Close - Despite not being at their best

Three changes from the squad that defeated West Hartlepool last weekend. Ciaran Ward came into the second row for Chris Evans, whilst Dini Noyo replaced the injured Kris Bratton, and Jack Lashley returned from injury on the bench.

It was a damp afternoon which did not help handling, but the forecast heavy rain never appeared.

Kendal could have had an early lead. Nick Carlton followed a Glen Weightman kick, he appeared to knock-on, but the referee let play go on. He kicked through, but was beaten to the touchdown.

Instead it was Bradford & Bingley who took the lead after six minutes. Kendal were on the attack in the Bradford half, but a poor lineout saw the ball lost, and allowed Bradford & Bingley to attack. Kendal conceded a penalty just inside their half, and a good kick to touch gave Bradford & Bingley a lineout in the Kendal twenty-two, from which flanker Tuffa, did well to weaved through some weak tackling for the score. 5v0

Kendal had a spell on the attack, but were making little impression on the Bradford & Bingley defence. Too often keeping the ball tight, against a stronger pack, instead of moving the ball away from their opponents strength.

Just after the quarter of an hour Glen Weightman opened the Kendal scoring with a penalty after Bradford & Bingley had been caught offside. 5v3

After getting the worst of the referee’s decisions in a number of recent weekends, this time it was the opponents frequently getting decisions against them, but the message is probably the same, if the referee tells you not to do something and you persist, he will penalise you, even if you think you were in the right (which Bradford & Bingley probably were on a number of occasions).

After twenty minutes, Bradford & Bingley centre Martin seemed unlucky to get a yellow card, when he fell over the ball in making a tackle, then appeared to have little chance to escape. Glen Weightman however gratefully added three points with the resulting penalty to give Kendal the lead 5v6.

The lead only lasted five minutes. Bradford & Bingley, adopted the right tactic for playing with a player short in the backs, and keep the ball tight in the forwards. Kendal were struggling in the scrum and Bradford & Bingley twice took scrums when offered penalties, and with Kendal facing a penalty try against them, the back row stayed down, allowing Bradford & Bingley No.8 Cummins the simple job of picking up, and going over for the score. Fullback Taylor added the conversion. 12v6.

As the half came to a close there was a let off for Kendal. A kick through was fielded by Bradford & Bingley fullback Taylor, who often looked dangerous with ball in hand. He made a good run out of defence. When he was eventually stopped, there were a number of good breaks by Bradford & Bingley players, but fortunately for Kendal a pass was knocked on.

With the final action of the half, Glen Weightman brought the scores closer with a third penalty. 12v9.

After the constant stoppages for opposition injuries last weekend, which slowed the game down, this time there were none in the half, allowing the referee to play no added time.

At halftime Kendal brought on Logan Flett for Ciaran Ward, and three minutes into the half were forced into another change, with Robbie Collinson going off, and Jack Lashley coming on.

Bradford & Bingley were looking the stronger team, with second row Tuopilutu and outside half Maisi regularly evading tackles, but rarely looked like extending their lead, whilst Kendal were not playing as they had in recent games.

The introduction of Logan Flett seemed to tighten the defence, whilst the referee appeared to spot something that had given Bradford & Bingley their dominance in first half scrums, which allowed Kendal to hold their own, and twice win penalties.

After quarter of an hour Kendal made another change with Alistair Thompson coming on for Tom Moulton.

The scores were tied with twenty minutes to play, with a long range penalty from Glen Weightman, again hitting a post but this time going over. 12v12.

It looked as if Kendal were about to take the lead, as the ball was turned over, and Dini Noyo made a break from his own half, but fullback Taylor again did well to get back, and make the try scoring tackle.

The winning score came in slightly bizarre circumstances. From a Bradford & Bingley touch kick, Nick Carlton jumped to try to keep the ball in. It appeared the Kendal defence thought he had been unsuccessful and hesitated, allowing a Bradford & Bingley player to kick the ball through. It looked as if Kendal had the ball covered on the line, but it went loose and a Bradford & Bingley player was rewarded for chasing the kick, with the simple touchdown. 17v12 with ten minutes to play.

Bradford & Bingley forwards kept the ball tight, and looked as if they could work their way over for a bonus point fourth try, which would also have taken away Kendal’s losing bonus point, but in injury time Kendal had a chance to win the game

Bradford & Bingley lost the ball in the Kendal twenty-two. The ball was moved to Mark Carruthers, who made an excellent run deep into the Bradford & Bingley half. With the defence closing in chipped ahead, but his kick went to touch.

Bradford & Bingley won the lineout and ran the clock down for the victory.

Whilst Kendal could have snatched it with a late score, if they had Bradford & Bingley would have been left scratching their heads how, having the best three players on the field in Taylor, Maisi and Tuopilutu. Whilst if Kendal had played as they had in recent games, another victory would have been theirs.

No game next weekend, but in a fortnight it could be League Leaders York visiting Mintbridge (and in the third season there, we are still waiting for a victory over a top team), but this could change next weekend as Morley could go top with a good win in a rearrange fixture away at Bradford & Bingley. From what we have seen in games against both of them, that could be another close contest.

The league seems to have split into three, with just six points separating York in top spot, with sixth place Cleckheaton. There is a gap of another six points to three teams (including us), all sitting within six points of twelfth placed Durham. West Hartlepool and Huddersfield YMCA are well adrift at the bottom.

Before we all get too down about yet another narrow loss, and the team not yet being at its best. Since the disastrous start, with just one point from the first three games, over the next eight, only leaders York have managed to pick up more points than us (potential leaders Morley may also catch us next week).

So what can the team achieve when they do finally hit form ?

Hopefully we may find out against York - Book it in your diary now

Your KENTDALE MAN OF THE MATCH : Mark Carruthers
Well deserved for another solid peformance in defence and some good work in attack, not least the run from defence in injury time, which could have snatched a draw.

Only a small vote this week - maybe it does depend on the result. Steven Nelson was just behind, with six others getting a vote (their Mum's still love them)

Have you heard about the Road to Kentdale ? Find out more HERE