Another Late Fightback gains Bonus Point

Glenn Chesher and Matty Houghton also played despite having picked up injuries. Leo Mercer made a welcome return in the back division, whilst Billy Coxon, Rob Wightman and Liam Nicholson came into the pack, with James Thompson moving to the second row.

Kendal started well playing a high tempo game, and opened the scoring after just four minutes, with a Chris Park penalty 3v0.

Wilmslow were reduced to fourteen men after ten minutes, when second row Dan Wright was yellow carded after his team had received a number of warnings from young referee David Jones

Kendal were not able to make the extra man pay, and it was not until the twenty fifth minute that the lead was extended. Dan Lowther put a long penalty kick to the corner. The forwards took the lineout ball and drove to the line, with Liam Nicholson emerging with the try. Chris Park converted. 10v0

The lead was almost immediately reduced. From the kick off, Wilmslow right wing Laurence James made a powerful run, evading a number of weak attempted tackles to score. Kendal were let off, as the conversion from in front of the posts was missed. 10v5.

Both teams momentum was being disrupted by a number of simple handing errors, despite the good conditions.

Wilmslow were now moving the ball fast, and excellent support play allowed them, to stretching the Kendal defence. With five minutes of the half to play, centre Sam Cutts made a break only to be stopped on the by last line of defence Chris Park. The relief was short lived as after a break from outside half Bob MacCallum, Cutts went over for his team’s second try. This time MacCallum converted. 10v12.

In injury time Wilmslow prop Simeon Meek, made a powerful break bouncing off a number of tackles, but was stopped close to the line by Chris Park. The ball was turned over and Dan Lowther and Leo Mercer set up a counter attack down the right wing, from their own twenty two, but the move broke down near halfway.

At half time Chris Evans replaced Rob Wightman in the Kendal second row.

Wilmslow started the second half well, with breaks from centre Sam Cutts and wing Lawrence James, opening space for centre Ollie McCall to add Wilmlsow’s third try, after just three minutes of play. Outside half MacCallum converted. 10v19.

The led was extended after ten minutes of play. As he went to field a kick through, Chris Park slipped, and the loose ball was hacked through, for centre Ollie McCall to add his second try, as he just beat the ball to the dead ball line. MacCallum converted 10v26.

Both teams continued to be hampered by handing errors, and after a good first half, Kendal started to struggle to secure ball in the lineout.

With quarter of an hour to play, Ben Leacock came on for Chris Evans, and ten minutes later Robbie Collinson came on for Glenn Chesher, with Duncan Green moving to prop, but this did seem to stabilise the Kendal scrum.

As the game came to an end, Wilmslow seemed to run out of steam, and the Kendal forwards started to exert some control. With three minutes of normal time to play Garry Holmes went over for a twenty third try of the season, to narrow the lead. 15v26.

Kendal continued to press for a further score, forcing Wilmslow to concede a number of penalties. The referee, again issued a warning to the Wilmslow captain flanker Mike Black, and when second row Dan Wright, deliberately knocked the ball on to end a Kendal attack, the referee was given little option other than to issue him with a second yellow card of the game, and dismiss him.

The resulting penalty was put to touch but the throw was adjudged not straight, so the opportunity was lost. Kendal stayed on the attack forcing another lineout, but again the ball was lost.

Finally an excellent break by Dan Lowther, seemed to have been squandered when an overlap outside him was missed, but the forwards recycled the ball, and he appeared again, to force his way over for the try, which narrowed the gap to a single score, to take a ninth losing bonus point of the season, which guaranteed Kendal at least fourth place in the league. 20v26.

This has to be seen as another one that got away, with the power and experience of the more experienced players being missed. There were however positives, with Liam Nicholson often assisted by Matty Houghton, doing a massive amount of work in defence, and Leo Mercer adding extra pace behind the pack, if lacking some match sharpness. Yet again the spirit to play to the final whistle gleaned a losing bonus point that had looked highly unlikely shortly before.

Next weekend sees the final fixture of the season, with the visit to Mint Bridge of league leaders Wirral, who will need maximum points to guarantee top spot.

The Wasps are also in action at Keswick on Friday night kick off 7.00pm in the Cumbrian Cup Final against Carlisle.

Referee :David Jones (London Society)