Game of Two Halves

Ideal conditions for a local derby between second and third in the league, attracting a bumper crowd to Mint Bridge. The two teams arrived at the game in differing form. Kirkby were on an eight match unbeaten run, six of which with try scoring bonus points, whilst Kendal’s form had stuttered recently, after their excellent start to the season.

Kirkby started the stronger and dominated the early exchanges, putting the ball through numerous phases, but could find no gaps in the Kendal defence. Kendal were however being forced to concede a string of penalties for failing to release tackled players.

The opening score came in bizarre circumstances. Kirkby took an attempt at goal, but the kick drifted well wide. Liam Hayton went to catch the ball, but only managed to knock it on, and when a player in front of him played the ball, the referee awarded a penalty for offside, and Kirkby scrum half Ben Walker, was successful with the much easier kick. 0v3.

Dan Lowther set up a rare Kendal attack with a chip over the Kirkby defence, which he gathered himself, but the move broke down when a tackled player failed to release the ball. This was one of Lowther’s last involvements in the game, as he was forced off after fifteen minutes, with Glen Weightman coming on, and Nathan Wooff moving to fullback.

Kirkby continued to dominate, however Kendal were starting to make some inroads, but too often kicked away hard earned ball, to give Kirkby more attacking opportunities.

After twenty five minutes Kendal were forced to make another change with Rob Weightman coming on for James Thompson.

Kirkby’s dominance was finally rewarded after half an hour. Kendal conceded another penalty for failing to release a tackled player, this was run quickly and moved to the left for an unconverted try in the corner. 0v8.

Worse was to follow for Kendal as Tom Voke, became the latest player to offend, and was sent to the touchlines for ten minutes.

Possibly the turning point of the game came with a tactical change, with substitute Rob Wightman being replaced by Richard Harryman. Duncan Green moving to hooker, and Garry Holmes moving into the back row. The Kendal scrum had been under pressure, and the change started to give James Gough and Glen Weightman better ball to work with.

Late in the half, a long Glen Weightman kick through was chased down by Dini Noyo, who caught his opposite number, and put Kendal on a rare attack, but Kirkby went into half time with their lead intact.

Despite the oppositions dominance, Kendal would have been pleased to have kept the score down.

Kendal came out for the second half a changed team. James Gough won Glen Weightman’s kick off, to set Kendal on the attack, now keeping ball in hand more, they started to dominate just as Kirkby had in the first half.

After Kirkby were caught offside in midfield, Glen Weightman had the chance to open Kendal’s scoring, but the kick drifted wide. Kendal however stayed on the attack, maintaining the high tempo, and prevented Kirkby escaping from their half.

The Kirkby defence finally buckled after a quarter of an hour. The Kendal forwards drove to the line, Kirkby continued to hold them out, but conceded two penalties. Finally the Kendal forwards were able to get across the line, with Richard Harryman (?) coming up with the try. 5v8.

Liam Hayton gathered the restarted and Kendal were straight back on the attack, with Kirkby fumbling a number of kicks through, which had been well dealt with in the first half, when Kendal had not been able to get any pressure on the defending player.

After twenty five minutes Kendal had the lead. James Gough made a break down the left, but was held on the line, after choosing to go himself, rather than use Leo Mercer outside him. When the ball was spread back to the right, the Kirkby defence appeared to be offside, but the referee came back for a penalty at the break down, sending a Kirkby second row to the touchline for ten minutes.

The penalty was taken quickly and moved to Dini Noyo on the wing, and whilst he was unable to get over, the forwards again took control, with Richard Harryman (?) coming up with the ball for his second try. Glen Weightman hit the post with the most difficult of his three kicks. 10v8.

The lead was quickly extended. Liam Hayton again gathered the kickoff and drove up field. James Gough put in a box kick, which was again dropped and when Kendal followed up, Glen Weightman was pushed, resulting in a penalty, which he put into the twenty two. The lineout was won and the ball moved across field, where Nathan Woof broke through the Kirkby defence delivering the pass to Dini Noyo (?) who squeezed over in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful, so the lead remained one score. 15v8.

With ten minutes to play, Kirkby came back and had their best period of the half, but the Kendal defence held out, and Kendal were looking for a fourth try to gain a bonus point and wipe out Kirkby’s, but in the end they were happy to put the ball dead for the final whistle.

Both coaches will be pleased with their teams defence, but will want to fix handling errors on the attack, and will also be concerned with their poor goal kicking, which whilst it had no influence on the outcome of this game, may in future tight games.

Kendal need to keep the second half tempo up, to get back on track away from home, after three league defeats in a row, when they visit second bottom of the table Eccles next weekend.

There were some other unexpected results in the League - See below for details and the League Table, which gets even closer at the top.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH : Richard Harryman