Mixed Performance but another good Win - in the end

Buoyed by their win last weekend, and the top class first half performance at Carlisle, Kendal travelled to Vale of Lune, who after a good start to the season, had slipped up in recent games. Ian Voortman was forced to move to fullback, with debutant James Duerden coming in in the centre. With Oliver Field still not fit, and Liam Nicholson dropping out, Jordon Johnson played on the wing, despite appearing to not be 100% fit himself. Matty Kaye, back from South Africa, took his place on the bench.

Kendal kicked off towards the club house, with a wind on their backs, in front of a good crowd. Vale had the better of the early exchanges, but this was to be as good as it got for them in the first half, with the Kendal pack soon taking control.

The first points came after eight minutes. Kendal were awarded a scrum on halfway, and the pack drove their opponents some distance, forcing them to concede a penalty. Chris Park stepped up to put over the long range kick. 0v3

After a quarter of an hour Kendal won a penalty for offside in midfield. Before the kick could be taken there was a long period of attention to big Vale second row Dan Rainford, who fortunately was able to walk off, but whose loss did not help his packs struggle. Chris Park put over another long kick to double the lead. 0v6.

Five minute later Kendal had their first try. The pack drove their opponents off their own put in. After the forwards could not find a way through, the ball came back to Chris Park who darted through a gap, and when stopped, the pack were quickly in support, to drive him over for the try near the posts, which he converted. 0v13

The next try came from a Chris Park kick through. It was gathered and run back by Vale, but Alistair Thompson put in a good tackle and was soon supported. When the ball came loose, Dan Lowther gathered and had an almost unhindered route to the line. 0v18.

The final try of the half was set up by a good run from the base of the scrum from Rob Quarry. When Vale were penalised, due to their dominance Kendal twice chose scrums, and on the second attempt, after some consideration, the referee awarded a penalty try, with Chris Park adding the conversion . 0v25.

Vale had another good spell before half time, but could not stop Kendal taking a good lead into half time. Despite this there was already concerns on the touchlines after the second half difficulties in recent games.

Kendal started the half well, but a good run by Liam Hayton, was spoilt when his loose pass inside was intercepted. Ex Fylde wing Nick Royle, playing at fullback for Vale, chipped ahead down the right hand touchline, and flanker Fraser Spavin was in support to score. Outside half Jack Turton converted to narrow the gap. 7v25.

Liam Hayton soon had the opportunity to make up for his error. The forwards took good line out ball on the left hand side of the field, and set up a long drive towards the line. When the move was ended James Gough moved the ball out quickly and Hayton was on hand to burst through for the try. Chris Park converted. 7v32.

The sudden rush of scoring had not ended. A poor Kendal kick was run back by Vale fullback Royle, to set up a try for his right wing Rob Ward. 12v32.

After a short break, Vale were back on the scoreboard again. A penalty was put to touch on the right, and when the forwards won the lineout ball, it was moved out quickly for a try from centre Jonty Higgin, converted by Turton. 19v32.

All Kendal’s bad habits of recent seasons seemed to reappearing. The ball being kicked away, and several times lineout ball was lost to poor long throws, whilst first tackles that had been completed in the first half were being missed. The pack as also getting on the wrong side of the referee, conceding a number of penalties for technical offences at both scrums and line outs.

James Thompson came on to replace Matty Houghton in the back row, to add fresh legs and extra options in the lineout.

After twenty minutes of the half, the alarm bells were getting louder, as Vale narrowed the lead further, when outside half Turton made a break from his own half, chipping ahead and gathering to score and quickly converted his own try. 26v32.

Five minutes later he added a penalty after a Kendal tackler had been penalised for not releasing, and the lead was down to just three points, with fifteen minutes to play. 29v32.

Finally the message got through, and the old heads took control, with Coxon, Green, Harryman and Hayton, keeping the ball close to the forwards, and looking to induce penalties. When one came, rather than take the easy points, it was put to the right hand touchline.

The first drive was stopped illegally by Vale second row Lee Acton, giving the referee little option, but to give him ten minutes on the touchline, further weakening his pack. The following lineout was taken cleanly by Reece Tomlinson, who found a gap and drove for the line, the Kendal pack, with help from a few of their backs, drove to the line, with Liam Hayton emerging with his second try. Chris Park converted to again put two scores between the teams, with ten minutes to play. 29v39.

Both teams went in search of further points, but this was the end of the scoring in what for a neutral, would have been a very entertaining game, but which for long periods had both sets of supporters with their heads in their hands