Defensive frailties result in another Narrow Defeat

Kendal travelled to Wigton, who had only one loss at home this season, but had a number of injury problems. Kendal had their own problems with Ian Voortman and Brett Ashley dropping out, meaning wings Mark Carruthers and Alistair Thompson moved into the centre, with Anthony Gage and Andrew Boardley coming in on the wings. Chris Park had moved to fullback with Dan Lowther at outside half. In the pack Richard Harryman and Rob Quarry were both out with injuries, to be replaced by Glenn Chesher and James Thompson.

Kendal made a dreadful start, going behind after just two minutes. They failed to deal with a long crossfield kick, which bounced well for Wigton left wing Jordan Wood, who was able to easily outpaced the Kendal defence to open the scoring. The conversion failed. 5v0

Kendal came back into the game, and the pack tested the Wigton defence, but were making no impact, so had to settle for a long range penalty from Chris Park, but it drifted wide.

After ten minutes a penalty to the line set up an attacking lineout for Kendal, but the ball was stolen by Wigton. However from a resulting scrum, good pressure forced a short touch kick, keeping Kendal on the attack in the Wigton twenty two. From the lineout, flanker Matty Houghton found a massive gap, to dart over for the try. The conversion failed. 5v5.

Wigton quickly restored their lead, six minutes later. Kendal were penalised in mid-field, and Wigton outside half, David Hanabury took the penalty quickly, catching the Kendal defence napping. The ball was fed to left wing Jordan Wood for his second try. 5v10.

More Kendal defensive frailty, looked to have allowed Wigton to extend their lead. Fullback Greg Smith made a long break, before feeding powerfully built right wing Tom Gardner, but the Kendal defence managed to hold him out, and the danger was averted.

As the half progressed, the Kendal forwards were gaining the ascendancy in the tight, with the Wigton scrum continually under pressure, with James Gough snuffing out a number of back row moves.

Mark Carruthers was having his best game in attack, and Dan Lowther was constantly looking for gaps in the Wigton defence, whenever he had ball in hand, but the cover was excellent.

After a long period of pressure in the Wigton twenty two, Kendal finally got a further score. The forwards kept the ball through a series of phases. When Duncan Green found himself on the left wing, he exploited a slight hesitation in the Wigton defence, who were watching Glenn Chesher in support outside him, and was able to go over himself for the try. Again the conversion failed. 10v10.

The game remained tied at half time.

The Wigton coaches had clearly read the first half, and spotted the advantages their team had away from the breakdown, and early in the second half the ball was frequently moved quickly, to put pressure on the Kendal defence.

After six minutes Wigton regained the lead. From close to the line, Wigton No.8 Stuart Creighton twisted over for the try. 15v10.

The lead was extended five minutes later. A break down the left wing saw a kick to the line, for left wing Jordan Wood to gather the ball for his third try. Again there was no conversion. 20v10.

Wigton appeared to be taking control, keeping hold of the ball and not letting Kendal to establish any position, when they had the ball. More clever kicks down the field had the Kendal defence in trouble, but errors kept Wigton out. Billy Coxon was again putting in an immense performance, frequently clearing up ball in dangerous positions.

After half an hour, Kendal were caught offside in midfield, and Wigton outside half David Hanabury put over the first successful kick of the afternoon, to extend his teams lead, after the seven previous kicks from both teams had failed. 23v10.

Mattie Kaye was brought on, on the wing for Anthony Gage, who had had a difficult afternoon, often been targeted by the powerful Wigton defence.

At this point Wigton seemed to relax, and for the first time in the second half, the Kendal pack was allowed to start making ground, and had Wigton penned in their twenty two.

A second Kendal substitute came on with James Cox replacing Matty Houghton.

With three minutes to play, a penalty to the line, saw the Kendal pack take control, for Billy Coxon to break away for the try. The conversion failed. 23v15.

As the game entered injury time, the Kendal pack drove a maul from outside the Wigton twenty two to the line, for Garry Holmes to come up with the try. Andrew Boardley put over Kendal’s first successful kick, to narrow the lead to a single point. 23v22.

The referee continued play, and the Kendal pack gathered the kick off and took the ball through several phases. The game ended with Dan Lowther looking for a very long drop goal, which fell short, and the Wigton defender was able to put the ball dead to end the game.

Wigton probably deserved their win for their superior play in attack and defence, but if Kendal had been able to take their opportunities, towards the end of the first half, when they had total control, this could have been a different result. Kendal had to be satisfied with another two bonus points.

Referee : Martin Denvir (Cumbria Society)

photo : Matty Houghton scores the opening Kendal try