Wigton Over run

The game was played on a green pitch, despite the snow on the surrounding hills, but there was an icy cross field wind.

Wigton were penalised from the kick-off, which immediately put Kendal on the attacking, showing an early intent to keep the ball moving.

The first score came after seven minutes. Dini Noyo gathered a poor kick out of defence and ran the ball back. The ball was moved right, with a number of forwards puncturing the Wigton defence. The ball was then spun back to the left for Mark Carruthers to score. Glen Weightman put over the difficult conversion. 0v7

Glen Weightman returned the kick-off with a long touch finding kick down field. Wigton appeared to have taken a quick throw, but were called back by the referee, and when the throw was taken again, the ball drifted over all the jumpers, and was quickly gathered by James Gough. Duncan Green took the move forwarded to score, with Glen Weightman again converting, to double the lead in just two minutes. 0v14.

Wigton gathered their own kick off and set up a good position, but then conceded a penalty. Glen Weightman put the kick deep into the Wigton half. Ben Leacock gathered the throw, and the forwards drove towards the line, before Garry Holmes broke away to score. 0v19.

The try scoring bonus point, came before the end of the first quarter. Wigton ball was turned over, and there was some excellent quick handling from Bob Mataia, James Gough, and James Thompson, with Dini Noyo finally going over for the try. 0v24.

Five minutes later, more good handling from Duncan Green and James Gough, set up a try for James Thompson. Glen Weightman added the conversion 0v31.

Whilst Wigton were struggling in defence, when they had the ball in hand they were growing in confidence, but the ball was being lost as their play was often too frenetic. They were finally rewarded with a try after half an hour of play. A penalty was put to touch and the ball was moved across field for a try in the left corner. 5v31.

The final try of the half came from Nathan Wooff, after more good handing. 5v36

Just before half time James Thompson, seem unlucky to get issued a yellow card, for a offence on the floor, but it may have been more due to his reaction to the award of the penalty.

At halftime Jake Broomhead replaced Billy Coxon in the front row.

The opening score in the second half, came after Nathan Wooff had made a break to the line on the right. When the ball was moved back into midfield, Garry Holmes arrived at pace and burst through the Wigton defence for the try. 5v41

Wigton had another period of good ball retaining play, and stopped Kendal escaping from their twenty two, to set up a second try on the right, which was converted 12v41.

A Wigton prop became the second player yellow carded, after he became the latest offender, after a warning by the referee. Glen Weightman, put the penalty kick to the line and the forwards drove to the line, where Garry Holmes was again on hand to touch down. 12v46.

As the game entered the final quarter, Kendal made a second change with James Gough coming off, to be replaced by Liam Nicholson. This saw Dini Noyo move to scrum half, and Matty Houghton move onto the left wing.

The next try came after a poor kick out of defence was gathered by Mark Carruthers, who set up Bob Mataia for a try. Chris Park had taken over the kicking and converted. 12v53.

Dini Noyo got his second try, popping up on the right wing to touchdown in the corner after a cross field move. 12v58.

As the game came to the end Richard Harryman came on for Duncan Green.

The final try came after the ball was moved into midfield after a lineout on the left. Dini Noyo fed Bob Mataia come through at pace who burst through a few attempted tackles for a score under the posts, which Chris Park converted. 12v65.

An excellent run out, but there will be tougher tests ahead.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH (as voted for by readers of the website) : Mark Carruthers

Referee : Martin Maughan (Cumbria Society)