Overpowered

It was not to be a second promotion and Cup double, as Burnage ran out worthy winners, bossing much of the game, with a hardworking forward display.

Kick off was delayed by half an hour due to a previous game overrunning, and after the miserable wet evening for the County Cup Final in Keswick on Tuesday, it was a scorching hot afternoon. Conditions were also totally different to the semi final, played in freezing conditions and snow flurries at Mintbridge.

Kendal started well and took the lead after ten minutes with a Nathan Wooff penalty, when the Burnage defence was up too fast to cut off a Kendal attack. 0v3. This turned out to be the only time the team held the lead.

The restart kick was taken well by Rob Wightman, but Kendal were penalised for failing to release the ball at the tackle. Burnage put the kick to touch and from the lineout there was a good break by Burnage star player, flanker 7, and whilst the defence held out, Kendal were trapped in their twenty two, and finally the Burnage scrum half burrowed over for the game’s opening try, converted by their outside half. 7v3.

Nathan Wooff narrowed the lead with a second penalty five minutes later. Jordan Johnson fielded a Burnage kick, and gave the ball to fullback Leo Mercer, who made a good run. When he was stopped the ball was moved wide and again Burnage were up too fast in defence, to concede the penalty. 7v6.

It was becoming clear it would be a battle between the tight forward play of the Burnage pack, and the flair of the Kendal back division.

After twenty five minutes Burnage added a second try. The Kendal hooker was penalised for a double movement when throwing into the line. The penalty was taken quickly, and the Burnage No.7 sucked in the Kendal defence with another good run, so when the ball came out the Burnage back line were queuing up on the left, with No.13 going over for the try. 12v6

After half an hour’s play, Kendal made a change bringing Robbie Collinson on.

Kendal scored their opening try two minutes later. Scrum half Hugh Sutton took a penalty quickly and found Mark Carruthers who broke the defence, he passed to Nathan Wooff, who continued the move towards the line, and found Mark Carruthers back in support, to go over for a well worked try. 12v11

As the half came to an end Burnage added a third try. The ball moved to the left wing who powered over in the corner, before coming around nearer the posts to make conversion easier. 19v11.

This was the last action of the half.

There was a poor start to the second half for Kendal, with Burnage winning the ball back from their kick off. This put Burnage on the attack, and when Kendal were penalised for a high tackle, the penalty extended the Burnage lead to 11v22.

After ten minutes Kendal upped the pace and a number of the Burnage forwards were clearly tiring in the heat. Hugh Sutton made a break from a ruck, there were a number of good runs in the centre of the field from Kendal forwards, to suck in the Burnage defence, and when the ball went out to the right, Nick Carlton forced his way over for a try. 16v22.

Kendal were starting to exploit the right wing, with several good chases of Nathan Wooff kicks by Dan Shorrock, pinning Burnage back, but Shorrock then picked up an injury and was forced off.

Burnage were making good use of their bench to regularly give their tiring forwards breaks, to return refreshed, ready to take the game to Kendal again.

After a long period of Kendal pressure in the Burnage twenty two, where a combination of good defence, and Kendal handling errors prevented a score. Burnage broke away and went to the other end of the field, and looked to be setting up for a further score, but a crunching Mark Carruthers tackle, forced a penalty, to allow Kendal to relieve the pressure.

Another Kendal error, with a lost lineout throw, put Burnage back on the attack, and when Kendal conceded a penalty, the gap was extended beyond a single score again. 25v16.

The final score came from a turnover of Kendal ball, the ball was moved wide, where the Burnage outside half cut through to score. 30v16.

With the regular stoppages for Burnage injuries and substitutions, the referee played plenty of injury time, but Burnage continued to keep control, playing a simple game to ensure Kendal had few chances of a further score, to set up an exciting finish.

Burnage fully deserved their victory, and whilst the Kendal team was not at its best, this was mainly due to the pressure put on it by their busy opponent. Too often Kendal players went alone, whilst Burnage played as a unit, in support to minimise opportunities for turnovers, and force penalties.

Despite the disappointing end, another excellent season for the Development team, with back to back promotions, and cup final appearances.