An unexpected bonus on a day with limited rugby (except at Twickenham) with a game postponed from a fortnight ago. A good Kendal support on the touchline, including several First XV players

Kirkby took an early lead 3v0.

Kendal hit back with a try after ten minutes with some excellent passing out of the tackle, in a move which started deep in their half on the Kendal right. The ball swept along the backline with centre Ben Cakebread making ground, a long break by Johnny Swallow, was taken on by Mckenzie Cousins, and finished by Anthony Gage. Cousins added the conversion. 3v7

A second try was added shortly after with Dafydd Philp going over 3v12.

After twenty minutes the lead was extended with McKenzie Cousins adding a penalty. 3v15.

The final score of the half came in added time. Kirkby came through quickly to cut off a Kendal attack, but were caught when Tom Keast broke through to score. Unfortunately he was injured whilst scoring and a stretcher was called. There had been a mass melee between the two teams whilst the try was being scored, leading to a warning to the captains. Despite Kirkby having a team chat in the twenty two, rather than behind the posts Mckenzie Cousins added the conversion, with the last action of the first half. 3v21

Kirkby had the benefit of the breeze in the second half and quickly cut back the lead. In a clearly well planned move, from a lineout the ball was returned to a prop at the front who burst down the down the touchline to score.

Kirkby were handling much better, but were soon to be the cause of their own downfall.

Trying to run the ball from deep in their own half there was a Kirkby handling error and Kendal fullback Mikey Chanley was quickest to react, and also instead of trying to pick the ball up he hacked the ball ahead and followed his kick to touchdown. 8v28 with the McKenzie Cousins conversion.

Five minutes later the lead was reduced with a converted Kirkby try from short range after a scrum. 15v28

Kirkby self destructed again. They had been penalised several times for speaking out, and when the scrum half was the latest to, he was given ten minutes on the side lines.

Kirkby were further punished when a good run from Kendal replacement Ollie Yarker (in a No.3 shirt) led to a try finished with a spectacular dive for No.8 Luke Middleton. 15v35 with the McKenzie Cousins conversion.

Numbers were evened up with Kendal second row Nathan Hallhead carded for interfering with Kirkby ball at the ruck.

The next Kendal try came in bizarre circumstances. A number of loose passes saw Kendal pushed back from inside the Kirkby half to near their try line, but the team still kept the ball alive, and were rewarded when it came to Ollie Yarker who raced through for the score. 15v42

Kirkby were reduced to fourteen again. Having made a break, when tackled a centre failed to release the ball before getting up to continue. Having been penalised by the referee, he spoke out and was inevitably the latest to see yellow.

Kirkby got a consolation try with ten minutes to play – although there did appear to be a few fairly large knock-ons in the build up. 20v42

Kirkby finished strongly and were denied a try with the last play of the game when Devin Coyle (with some help) managed to hold up a Kirkby forward up over the line to prevent him from scoring.

Kirkby ill discipline and mistakes helped Kendal to the big win, and with ball in hand the burley Kirkby team looked dangerous.

For Kendal a number of promising performances. Johnny Swallow played well before coming off at half time (to be fresh for the Colt on Sunday ?), Centre Ben Cakebread played well as did second half replacement Ollie Yarker, and a second back in a No.1 shirt.

The England Women at Twickenham followed their footballing counterparts and did what the men regularly fail to do, and won a tournament.

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