Superior Fitness Secures Late Victory

Both teams came into the game after good results to start the New Year, with Kendal’s big win to take Warrington’s long unbeaten home record, and Carlisle draw with fourth place Vale of Lune. The only change in the Kendal line up was Billy Coxon moving to flanker for the injured Matty Houghton, and Glen Chesher coming into the front row. The good news was Houghton injury last week was not as bad as first feared and he should be back in action in a few weeks.

Kendal had the better start going on the attack deep in the Carlisle half, but when they were penalised Carlisle set up their own attack, which led to the opening score, when the Kendal defence was caught offside in midfield and Carlisle outside half Glen Weightman, slotted over a penalty after eleven minutes. 0v3

After a string of games when the Kendal scrum had been in control, Carlisle were more than matching them, which was not allowing Kendal the platform to attack from.

Kendal opened their account after twenty minutes. Carlisle were penalised and when the Carlisle No.8 chose to question the decision, he got a ticking off and his team were marched back a further ten metres. Dan Lowther put the kick into the corner and the Kendal pack came up with a trademark drive to the line, with Garry Holmes touching down. Andrew Boardley continued his fine vein of kicking, with the conversion. 7v3.

The lead was extended lead five minutes later. Carlisle were penalised at a line out near halfway, and Dan Lowther punished them with a long kick into the twenty two. The Kendal pack went for another drive to the line, but when stopped illegally, rather than look for a repeat performance. Andrew Boardley was allowed to put the kick over 10v3.

Whilst Kendal continued to dominate, Carlisle were dealing easily with their attacks, and their backs looked dangerous with the ball in hand, but were frequently being let down by handling errors.

Deep in first half injury time Carlisle put a kick through towards the Kendal tryline, it appeared Chris Park was pushed as he chased the kick, but it was possible the referee felt he was himself obstructing the chasing Carlisle player. Whilst the ball was scrambled to touch, the Carlisle pack won the lineout and gave Kendal a bit of their own medicine, driving to the line for the try, which outside half Wightman, converted off the post, with the last play of the half, to give Carlisle a share of the scoring, which their performance just about deserved. 10v10

Kendal brought flanker James Cox on for Glenn Chesher at half time, with Billy Coxon, slotting back into his normal front row position.

Kendal again started the half the stronger with Garry Holmes and Ian Voortman making breaks through the Carlisle defence, but again it was the visitors who opened the scoring.

Having set up a position in the Kendal twenty two, outside half Weightman totally fooled the Kendal defence, dummying a pass and sailing over for a try which he converted himself. 10v17.

Two minutes later Carlisle had a ten point lead. A good break through the Kendal defence, put the visitors into the Kendal half, and when Kendal were penalised, Wightman put the penalty over. 10v20.

Carlisle appeared to be in total control. Their excellent kicking to the corners was continually turning the Kendal defence. A Kendal not straight throw from a throw on their own line, gave Carlisle a scrum to attack, but this proved to be the first turning point in the match. Having earlier been driven off their own ball, the Kendal pack returned the compliment to win a penalty. This cleared their line, and set up a passage of play, ended with Garry Holmes’ twelfth try of the season.

If the first try was a carbon copy of his finishing for a number this season, this one was reminiscing of past seasons, as he burst through the defence at a pace from close to the twenty two, to score under the posts. Andrew Boardley put over the conversion to bring the gap back to three. 17v20

Any thoughts that the visitors would cave in were soon dispelled and their continued excellent kicking to the corners kept Kendal pinned back in their own half, forcing them to try to work their way out of defence, on a very sticky ground.

A sign of the Kendal concern was when awarded a penalty in the Carlisle half, the decision was taken to go for the posts to bring the scores level, rather than look for the corner and the chance of the lead. When Andrew Boardley miscued his kick, for his first miss in two games, it started to look as if this was not to be Kendal’s afternoon.

With time running out, the Kendal pack finally started to gain the ascendancy, and when Carlisle hooker Tom Graham, who had had an excellent game in the loose, was penalised and sent to the sin bin, with ten minutes to play, Dan Lowther drilled a kick into the corner.

Despite being a man down, Carlisle managed to hold the Kendal lineout drive, and when the ball was moved wide, the referee decided that Kendal had been unable to ground the ball for a try under the posts, and awarded an attacking scrum. With Kendal having the extra man advantage, the visitors pack was no match, and the scrum drove over for James Thompson to ground the ball. Andrew Boardley added the easy conversion to extend the narrow lead. 24v20

With five minutes rto play, from the restart Kendal played sensibly keeping the ball and stretching the tiring Carlisle defence, looking for the bonus point try. When the ball was moved out to the left, wing Mark Carruthers made an excellent break to the line. Whilst the move was stopped there with the referee again decided Kendal had been unable to ground the ball, even back to full strength, the visitors pack were unable to deal with the now rampant Kendal eight, and James Thompson again grounded the ball, with Andrew Boardley again converting. The resulting celebrations were as much in relief of playing their “Get Out of Jail” card, from what had seemed a difficult position, than the score itself. 31v20.

Carlisle will have been really disappointed to go away with nothing from a game which had earlier promised much in their fight against relegation, but if they can keep up this standard, they should be able to get more points in the second half of their season, and it will then depend on how those around them do.

For Kendal it will be a case of re-grouping, after a fright, for the re-arranged game next weekend away at bottom club, Altrincham Kersal, which had to be abandoned before Christmas.

PHOTO : Reece Tomlinson takes clean line out ball, in the build up for Garry Holmes' first try of the afternoon