Another Narrow Defeat

In the last game of the year, and last of the first round of games, Kendal travelled to fifth placed Cleckheaton, who had only lost once at home this season.

The only changes to the team from last weekend’s loss to York, saw Alistair Thompson come into the team, and Dan Greenwood start from the bench, and Ben Dixon start at No.8. In a late change Logan Flett replaced Jack Lashley on the bench.

There was a cold wind blowing across the field, but apart from the occasional shower, it stayed dry.

Kendal made a good start taking the lead after five minutes. After some good build up work, Glen Weightman broke through the Cleckheaton defence then passed to Rory Blakeney Edwards who went over for the try. Weightman slipped when attempting the conversion, possibly distracted as several pages of the referee’s notes blew away in the wind. 0v5.

Cleckheaton were soon back into their game, with their forwards playing a good tight game, making ground with short passes. After ten minutes the scores were level. Kendal were caught offside and the kick was put to touch. Cleckheaton won the lineout and their forwards drove over for the try. 5v5.

The two teams were playing different styles, with Cleckheaton keeping the ball in hand through multiple phases, whilst as soon as they had the ball Kendal kicked for position, but despite the difficult conditions and good chasing, the Cleckheaton backline dealt well with the kicks, and then their forwards worked the ball back up the field.

Yet again the Kendal pack were struggling at scrums, and after twenty minutes a solid drive from Cleckheaton led to a simple pick up, for a score near the posts, for a converted try. 5v12.

On the half hour Glen Weightman pulled three points back with a penalty, after he had been taken out with a dangerous late tackle. Despite a long discussion with the referee before the kick as taken, he clearly felt it didn’t warrant any further action, just as Kendal had earlier survived without a yellow card despite a string of penalties. 8v12.

In mid-field Glen Weightman chipped over the Cleckheaton, then gathered the ball, to put a rolling kick to the corner, but only Ben Dixon and Nick Carlton chased the kick.

With five minutes of the half to play Danny Barker broke the Cleckheaton defence to go into the twenty two, Cleckheaton gave away a penalty which was put to touch, and from the lineout the forwards drove over the line for Greg Wrathall to touchdown. Glen Weightman put the conversion over into the crosswind from the touchline. 12v15.

As the game went into injury time, Kendal conceded a number of penalties, but managed to hold out for a narrow halftime lead.

Early in the second half Kendal lost Dini Noyo to an injury, picked up after he was stopped on a run up the touchline. After treatment he went off to be replaced by Lewis Kincart, who went onto the right wing with Nick Carlton switching to the left.

After ten minutes Cleckheaton took the lead back with a second drive from a lineout after Kendal had conceded a penalty. The try was converted from near the touchline. 19v15.

Kendal immediately made a change with Logan Flett coming on for Tom Moulton. Five minutes later they made a further change with Dan Greenwood coming on for Alistair Thompson.

The change to both teams’ props had evened things out in the scrums, and both teams were cancelling each other out with few chances for further scores. Cleckheaton continued to look good when their forwards had the ball, whilst Kendal’s backs looked the more dangerous, but a mixture of handling errors and good defence saw them making little progress.

As the game entered the last five minutes Dini Noyo returned in place of Nick Carlton.

In injury time Cleckheaton were awarded a penalty and took the option to go for the posts to extend their lead to seven points, but the kick drifted wide. Glen Weightman took the restart kick short and gathered the ball himself, and passed to Danny Barker who made a good run, but when he was stopped the ball was turned over, and with the Kendal defence out of place, there was a good run from a Cleckheaton player, who passed to a man in support who went over for the try to take away Kendal’s bonus point and any chance of a late win. The try was converted with the final action of the game.

Another solid performance against a team from the top end of the table, but Kendal finish the year just a point outside the bottom three after getting nothing for a second week.

A three week break before at the start of the New Year, a long journey to Scarborough, who after making a good start have struggled lately. A week later the next home game is against Driffield who may be top of the League.

Your Kentdale Kendal Man of the Match : Greg Wrathall
A fifth time Greg has topped the vote in the opening thirteen matches. Only Danny Barker got close this time (in total two thirds of the votes went to the West Cumbrian based players), with another five players picking up votes.

The last vote of 2019, so Thanks to all who have voted over the last twelve months.

I normally said it just a bit of fun, but it does now lead to something as part of the Road to Kendale. Not sure what or when - you will have to ask the Wise Men, but you are all playing your part.