.and Bob Mataia into the centre.
League new boys Bolton, started well and even drove the Kendal pack off their own ball at an early scrum, on an afternoon when having the put-in at the scrum was not always an advantage.
After spending the first ten minutes defending, Kendal opened the scoring with their first attack. After a break from defence, Mark Carruthers put a long kick to the corner. A good chase forced a Bolton player to put the ball to touch. Having won the resulting lineout, the Kendal forwards were in total control as they set up a drive to the line, for Blake Robinson to break away to score. Nathan Wooff, converted to give Kendal the lead, totally against the early run of play. 7v0.
Bolton continued on the attack, but the Kendal back division were showing early signs of what was to follow, with Nathan Wooff breaking through, and when his pass went loose, Blake Robinson was in hand to gather, only for a penalty to be conceded for not releasing the ball on the ground.
Bolton opened their scoring after twenty minutes, with a long range penalty, when Kendal were penalised, after losing their own lineout ball. 7v3.
More good play from the Kendal backs, saw Dan Lowther break through, for a move carried on by Leo Mercer, only for play to breakdown. Kendal stayed on the attack and from a lineout the forwards drove to the line, but were unable to ground the ball. After difficulties at a number of their own put-ins, the ball was moved quickly from the resulting scrum on the left, with Nathan Wooff, and then Leo Mercer taking the ball to the line on the right, and with the defence sucked in, James Gough floated a long pass to Richard Harryman, who powered over from short range. Nathan Woof converted 14v3.
From the kick off Kendal came straight back, with Alistair Thompson finishing with a try, from the best of the game, with the ball being quickly moved through numerous hands. 19v3
The final score of the half came from Nathan Wooff, who weaved through numerous weak tackles for a solo try, to end a move started with a good run from Mark Caruthers, after Bolton lost ball near halfway. 26v3, with Wooff’s conversion.
At halftime Billy Coxon cam on for Richard Harryman.
Bolton again started well, and set up a move down the left hand touchline, with Leo Mercer having to pull off a tackle, to prevent what had appeared a certain try. Back row Chris Downham was sent to the sin bin for an offence earlier in the build up.
Another Bolton attack broke down with a forward pass. From the resulting scrum, in their own twenty two, the Kendal backs showed their growing confidence, with Dan Lowther breaking down the right, and feeding Leo Mercer, and when he was stopped, James Gough was in support to take the move on.
Despite being a man down, Kendal continued to attack, with Dan Lowther going to the line, with Alistair Thompson in support. Whilst Lowther was held up, the forwards kept the pressure on, for Bob Mataia to wriggle over for his first try. 31v3
More forward pressure, with a number of backs adding their weight, set up the next try from short range for James Gough. 36v3. Nathan Wooff was injured in the move and forced off, for new signing Glen Weightman to make his debut, after several weeks on the touchline due to a niggling injury.
The seventh Kendal try came from more forward pressure on the left. When the ball came back Glen Weightman floated a long pass for Dan Lowther to power over, but he could not add the conversion. 41v6.
Kendal brought their final substitute on with Josh Chaplow replacing Blake Robinson.
Kendal found themselves under pressure, as Bolton continued to look for a consolation try, but the Kendal defence held firm.
The final score came with a second try from short range for James Gough, for a final score of 46v3.
An excellent performance, especially in the first half, against a dogged Bolton team, who may find the step up in class tough this season, but with a large pack and fast backs, they may surprise teams after they acclimatise to the higher level of rugby.
This was rare opportunity for the Kendal backs to take centre stage, with the whole back division playing well, and James Gough having another commanding performance. Up front Blake Robinson was another to have an excellent game, showing just how tough the competition for places in the back row is this season.
Next week sees a much sterner test, with an away trip to Penrith. The coaches will be looking to sharpen up some of the loose areas, which may have been punished by a more experienced team, but should have been most impressed by this performance, and their biggest problem may be who to leave out.
Kendal | Bolton | |
Dan Lowther | 15 | Mark Doherty |
Leo Mercer | 14 | Rhys Pritchard |
Bob Mataia | 13 | Wll Bate |
Mark Carruthers (10) | 12 | Nick Smith |
Alistair Thompson | 11 | Ryan Wignall |
Nathan Wooff (19) | 10 | Mike Mills |
James Gough (C) | 9 | James Singleton |
Duncan Green | 1 | Sam Hilton |
Garry Holmes | 2 | Chris Cockton |
Richard Harryman | 3 | Chris Mee |
Liam Hayton | 4 | Mike Richardson |
Rob Wightman | 5 | Louis Critchlow |
James Thompson | 6 | Todd Keers |
Blake Robinson | 7 | Ash Cooper |
Chris Downham (20) | 8 | James Brodie |
Josh Chaplow (17) | sub | Ben Stubbs |
Billy Coxon (16) | sub | Simon Frost |
Glen Weightman (12) | sub | Andrew Crimmins |
Score | Team | No | Name | Time | Kendal | Bolton | |
Try | Kendal | 7 | Blake Robinson | 9 | 5 | 0 | |
Con | Kendal | 19 | Nathan Wooff | 10 | 7 | 0 | |
Pen | Bolton | ? | 22 | 7 | 3 | ||
Try | Kendal | 3 | Richard Harryman | 29 | 12 | 3 | |
Con | Kendal | 19 | Nathan Wooff | 30 | 14 | 3 | |
Try | Kendal | 11 | Alistair Thompson | 31 | 19 | 3 | |
Try | Kendal | 19 | Nathan Wooff | 34 | 24 | 3 | |
Con | Kendal | 19 | Nathan Wooff | 35 | 26 | 3 | |
=== | === | === | Half Time | 40+2 | 26 | 3 | |
sub off | Kendal | 3 | Richard Harryman | 40 | 26 | 3 | |
Sub on | Kendal | 16 | Billy Coxon | 40 | 26 | 3 | |
Y/C | Kendal | 20 | Chris Downham | 43 | 26 | 3 | |
Try | Kendal | 13 | Bob Mataia | 50 | 31 | 3 | |
Try | Kendal | 9 | James Gough | 60 | 36 | 3 | |
sub off | Kendal | 19 | Nathan Wooff | 60 | 36 | 3 | |
sub on | Kendal | 12 | Glen Weightman | 60 | 36 | 3 | |
Try | Kendal | 15 | Dan Lowther | 63 | 41 | 3 | |
sub off | Kendal | 7 | Blake Robinson | 63 | 41 | 3 | |
sub on | Kendal | 17 | Josh Chaplow | 63 | 41 | 3 | |
Try | Kendal | 9 | James Gough | 80 | 46 | 3 | |
= = = | = = = | = = = | FULL TIME | 81 | 46 | 3 |