Honourable Draw

by Bernard Parsons

One change to the starting lineup. Reece Thomlinson had a calf injury sustained at sprint training on Thursday evening so Chris Evans came in as starter.

There was a downpour pre kick-off but no wind to speak of.

Leek started strongly and the Kendal line was under pressure from the start. Some excellent goal line defence kept Leek out. This would be the tale of the opening half.

Eventually Kendal broke out and won a penalty. Aaron Stephens was successful from maybe forty metres out. 0-3 definitely against the run of play.

Leek were immediately back on the attack and eventually on sixteen minutes they scored from close range wide out on the left. The kick missed to the left. 5-3

The Leek backs were getting plenty of ball and always looked threatening, but the Kendal defence was a match for it. From a penalty in front Leek took the points 8-3.

It took Kendal until the 25 minute to venture into the home twenty-two. However after a number of phases it broke down and Kendal were back on the defence.

Another Leek penalty in front of the posts.11-3.

Steve Nelson replaced Dane Blenkharn on 28 minutes. Tactical as all the substitutions were.

The half ended after exchanging penalties 14-6. The only positives were that after a couple of early losses the lineout was secure and the scrum was solid.

Halftime changes saw Alistair Thomason come in for Joe Anderson, and Dan Shorrock for Adrian Karelse. Seth Haddad went to prop. Matt Houghton to hooker and Dini Noyo to fullback.

After the halftime team talk, water bottles or maybe oranges something clicked for Kendal, although they conceded another penalty 17-6

Now the Kendal forwards were starting to punch holes and we were on the front foot.

After a good move down the right Kendal won a penalty and went to the corner. Powerful forward play and patience resulted in a score for Chris Evans which Aaron Stephens converted.17-13, with fifty-one minutes gone.

Kendal scored again on fifty-seven minutes this time Matt Houghton from close range wide on the left. The kick was just wide. Amazingly Kendal were ahead 17-18.

On sixty minutes Greg Wrathall was replaced with Dane Blenkharn returning .

The game now was now end to end and Leek retook the lead with a mauled try wide on the right. The kick fell short but it was now 22-18.

Almost immediately Kendal won a penalty in their half and again went to the corner. The ball was secured and after multiple phases Chris Evans was forced over near the posts. Easy kick for Aaron Stephens. Sixty-five minutes gone 22-25.

With a greasy ball Kendal started to put up long box kicks and send up spiralling bombs to gain territory.

As we approached full time there had to be a twist. Leek won a penalty out on the left and they elected for three points and got them. 25-25

There was time to restart but that was it.

Probably a fair result.

I have only named the points scorers and replacements on and off because rugby is a team game and we earned the two points as a team. Some of the defensive tackling was brilliant, driving the opposition back metres and our tries were team tries.

Leek played well and it will be a tough ground for all teams in the league.

Great entertaining for the twenty odd who made the long journey from the Kendal area and one from Leeds both on the field and on the touchline.

MAN OF THE MATCH VOTE

Chris Evans

Due to being a late replacement for the injured Reece, Chris wasn't even on the the options list when it was originally published !

OTHER RESULTS

16 tries - 13 converted - and Rossendale even had a player Sent Off after 13 minutes when they were only 7v0 up !

TABLE

ACTION

TEAMS/b]

[b]Kendal II 5 (5) v (0) 5 Preston Grasshoppers III

Not a lot of scoring – or even chances – so just a short report.

Kendal had the better of the early exchanges but had few opportunities to score.

After quarter of an hour Kendal were down to fourteen, after a dangerous tackle. Jack Blocksidge, was yellow carded, although it appeared to be a different player, and looking at it, it could have been even more serious.

Kendal took two kicks at goal but both failed to hit the target.

The breakthrough finally came late in the second half, when the pack drove to the line, and prop Grant Parker appeared to be the player who came up with the ball. 5v0

This was the score at half time.

Kendal had a chance when half time replacement Joe Allday (how do you go from First team to Second team replacement in one game ?), intercepted and made a good break, but inexplicably no one went with him for the scoring pass.

Preston levelled the score after twenty eight minutes following a scrum. Again no conversion 5v5.

Kendal had a chance to win the game with a penalty but again failed to hit the target.

SEASON SO FAR

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