a hot afternoon. The scrum was more solid, but possibly as Driffield seemed keen to keep the ball moving. The lineout also worked well, but when Kendal had the ball in hand they lacked the speed and precision of their opponents.

After last week’s fussy refereeing, this week young referee Kristian Garland had a very good game, keeping play moving, and when he stopped play, made sure his decisions were clear to players and supporters.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH : Danny Barker
After two landslides, I thought votes may be split this week, and so it proved with just a single vote splitting seven players. Danny got the casting vote, for a good performance on his return from injury, just squeezing out Dane Blenkharn, Robbie Collinson and Jordan Johnson.