1st XV
Matches
Sat 25 Oct 2014  ·  North One West
Kendal R.U.F.C.
1st XV
Tries: R Harryman (2), G Holmes, J Gough, A ThompsonConversions: G Weightman (4)Penalties: G Weightman (2)Yellow Carded: B Coxon
39
19
Vale of Lune
Late Scoring Spree Seals Victory

Late Scoring Spree Seals Victory

Mark Hodgkiss25 Oct 2014 - 22:48
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This game was far closer than the final score suggests, but solid defence in the Vale half, and some quick thinking, saw Kendal through

James Gough, Richard Harryman and Bob Mataia all returned from injury for Kendal.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, but Vale of Lune opened the scoring after ten minutes. When on the attack, Kendal conceded a penalty, for failing to release the ball in the tackle. From the resulting lineout, Vale scum half Billy Swarbrick broke through to score, with centre Ben Dorrington adding the conversion. 0v7

Seven minutes later Kendal struck back. Strong Kendal defence had kept Vale in their twenty two, and when a Kendal attack was ended with a pass being deliberately knocked on, Dan Lowther put the penalty to touch. Again the Kendal lineout was working well, and the forwards took the ball to the line. Whilst the move was held up, the referee came back for a penalty, which the forwards ran, with Richard Harryman (?) emerging with the score. Glen Wightman added the conversion. 7v7

There was an outbreak of fighting after the score, and the referee was forced to talk to the two captains.

Kendal had their tails up, and when on the attack again the referee awarded a penalty for a high tackle on Dini Noyo. This sparked another outbreak between the forwards, and Billy Coxon and Vale hooker Daniel Baines were issued with yellow cards.

Vale’s second score, again came from a Kendal attack. Another penalty for failing to release the ball in the tackle, set up a lineout, and some excellent interpassing between the Vale backs, meant that, despite some desperate tackles, Kendal could not keep out left wing Tom Ball. Dorrington again added the conversion. 7v14.

With Billy Coxon still off the field, Kendal were forced to bring Duncan Green on, to replace Blake Robinson.

With Kendal on the attack again, Vale players offended to stop the move, sparking another exchange between the players, resulting in the referee sending a second Vale player to the sidelines.

From the resulting lineout the Kendal forwards drove to the line, for Richard Harryman to score. 12v14.

Five minutes later, Kendal had the lead. Quick thinking by Dan Lowther, resulted in Dini Noyo taking a quick throw to him, when Vale had put the ball to touch. A good Lowther run, set up a position, from where, when Vale offended again, Glen Wightman put over a penalty. 15v14.

Kendal were on the attack again as the half ended, keeping Vale cooped in their own twenty two, but should have been pleased to turn with narrow lead, despite playing into a strong wind in the first half.

Vale started the second half strongly, finding gaps in the Kendal defence, but could not find a way through.

Kendal responded with a powerful run out of defence by Dan Lowther, but the pass that should have put Dini Noyo in, went to ground.

After ten minutes Glen Wightman extended the Kendal lead with a second penalty 18v14.

Kendal seemed in control, but a number of errors were keeping them from scoring, and they were almost made to pay when a ball squirted out of an attacking scrum on the Vale line, allowing Vale to gather and set up a break from their own line. Some poor options however, allowed the Kendal defence to recover, and put in some crunching tackles which stopped the move as it crossed halfway.

Three Vale mistakes finally swung the game in Kendal’s favour, with just over ten minutes to play. Glen Wightman failed with a long range penalty, but at the resulting restart, a Vale player was in front of his kicker, giving Kendal the option of a scrum on the twenty two. The forwards again took control, combining to drive to the line, for Garry Holmes to score. Glen Wightman converted. 25v14.

Better was to follow. When the kick off failed to go ten metres, from the scrum, Glen Wightman put a long kick through into the Vale half. From the resulting lineout, Vale moved the ball into midfield, but a pass went to ground. Ben Leacock reacted quickly, breaking through to gather the ball, and feed James Gough, who power through for the score, converted by Glen Wightman. 32v14.

The quick run of scoring had not ended, and when another Vale pass went to ground on the right wing, Alistair Thompson, reacted quickly to gather the ball, and shrug off tacklers, to power over for the try, with Wightman converting again. 39v14.

Kendal brought on James Cox and Chris Park, for Blake Robinson and James Gough, with Dino Noyo moving to scrum half.

Vale came back strongly, opening up the Kendal defence for centre Rob Lamerton to score, but the easy conversion was rushed and missed, as Vale went in search of a bonus point try. 39v19.

Kendal held out, with Glen Wightman putting in several long kicks deep into the Vale half, to force them to try to attack from a long way from the Kendal line.

In injury time, Mark Carruthers was forced off, to be replaced by Blake Robinson.

A good performance, to beat a strong Vale team, who seemed to lack any Plan B, when they could not find a way through the Kendal defence, especially when in their own half.

As more players return from injury, the coaches will have difficult decisions to make, to put together the best combination, to turn pressure into points and secure wins, in a league where most teams seem evenly matched.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH (as voted for by website readers) : Ben Leacock

PHOTO : The backs can only watch, as the forwards rumble over for the opening try

Match details

Match date

Sat 25 Oct 2014

Kickoff

15:00

Location

Competition

North One West
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Kentdale  Jaguar Land Rover
Match Ball Sponsor - Rathbones Investment Management
Shirt & Shorts Sponsor - Kendalife
Club Sponsor - Lakeland
Club Sponsor - Saint & Co
Club Sponsor - MTP Media
Casual Shirt Sponsor - Bainbridge Electrical Ltd
Shirt & Position Sponsor - Steve Selby Building Contractors
Next Door Neighbours - Camping & Caravanning Club: Kendal
Shirt Sponsor - MGD Commercial and Motor Services
Club Sponsor - Crema Catering Supplies Ltd.