Battling performance

The teams came into the game in third and fourth, with Kendal having a one point advantage, but with the visitors having scored over fifty points in each of their three wins, and their only blip a narrow away loss at leaders Blackburn, and reports of some big names in the Rossendale ranks, it was going to be a formidable test for the Kendal team.

Dan Shorrock, Devin Coyle and Alistair Thompson had reportedly all been away at a Beer and Music Festival missed training, so were not part of the squad, whilst Barney Coxon had picked up an injury and was expected to be out for three weeks. This saw a debut on the wing for Olly Bibby (son of ex-Penrith player Denis, who made 49 appearances for Kendal between 2003 and 2006), whilst Joe Allday made his season debut at scrum half. Luke Atkinson kept his place in the starting line up with Naki Saumaki starting from the bench, joining Steven Nelson who was returning from injury, and Chris Evans.

Kendal could hardly have got off to a worst start, after gathering Rossendale’s kick off, the ball was turned over, then a kick to the corner was followed up, and whilst the referee took a while to decide, the visitors had a try within less than a minute. 0v5

Rossendale continued to dominate, helped by a string of Kendal errors when they had the ball, but in defence Kendal were magnificent soaking up everything that a fast moving and creative Rossendale team threw at them.

Finally after a quarter of an hour Rossendale found a way through from short range for a second try, this time converted by outside half Lewis Allen. 0v12, with Kendal having hardly having left their half.

Kendal came more into the game and after twenty five minutes Aaron Stephens reduced the gap with a penalty following a high tackle. 3v12,

Five minutes later Rossendale were down to fourteen until half time, when back row man John Tuia was yellow carded for a high tackle (not sure what he did that others on both sides, who escaped a card, had not).

The score remained the same at half time.

Kendal brought fresh legs on with Steven Nelson replacing Dane Blenkharn, and Naki Sumaki replacing Luke Atkinson, who unless injured seemed unfortunate to have been singled out for replacement, after having an excellent first half in defence.

Kendal needed an early score and got it after five minutes. Started by a late tackle on Aaron Stephens as he cleared near his own line, the team moved upfield and from another penalty, the pack drove over from a lineout, not 100% sure who got the touchdown in the pile of bodies, but Steven Nelson seemed most likely. Aaron Stephens added the conversion to bring Kendal with two points 10v12.

All the good work was undone shortly afterwards when a similar penalty was give away for a late tackle, and Rossendale moved the ball from the lineout on the right to the left wing for a try. 10v19.

Shortly afterwards from another penalty lineout Rossendale added another try to pull clear. 10v26

When another try was added after twenty minutes, it appeared that a big score was likely. 10v31.

However Kendal came back into the game and had chances of their own and tightened the defence, and did not concede a further try.

Chris Evans came on for Greg Wrathall and late on Dane Blenkharn returned for Reece Tomlinson.

After failing to get across again with a few earlier lineout drives, finally at the end of normal time Kendal added a try. Again not 100% certain who got the touchdown, but this time appeared to be Dane Blenkharn. Aaron Stephens got the conversion. 17v31.

When the referee said it was the last play of the game, the clear instruction from the Rossendale bench was to get the ball off the field, clearly thinking of points difference, but when awarded a penalty, the kick was put over to increase that points difference. 17v34.

Whilst a big defeat, and the scoreline certainly did not flatter a talented Rossendale team, it was another good performance from the Kendal squad, especially in defence, but for that early try, and other errors the scoreline could have been even closer.

A weekend off, then away to promoted Leek, who have also made a good start to the season. The next home game, a fortnight after that (21st) will be equally tough, with a visit of Blackburn. Can the team do better than last year ?

YOUR MAN OF THE MATCH

Seth Haddad

TEAMS

A mark of the strength of the two squads was young debutant Olly Bibby, found himself up against Rossendale coach, Byron McGuigan, who had previously played for Glasgow, Exeter and Sale, and has ten appearances for Scotland, whilst Luke Atkinson was up against former Castleford rugby League and Sales Sharks centre Denny Solomona, who has five appearances for England.

ACTION

OTHER RESULTS

So I got two wrong in my predictions with Leek winning at Anselmians and Penrith against Sandbach to leave the visitors bottom of the table. Stockport got closer to Manchester than I would have expected - and they cannot blame the travel for that one !

As expected the top two extended their 100% starts

TABLE

So we slip a few places but a really encouraging performance before a weekend off