Outpaced in Narrow Defeat

Before the game Kendal were forced to make a number of changes to their squad. Outside half Dan Lowther was unavailable, so Chris Park moving to fullback. Ian Voortman was also forced to drop out, with his place taken by Matty Houghton, moving from the flank. His place was to be taken by Billy Coxon, but an injury meant he dropped to the bench, with James Cox coming into the team.

The opening exchanges set the tone for a topsy turvy game. Broughton Park kicked off, but Kendal were immediately on the attack with a good chase of a return kick, forcing an error. From the resulting scum the ball was move to the right wing, and James Gough made a good break, but Garry Holmes was immediately tackled when he took a pass inside. Kendal continued to attack but when they were penalised, Broughton Park quickly took the penalty and when the ball was moved to the left wing, right wing Blake Mahovic made a powerful run, going almost the length of the field to score, evading some poor tackling. Outside half Max Proctor converted to give his team a 0v7 lead after just three minutes.

Kendal were soon back in the game. A Broughton Park kick was charged down, and Reece Toimlinson gathered the ball. Broughton Park were forced to concede a penalty, and the Kendal pack drove to the line for Garry Holmes to score. Andrew Boardley converted to tie the game 7v7.

The Kendal pack were taking control at the scrum, and when the Park scrum half came offside, Andrew Boardley added a penalty to give Kendal the lead for the first time after ten minutes of play. 10v7

Five minutes later Kendal extended their lead. Broughton Park were running the ball out of defence, but the ball was stolen by the Kendal pack. When it was moved into midfield, Alistair Thompson made a powerful run, breaking a number of tackles, and despite being stopped before the line, managed to stretch out to ground the ball for his first try of the season, on his twenty second appearance. 15v7.

Andrew Boardley’s second penalty extended the lead ten minutes later. The Kendal pack disrupted a Broughton Park scrum, to gain a scrum, at which Park were penalised, and then conceded a further ten metres for dissent. 18v7.

With quarter of an hour of the half to play, Kendal score again after another powerful drive from the forwards, with Glenn Chesher grounding the ball. 23v7.

The final score of the half came from Broughton Park. Kendal lost the ball in midfield, and after another powerful break from right wing Blake Mahovic, centre Chris Martin scored. 23v12.

This was the final score of the half, and despite having had the advantage of the strong wind in the first half Kendal looked in control. The game was however to swing in the opposite direction, within the opening ten minutes of the second half.

Kendal again started well and were on the attack close to the Broughton Park line, when they lost the ball. Play moved to the opposite end of the field, and after a kick had been put into the corner, Kendal appeared to have taken the ball cleanly at the line out, but again Broughton Park stole the ball to score a try from close range after three minutes of play. 23v17.

From the kick off Broughton Park were immediately on the attack again, and centre Chris Martin scored. Outside half Max Proctor converted to give Park had a slender lead 23v24.

A minute later the lead was extended further. The Kendal kick off was moved to the right wing, and an excellent move, with a number of exchanges of passes, was finished by prop Donald George. Proctor converted again, to give his team a two score cushion, after a burst of nineteen points in just six minutes. 23v31.

This time Kendal got the kick off right, and Liam Hayton plucked the kick out of the air to set up an attack, which took the ball to the Park line, only for the ball to be lost again. Kendal however stayed on the attack, and five minutes later got a try in bizarre fashion.

With the Kendal forwards pummelling the Park line, the ball was again stolen, but this time a stray pass went loose behind the Park goal line, and Matty Houghton was on hand to touch down. Andrew Boardley put over the conversion, and Kendal were back within a point 30v31.

The game was to swing back to Broughton Park ten minutes later. Again Kendal were on the attack in the Park twenty two, and again the ball was lost for a break down the left hand touchline for Mahovic to score his second try. Max Proctor converted again, and Park had their two score lead back, with quarter of an hour to play. 30v38.

Kendal were then disrupted with Richard Harryman, Jordan Johnson and then Billy Coxon, who had replaced Harryman, forced from the field with injuries. Despite this Kendal were still competing and were starting to move the ball.

With five minutes to play, a penalty to the corner, saw Kendal take the line out ball and the forwards set up an excellently controlled drive to the line for Garry Holmes to break away for his twenty first try of the season, which Andrew Boardley converted 37v38.

This looked to have set up another grandstand finished from Kendal, but this never came, with Park keeping Kendal penned deep in their own half for the remainder of the game, denying any opportunity for a winning score.

The Broughton Park players justifiable celebrated a hard won victory at the final whistle, whilst Kendal had to be satisfied with their seventh losing bonus point and thirteenth try scoring bonus point of the campaign.

The loss was all the harder having missed out the chance to narrow the gap on Widnes in third, who were surprisingly well beaten by relegation threatened Carlisle, in one of a number of unexpected results on the afternoon.

Referee : Dr Tyrone Castle (Cumbria Referees)

PHOTO : The forwards come away after Glen Chester touches down for Kendal's third try