Maximum Points in Difficult Game

Playing against the wind Kendal started well and dominated the early exchanges. Several good moves ended with passes being knocked on, or the ball lost in the tackle, but New Brighton were being forced to concede a string of penalties.

The scoring opened with a Glenn Weightman penalty after fifteen minutes, Bob Mataia had broken through the centre, and the ball was taken on by Chris Park in support, before New Brighton were caught offside. 0v3

Scores were levelled five minutes later, after Kendal were penalised for a lineout offence, after winning their own ball. The long range kick crept over. 3v3.

The opening try came after twenty five minutes. Nathan Wooff ran back a New Brighton kick out of defence, although there was a hint of obstruction of the chasing players by Dini Noyo. When the ball was re-cycled, Tom Voke made an excellent break down the left hand touchline, and although caught on the line, he managed to get a pass away to Dini in support, for an unconverted try. 3v8.

Five minutes later, New Brighton pulled three points back with a long range penalty, after Kendal had been caught offside. 6v8.

After half an hour, Tom Voke, who had been having a good game, was replaced by Dan Greenwood.

Dini Noyo was constantly in the action, and several times bounced out of would be tackles. Billy Coxon, Duncan Green and Richard Harryman were also frequently making ground, but Kendal could not add to their score.

Just before half time, the referee’s patience finally ran out with the stream of New Brighton offences, as they tried to slow down Kendal ball, and a prop was issued with a yellow card.

Despite not being at their best and playing into a strong wind, Kendal turned with a narrow lead at half time.

The lead was extended seven minutes into the second half. Glenn Weightman attempted a cross field kick to Chris Park, which he did well to get to, but just failed to gather, knocking on. However with the Kendal pack already on top, and their opponents a man prop down, they managed to drive New Brighton off their put in, and drove the scrum to the line, for Garry Holmes, making a first start of the season at No.8, to touchdown. Glenn Weightman hit the post with the difficult conversion. 6v13.

Five minutes later Kendal had their third try. Again the forwards laid siege on the New Brighton line, on the right, and when they could not get across the line, the ball was moved left with Nathan Wooff breaking through to score. Glenn Weightman added the conversion. 6v20.

Kendal had twenty five minutes to find the important fourth try, and add a bonus point, but despite having New Brighton under pressure, could not find the vital score. Both sides were frustrated by the referee’s regular decision to blow very quickly after errors, rather than to wait to see if any advantage accrued.

On the rare occasions that New Brighton had ball in hand, they made ground, but never threatened the Kendal line.

In quick succession after twenty five minutes, Kendal made changes to their line up, with first James Thompson coming on for Matty Houghton, and then Alistair Thompson for Bob Mataia, who had had a mixed game, regularly breaking the defence, but also frequently losing the ball in contact.

Finally after the failure to score from scrums and line outs, after being awarded penalties, when given a penalty close to the line, the forwards finally succeeded in their mission, after a tap penalty taken by Billy Coxon. The pack drove to the line, and again Garry Holmes was on hand for the touchdown. 6v25.

In the closing stages New Brighton, entertained their support, with some good phases of possession, but still did not threaten the Kendal line.

As the game came to its end Nathan Wooff was forced off, with Bob Mataia returning.

Despite being well below their best, Kendal were never in trouble of losing, against opponents who appear to be struggled at this level. This was however, the sort of game where Kendal teams have slipped up away from home in past seasons, so it was a vital result, in their quest to keep the pressure on at the top of the table.

With no league game next week, there will be time to re-group and seek to re-find the cutting edge from the start of the season, before another vital away game against Wigton in a fortnight.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH : Garry Holmes

PHOTO : Liam Hayton steals ball on the New Brighton throw - with a little help from his friends