First Half Indiscipline Proves Costly

First team players Jordan Johnson and Mark Carruthers came into the team, whilst the pack had Reece Tomlinson, and on the bench Ross McKay. Also on the bench was young Billy Coxon.

Sedgley Park dominated the opening exchanges and there was an blow for Kendal with outside half Mark Carruthers forced off early on, after picking up an injury in the warm up. Leo Mercer went to outside half and had a good game there.

The opening score of the game came after a quarter of an hour, and was the result of Kendal indiscipline. Having won a penalty, Reece Tomlinson got into an exchange with a Park player and the referee reversed the penalty. On top in the scrum, Park went for a scrum and the resulting move saw a converted try. 0v7

There was a further injury for Kendal with a prop needing to be helped off, and Billy Coxon came on. This did seem to steady the scrum.

After twenty minutes Park added a second try after good build up work. 0v12.

Finally Kendal came into the game, and there was good work with a forward drive to the line, only for someone to speak out, and the referee awarded a penalty against Kendal, to allow Park to clear what had been a dangerous situation.

Just after half an hour Kendal pulled a score back. From a penalty lineout Leo Mercer made ground and found centre 12, who burst through and whilst stopped got the ball to the other centre Anthony Gage who went over. Jordan Johnson took the conversion, and hit the post. 5v12

Gage had been injured in scoring and came off with Ross McKay the only replacement left on the bench.

The gap was immediately restored. Kendal appeared to feel the kick off had not made 10 metres, but the referee was happy, and Park took the ball, but a poor pass saw the ball go loose, and a Park player volleyed the ball forward, to stop Kendal getting to it. Park players in front of him seemed to make no effort to retreat, and instead put pressure on Kendal to force a penalty.

The kick was put to touch, and from the subsequent drive a forward broke away to score. 5v17.

The referee was clearly frustrated with Kendal, and in injury time when Reece Tomlinson appeared to join a ruck, near the Kendal line, from the side, he was yellow carded and came off unrepentant.

Park scored a fourth try which was converted for a 5v24 half time lead, and it looked as it was going to be a long afternoon, as Park had certainly looked a good well organised team.

Despite the wet conditions Park stayed out, but Kendal went in, and whatever was said certainly worked as they came out a different team, and dominated the half.

Park were temporarily reduced to fourteen when a player made no attempt to retreat when a penalty was taken quickly.

On a rare visit to the Kendal half, Park added a further try 5v29

After twenty minutes Kendal had a second try. After a good forward drive Dan Reid forced his way over. 10v29

Kendal were playing well, with the forwards recycling the ball quickly for Jordan Johnson, with Leo Mercer and his centre 12, always looking dangerous with the ball in hand. There was frustration that many Kendal attack seemed to be stifled by a Park defence coming up too quickly, but the referee was happy.

After half an hour Park lost a second player to a yellow card.

There was a good run from the Kendal left wing, only for him to be stopped just short of the line

With five minutes to play, the gap was narrowed again. Reece Tomlinson took a penalty quickly to force his way over from short range. Jordan Johnson put the kick from the touchline over off the post. 17v29.

A third Park player saw a yellow card, after a harsh decision that his attempt to intercept a pass had been a deliberate knock on.

The game ended with a further Kendal try, with the No19 forcing his way over from short range, for a final score if 22v29.

If they had kept their heads, and stayed on the right side of the referee in the first half, it may have been a different result.

Despite playing few games Leo Mercer showed he is still a talented player, whilst his inside centre (12) made a large number of powerful runs, and Ross McKay made a real difference after coming off the bench.

The lesson is the referee is always right – even if he is wrong. There is no point complaining, or taking the law into you own hands, as he is not going to change his mind.