Won in the Mist

The MetOffice website suggested it was going to be sunny all afternoon in Lancaster. No one at Vale saw it, as the game was played in thick mist, which fortunately did not get a lot worse, as the game progressed.

The only changes to the team who played on the Isle of Man, were due to injuries. Reece Tomlinson came in for the injured Chris Evans, whilst Dan Reid making his debut replaced the injured Tom Moulton. Dan Lowther returned on the bench, with Ross McKay joining him, and Alex Ryder.

Vale came into the game in ninth, but had had a close result against run away leaders Stockport last weekend, and often raise their game against Kendal.

Vale had the better of early exchanges, and were denied an early try when Nick Carlton just got back to stop a kick through resulting in a score.

On an early Kendal attack, Dan Shorrock was caught with a dangerous high tackle around his neck by a Vale prop. With the referee blowing immediately, the only question was the colour of the card, but the referee was happy that a penalty was sufficient punishment.

There was confusion when Kendal were awarded a penalty in the Vale half. Lewis Kincart went to take it quickly, it then seemed to be decided it would be put to touch, before Chris Park was called to go for the posts.

There was a lot of kicking from both sides, possibly a good tactic in the conditions, but most went to opposition players rather than finding any space. With a makeshift Kendal back division, the chasing of kicks was also not as good as normal, giving Vale more time.

Finally the deadlock was broken after a quarter of an hour. Vale broke down the left and a kick was put through, and it seemed to be three against no Kendal defence, with it being scored by wing Jordan Fern, with the conversion added 7v0.

Concerns about the Kendal scrum, were unfounded as it was on top, whilst the lineout was also working well.

Steven Nelson made a good break from his temporary position in the centre, but it came to nothing

After a period of Vale pressure Kendal were awarded a scrum, only for Reece Tomlinson to do something to displease the referee and Vale were given a penalty, which was put to touch but nothing came of it.

With Kendal coming more into the game, Vale conceded a number of penalties for slowing play, and having survived a number of warnings from the referee, the next player to transgress was given an early half time break. It turned out to be the prop who had had a lucky escape earlier – if he hadn’t it may have been a longer break.

Already on top in the scrums, good thinking saw Kendal take a scrum, which forced Vale into a further change, but a man down and with a new prop, they were steamrollered back over their line, with Dan Greenwood the last up with the ball. 7v5

It looked as if Vale would extend their half time lead, when a cross kick was gathered by the right wing, for a clear run to the line, but the referee adjudged him to have come from in front of the kicker and awarded Kendal the penalty.

Kendal went in at half time whilst Vale stayed out in the mist.

Kendal started the better, but the Vale defence was equally to everything Kendal threw at them.

Finally the score and the lead came after eight minutes. The ball was moved to Dan Shorrock on the left wing, who made a break then kicked ahead. A Vale player threw himself at the ball, but it just evaded him, giving Shorrock the simple task of following the ball to touchdown. 7v10

Kendal made a first change with Ross McKay replacing Dan Greenwood, after the score.

Both teams had chances but nothing came of them.

After quarter of an hour Reece Tomlinson received treatment and went off to be replaced by Alex Ryder. At the same time Alistair Thompson was replaced on the wing by Dan Lowther.

Vale re-took the lead after twenty minutes. Their backline looked good on the rare occasions when it held onto the ball, and a weaving run from close to halfway saw a score under the posts. 14v10.

There was a moment of controversy, when Vale again kicked across field for their wing. He gathered the ball and kicked ahead and was taken out by a Kendal player. The referee signalled a penalty, and a yellow card looked inevitable. However the penalty was to Kendal, as again the wing had started his run well in advance of his kicker. Clearly a Vale tactic, but in this case the referee was wise to it.

Kendal again stepped up their game, with Vale forced to concede a string of penalties. When one came close to the Vale posts, when a player dived in to kill the ball, and appeared luck to escape a card, Kendal decided to take on the full Vale eight.

A good drive led to a further penalty, and a further scrum. This time Vale held out, but could do nothing when Kendal moved the ball and Dan Lowther burst through the centre to score. Chris Park added the conversion off the post.

Vale came back looking for a winning score.

Steven Nelson was forced off with an injury and Alistair Thompson returned.

Several times Vale players burst through only to be dragged down short.

Having survived a number of waves of Vale attacks, the ball was turned over in the Kendal twenty two and Lewis Kincart broken away, but was called back by the referee's whistle, for a penalty. Vale could have taken the simple penalty for the draw, but instead looked for the win.

They continued to put Kendal under pressure, and when Kendal forced a penalty on their line, someone spoke out and the referee reversed it to keep the pressure on. The kick was put to touch, and the lineout won, but Kendal held out and finally ended the game for a narrow victory.

Not a vintage Kendal performance, but Vale looked a far better team than their current position suggests, and if they had taken that late penalty, maybe a draw would have been a fairer result, which showed the importance of Chris Park’s conversion off the post.

Dan Reid played well, and again when he came on Alex Ryder did not look at all out of place.

(Hopefully only) A three week break, before we return with three back to back home games starting with Altrincham Kersal on the 8th January.

Your Kendal Man of the Match : Dan Reid

OTHER RESULTS

TABLE

With Waterloo's game against Glossop one of four postponed we leapfrog them, but Manchester move a point further ahead with a bonus point win against Wilmslow.