Too Hot - but plenty of handling

After the excellent start to the season last week, a much tougher task, against a Manchester team who are always strong at home, demonstrated by big wins against Kendal in the last two seasons, despite losing narrowly at Mint Bridge both times. They had drawn away at promoted Anselmians last weekend.

There were a number of changes in the Kendal team with Leo Mercer and Adrian Karlese coming in for Mark Carruthers and George Philipson, whilst Glenn Chesher replaced Tom Moulton on the bench, and Steven Nelson started with Alistair Thompson taking a turn on the bench. In a further late change Joe Fiddler came in for Dini Noyo.

It was very hot, and water breaks were held after twenty minutes in both halves.

Kendal had the better start, but then spent a period defending near their line.

The opening try came after ten minutes. Debutant at fullback Adrian Karlese made a break, then got the ball away to Steven Nelson. Whilst he was stopped near the line, Dan Shorrock was on hand to take the pass for the score. Aaron Stephens added the simple conversion 7v0.

The bad news was Steven Nelson had injured himself and played no further part in the game. He was replaced by Alistair Thompson.

Manchester quickly pulled back a converted try 7v7.

However five minutes later, just before the first water break, Kendal had the lead back. In what appeared a planned move from the back row, Matt Houghton broke through before getting a pass to Greg Wrathall, who made ground, then having committed the tackler, timed a pass perfectly to Alistair Thompson to go through a gap for the score. Aaron Stephens added the conversion. 7v14

Greg Wrathall came off and was replaced by Glenn Chesher, with Barney Coxon and Alex Ryder moving back.

The restart kick failed to make the distance, and from the resulting scrum Adrian Karlese made a break and when stopped. Manchester were penalised and Aaron Stephen put the kick over. 7v17.

Barney Coxon gathered the restart kick and made ground only to be taken out by a neck high tackle. The penalty was put to touch and after the lineout was won, Aaron Stephen chipped the ball over the Manchester defence which was up fast. Dan Shorrock gathered and shrugged off some tackles for the score 7v24.

There was another chance for Kendal when Adrian Karlese, in his own half chipped, the ball over the defence, and gathered but when he tried the same again, the kick was too short and was picked off by a Manchester player.

Manchester took control, playing the sort of rugby seen there in the last two seasons, with multiple phases and quick offloads, and the Kendal defence did well to keep them out, but eventually a gap appeared for the score 14v24

Shortly after a second try came from a lineout, this time helped by some missed tackles. 21v24

Greg Wrathall returned in place of Joe Anderson.

Getting the opening score of the second half was going to be important, and a few errors did not help Kendal, and Manchester took the lead after another set of fast multiple recycling. The conversion looked as if it was going wide but then hit the post and fell in. 28v24.

After a quarter of an hour Aaron Stephens narrowed the gap with a penalty on a rare Kendal visit to the Manchester half. 28v27.

The lead was quickly extended again just before the second water break, after another Manchester passing phase, although it did look as if Aaron Stephens had got across and the Manchester player had lost the ball before grounding it, but the referee was on the spot and awarded the try. 33v27.

The lead was extended with a try from short range, this time the conversion hit the post and bounced back, 38v27.

Luke Atkinson came on for Dan Shorrock.

Despite being second best, Kendal continued to look for a score to bring them into the game and it came from Adrian Karlese. He went down the right wing, following a scrum in midfield to score. Aaron Stephens added the difficult conversion to put Kendal within a score of victory with five minutes to play. 38v34.

Manchester had the better of the remaining play, and Kendal had to dig deep to keep their losing bonus point, losing Alex Ryder to a yellow card, but in added time had a few opportunities although never really looked likely to score.

So disappointment to lose after having such a large lead, but far more due to the Manchester performance, than anything Kendal did wrong. Losing Steven Nelson so early, on a day where giving players a rest was important, will not have helped, but to have got so close, against a team who played so well, whilst not reaching the heights of last week themselves, is a good omen.

Possibly the best indication of the performance, was some of the Manchester support were desperate calling for penalties every time Kendal touched the ball towards the end – They sometimes got them - only they went Kendal's way !

Next weekend it is back at Mint Bridge against Northwich, who got their first win of the season this weekend, with a narrow win against Anselmians.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Adrian Karlese

OTHER RESULTS

Blackburn and Rossendale fulfil pre-season favorites status, Leek come down to earth after their opening day win, whilst Northwich; Stockport (and Manchester) got their first wins,

TABLE

After a fortnight's action the table looks more or less as would be expected, except the team at the bottom. They face Alselmians next weekend (no wins but only a -3 points difference) then us the weekend after, so if they are still there after that the alarm bells will be ringing.

TEAM

SCORING