Double Bonus Point in Spirited Fight Back

Whilst Widnes were looking to avenge a last minute defeat at Mint Bridge, and end a two match losing run, to protect their League position.

Hooker Duncan Green was unavailable due work commitments, so Robbie Collinson came in for his first start, after impressing after coming on as a substitute in the last away game at Liverpool St Helens.

Widnes made an excellent start, and quick handing and excellent ball retention, which was to characterise their performance all afternoon, saw left wing Kevin Leadbetter score after just four minutes. Fullback Matty Smith put over a difficult conversion. 7v0.

Kendal right wing Mark Carruthers was injured in the build up to the try, and was forced to leave the field, with Brad Jackson coming on to replace him.

Further good passing, set up Widnes’ second try after seven minutes, with fullback Matty Smith scoring. A good chase by Matty Houghton did enough to distract Smith from an easier conversion, to keep the score down to 12v0.

Kendal were quickly back into the game. Widnes failed to gather the kick off and the ball went to touch to set up a Kendal lineout. The lineout ball was won for the forwards to set up a powerful drive. When Widnes were penalised the penalty was put to the corner for a Kendal lineout, but Reece Tomlinson was not able to gather the throw, and could only tap the ball down. When Widnes were awarded a scrum, the Kendal pack force a penalty, and this time the forwards set up another drive, with Richard Harryman breaking through, before Dan Lowther finished the move with a try from short range. Chris Park converted. 12v7.

Widnes extended their lead five minutes later. A long kick down the right touchline, forced Kendal into a defensive lineout on their own line. Kendal lost the ball at the lineout, and Widnes maintained pressure until a space opened up in midfield for centre Dave Welsh to score. Again good Kendal pressure meant the conversion was missed. 17v7.

The Kendal pack was starting to gain control at the scrum, but a double substitution of the Widnes prop and hooker, made their scrum stronger.

After half an hour Kendal were back in the game, after a period of pressure in the Widnes twenty two. A penalty awarded after a Widnes scrum offence was put to the corner. When the lineout was won, Widnes illegally stopped the Kendal drive to the line, and the referee awarded a penalty try, which Chris Park converted. 17v14

At the end of the half, Kendal were on the attack down the right hand touchline, but a loose pass was intercepted. Whilst Kendal stopped the run up the wing, the ball was moved into midfield, where it appeared that after a good break, centre Dave Welsh had made a mistake in passing rather than backing himself to score. Despite Kendal managing to stop the move, the ball was quickly moved again, and this time Welsh did go over for his second try of the game, which Matty Smith converted, for a 24v14 half time lead.

Billy Coxon came on to replace Glenn Chesher at the start of the second half.

Widnes again made an excellent start to the half. Fullback Matty Smith fielded a Kendal kick through, and evaded a number of attempted tackles, and still retained the ball when tackled. More excellent passing and support play, saw scrum half Michael Lamb finish the move for the try. Again Matty Houghton did enough to distract the kicker, and the conversion failed. 29v14.

Kendal were further disrupted after five minutes, when Reece Tomlinson was forced from the field, with Glenn Chesher returning to replace him. Then after quarter of an hour, Garry Holmes was forced off and Liam Nicholson came on to replace him.

Both teams had opportunities to score, but the defences held firm.

After twenty minutes of the half, following a long period of Widnes pressure, Kendal scored a try against the run of play.

A late tackle on Dan Lowther after a kick out of defence, gave Kendal a penalty near halfway. He put the kick into the Widnes twenty two. In what was clearly a well planned move, rather look to drive from the lineout, Richard Harryman and Billy Coxon were positioned in midfield, and when the lineout was won, the ball was move to them, with Harryman driving through the centre, supported by Coxon. The ball was recycled, and Dan Lowther moved the ball to the wing, for Jordan Johnson to score. 29v19.

With the Kendal scrum disrupted, and Widnes making good use of their rolling substitutions in the front row, Widnes were starting to gain the upper hand. A good Widnes scrum, set up possession for a break by right wing Paul O’Conner, to score. Left wing Kevin Leadbetter put over the conversion 36v19.

Kendal were further disrupted, and with all their substituted used, Liam Nicholson moved onto the wing, Jordan Johnson went to scrum half and James Gough onto the flank. Gough clearly relished his new role and was able to disrupted Widnes ball on several occasions.

With five minutes of normal time to play, Kendal narrowed the gap. A scrum in midfield saw the ball moved to the left. Chris Park joined the line from fullback, and his pass released Brad Jackson to race to the line for a try. Park put over the difficult conversion 36v26.

Kendal continued to look for a further score to gain a second bonus point, and in injury time, after a penalty took them into the Widnes twenty two, good work from the forwards earned a further penalty. Chris Park converted the difficult kick, with the last play of the game, to snatch an unlikely bonus point.

Whilst the score line probably did not fairly reflect the dominance of a lively Widnes team. The Kendal coaches will have been pleased by the defence play, which kept the score down, and the character which kept Kendal coming back, when teams of the past would have thrown the towel in, especially considering the disruption to the normal line up. Youngsters Robbie Collinson and Brad Jackson did not look out of place, and both contributed to a spirited team performance.

Referee : Simon Murray (Liverpool Society)

PHOTO : Build up to the first Kendal try