Massive Performance in the Rain

Kendal made just one change to the squad who had won at Scarborough last weekend, with Rory Blakeney-Edwards, who had been unavailable, coming in on the right wing.

Visitors Driffield, were making the longest journey of the league. They sat in second place having only lost three times this season, but had been held to a draw at home by Durham City last weekend.

As forecast, for a second home game, it was a wild wet and windy afternoon.

There was an early worry for Kendal as Danny Barker picked up an injury in the opening exchanges, but after some treatment he played the full game.

For a second weekend, Kendal made an excellent start, and had the lead after just five minutes. After being awarded a penalty in midfield, Glen Weightman put a long kick to touch deep in the Driffield. The lineout was won, and when Driffield were penalised again, Matty Houghton took the penalty quickly, and ploughed through several attempted tackles, to touchdown for the opening score. 5v0.

Kendal continued to played well and Driffield had few chances, but when they moved the ball they looked dangerous, and the Kendal defence had to be sharp, with Chris Park making one powerful tackle to end one attack.

After quarter of an hour Steve Nelson was forced off for treatment, with Joe Lashley coming on but he was soon back on the bench.

After a quarter of an hour, with the referee playing advantage, Glen Weightman extended the Kendal lead with a drop goal, 8v0.

Midway through the second quarter there was a brawl involving a number of players from both sides. Play was stopped, and the referee issued a warning via the two captains.

As the half progress, Driffield took control, but the Kendal defence was solid, but as the game entered injury time, a Driffield player went over from short range to make the half time score 8v5.

Having finished the first half stronger, and putting the Kendal scrum in a lot of difficult on its own put in, Driffield would have gone in happier, but it was again Kendal who made the better start to the half.

Driffield had conceded far more penalties than Kendal in the first half, and again they were made to pay, with Glen Weightman putting a kick into the twenty-two.

The forwards tried to drive over the line, and made their way to mid-field, but could not get across. With the referee signally advantage, Glen Weightman took the chance to throw a long pass, the Driffield defence was up quickly to intercept, but instead the pass reached Nick Carlton, who had a clear run to the line for Kendal’s second try. 13v5.

Kendal made changes with Jordan Johnson, Jack Lashley and Joe Lashley coming on for Lewis Kincart, Logan Flett and Steve Nelson (I think !)

After a quarter of an hour Driffield were on the attack, and it appeared the referee was about to penalise Danny Barker for a high tackle, but Driffield No.6 Matthew Jenkinson decided to take the law into his own hands, and after the earlier warning, was given ten minutes on the sidelines and the penalty went to Kendal.

Rather than go for touch, Glen Weightman put a kick to the right wing, for Nick Carlton to chase. Whilst a Driffield player got to the ball first, he was tackled into touch, to put Kendal on the attack.

Kendal stayed on the attack, and were awarded a scrum. The Kendal scrum was still under pressure, but Dan Greenwood picked up and went for the line, before getting the ball to Jordan Johnson for a try. 18v5 with twenty minutes to play.

With conditions worsening, and standing water in parts of the pitch, the Kendal defence stepped up to give Driffield little space, with Danny Barker, Mark Carruthers and Mattty Houghton putting a number of crunching tackles in to stop Driffield getting any momentum.

Kendal did have chances for a fourth try, but more importantly the clock continued to tick down with Driffield kept a long way from the Kendal line.

As the game enter the last ten minutes, Driffield did get into the Kendal twenty two, but even then their much more solidly built pack could find no way through the Kendal defence on their line, and often were being forced backwards to regroup.

Finally three minutes into injury time, the Kendal line was breached, but as the successful conversion kick was lined up, it was clear that this was going to be the last action of the game, for a 18v12 Kendal victory.

Halfway through the third season, this was the first time a top of the table team was toppled at the new Minbridge, and in conditions of so many big wins of the past. The ghosts of the old Mint Bridge, would be proud of the performance, in conditions which were far from ideal for the lightweight Kendal pack against a far more sturdy opposition.

With other teams at the foot of the table also winning, for a second week the importance of the win was not to get away from the rest, but just to stay ahead of them.

Another big weekend next week, with an away trip top fellow strugglers Percy Park, who had a good home win against Scarborough. With Durham visiting Pocklington, there will be some key results to come next weekend.

The positive news is, good as this performance was, there should still be plenty more to come from this Kendal team, especially in attack.

Your Kentdale KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH : Matty Houghton
Matty is making an instant impact on his return setting up the opening try last weekend and scoring it this, and bringing some much needed experience to the pack.

Glen Weightman was a few votes behind and Dan Greenwood a few behind him.

A bumper vote this week, so many coming out despite the weather, and hopefully feeling well rewarded by the performance and the result. A big spread of voting with only three of the starting line up not getting a vote