After playing well, but being well beaten against third place Rossendale in the previous home game, things were not getting any easier for Kendal, with the visit of League Leaders Blackburn, who last season had only lost out on promotion by the narrowest of margins.

So far played 6, won 6, all with try scoring bonus points, 276 points scored and only 76 conceded. A 25v24 win against Rossendale was the only time the opposition had finished with anything, and was the most points scored against them, and the only time Blackburn had not passed 45 points. So a formidable task for the Kendal team who started the day in fourth.

A few team changes from the draw last weekend at Leek. Adrian Karelse went with the seconds to Rochdale, so Dini Noyo moved to fullback, and Dan Shorrock came in on the wing. Up front captain Reece Tomlinson had recovered from an injury that kept him out, so last weekend’s MoM Chris Evans moved to the bench. No Greg Wrathall, so Steven Nelson started at No.8. Joining Evans on the bench were Luke Atkinson and returning from injury Barney Coxon.

Having made a bad start against Rossendale, it happened again and Kendal were 0v7 and temporarily down to fourteen after just three minutes. Devin Coyle put up a box kick which was well chased, but the tackle on the Blackburn player was missed and he broke down the right wing. He was stopped by a tackle by Alistair Thompson, which was high and dangerous, and a card was almost inevitable.

The penalty was put to touch and from the lineout Blackburn worked a try which was converted. 0v7

Kendal heads did not drop, and they put some good attacks together, and before Thompson returned they were on level terms. Good build up in the Blackburn twenty-two was met by equally strong defence and just when it looked as if the move had broken down, Leo Mercer managed to get a pass away to Olly Bibby, who scooted in for his first try, and even took the ball round behind the posts, to make Aaron Stephens job easier. 7v7.

Kendal had to defend well against fast recycling of the ball by Blackburn, which saw wave after wave of attacks. It was however to be Kendal who took the lead. After a scrum in midfield, Matt Houghton broke away. Several times it looked is a tackle had stopped him, but he then broke away and continued to the line for the try, which Aaron Stephens again converted. 14v7.

Blackburn hit back quickly with a converted try of their own, helped by a few tackles being missed 14v14. Shortly afterwards Blackburn had the lead back with an unconverted try. 14v19

Kendal were however not finished, and three minutes later had the lead back. A Blackburn handling error in midfield, saw Naki Saumaki, who was having a good game, gather. Nothing seemed on but again several times tackles came in, only for him to break them, and somehow went through to the line to score, again giving Aaron Stephens a simple conversion 21v19.

All the good work was however quickly undone. A good chip ahead by Aaron Stephens was chased well, but instead a Blackburn player gathered the ball, and a weak tackle saw a Blackburn converted try. 21v26

Shortly afterwards a big gap opened in the centre of the Kendal defence which was exploited for a try. 21v33. The wave of scoring then took an eight minute break until half time.

Kendal went in, but Blackburn stayed out.

Kendal made two changes at half time with Barney Coxon replacing Joe Anderson, and Chris Evans Alex Ryder.

Kendal needed the opening score of the half to get back in touch, but were unable to get their hands on the ball, and conceded a number of penalties. When the first score came after seven minutes, it again went to Blackburn, 21v40, with right wing Marcus Farnsworth then putting over the touchline conversion.

Quick handing and recycling saw another converted try shortly afterwards 21v47

This saw Alex Ryder return in place of Reece Tomlinson.

The next Blackburn try came after forward drive from a lineout 21v54, then quick passing added another which this time was not converted. 21v59.

Kendal made a further change with Luke Atkinson coming on for Olly Bibby.

With just over twenty minutes of the second half played a further converted try took the score to 21v66, and Kendal had hardly touched the ball in the half, with Blackburn having cut out their handling errors of the first half.

Kendal were forced into another change, when Glenn Chesher had a cut. He had made what appeared a high tackle, but the referee was happy, and it was Chesher who came out worse.

This saw Joe Anderson return, and he played a big part in the action that saw Kendal get their fourth try for a bonus point. He made two big runs from short range, but both times was stopped near the line. There was however nothing Blackburn’s defence could do, to stop Seth Haddad scoring. Aaron Stephens put over the difficult conversion. 28v66

Dini Noyo, who had pulled off several try scoring tackles, came off with Olly Bibby returning.

Kendal added a fifth try. Steven Nelson broke through and once he was finally stopped, the ball was moved wide for Luke Atkinson to force his way over. 33v66

Blackburn came back and more slick passing saw a further converted try 33v73.

Kendal were still not finished. Stephen Nelson took a penalty quickly and whilst stopped, the referee decided Blackburn had not been back ten metres and re-awarded the penalty. The ball was run and Barney Coxon forced his way over. 38v73.

Blackburn had the last word with a try out wide by former Kendal player Lewis Kincart, again converted by Marcus Farnworth for a final score of 38v80.

An entertaining game with two teams played at their best, with a super fit Blackburn team, with even the largest of forwards handling well, keeping the ball moving at pace. Kincart had a quiet game just doing what was needed to keep the ball moving, with outside half Sammy Russell directing moves behind the pack.

A fortnight off before an away trip to Anselmians and the team will need to keep up the same level, against a promoted team who after starting the season well, have struggled recently and will be looking to pull away from the wrong end of the table.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Matt Houghton

ACTION

Action	Team	No	Name	Time	Ken	Bla

Y/C	Kendal	6	Alistair Thompson	2	0	0
Try	Blackburn			3	0	5
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	4	0	7
Try	Kendal	14	Olly Bibby	10	5	7
Con	Kendal	10	Aaron Stephens	11	7	7
Try	Kendal	7	Matt Houghton	20	12	7
Con	Kendal	10	Aaron Stephens	21	14	7
Try	Blackburn			24	14	12
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	25	14	14
Try	Blackburn			28	14	19
Try	Kendal	12	Naki Saumaki	31	19	19
Con	Kendal	10	Aaron Stephens	32	21	19
Try	Blackburn			33	21	24
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	34	21	26
Try	Blackburn			35	21	31
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	36	21	33
= = =	= = =	= = =	HALF TIME	40+4	21	33
sub-on	Kendal	3	Barney Coxon	40	21	33
sub-off	Kendal	24	Joe Anderson	40	21	33
sub-on	Kendal	20	Chris Evans	40	21	33
sub-off	Kendal	4	Alex Ryder	40	21	33
Try	Blackburn			47	21	38
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	48	21	40
Try	Blackburn			50	21	45
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	51	21	47
sub-on	Kendal	4	Alex Ryder	52	21	47
sub-off	Kendal	5	Reece Tomlinson	52	21	47
Try	Blackburn			54	21	52
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	55	21	54
Try	Blackburn			57	21	59
sub-on	Kendal	17	Luke Atkinson	59	21	59
sub-off	Kendal	14	Olly Bibby	59	21	59
Try	Blackburn			62	21	64
Con	Blackburn			63	21	66
sub-on	Kendal	24	Joe Anderson	64	21	66
sub-off	Kendal	1	Glenn Chesher	64	21	66
Try	Kendal	16	Seth Haddad	65	26	66
Con	Kendal	10	Aaron Stephens	66	28	66
sub-on	Kendal	14	Olly Bibby		28	66
sub-off	Kendal	15	Dini Noyo		28	66
Try	Kendal	17	Luke Atkinson	69	33	66
Try	Blackburn			72	33	71
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	73	33	73
Try	Kendal	3	Barney Coxon	77	38	73
Try	Blackburn	9	Lewis Kincart	80	38	78
Con	Blackburn	14	Marcus Farnworth	81	38	80
= = =	= = =	= = =	FULL TIME	81	38	80

TEAMS

Kendal		Blackburn

Dini Noyo	15	Paddy Gaffey
Olly Bibby	14	Marcus Farnworth
Leo Mercer	13	Josh Jarrold
Naki Saumaki	12	Jack Moon
Dan Shorrock	11	Leon Fifield
Aaron Stephens	10	Sammy Russell
Devin Coyle	9	Lewis Kincart

Glenn Chesher	1	Ben Corless
Seth Haddad	(16) 2 (c)	Tom Burtonwood
Joe Anderson	(24) 3	Alexander Evans
Alex Ryder	(16) 4	Connor Scrivens
Reece Tomlinson	(c) 5	Tom Jones
Alistair Thompson	6	Tom Mayoh
Matt Houghton	7	Connor Johnson
Steven Nelson	8	Jamie Brooks

Barney Coxon	(3) rep	Jack Granby
Chris Evans	(20) rep	Adam Joyner
Luke Atkinson	(17) rep	Corey Logan

Adam Tweddle	Ref	North Federation

OTHER RESULTS

Anselmians	14	27	Wirral
Macclesfield	36	60	Rossendale
Manchester	29	18	Northwich
Penrith	21	27	Leek
Stockport	27	20	Sandbach

Second v Third was not as close as would expected but other games went as expected, although a number of close results

TABLE

#	Team	W	D	TB	LB	Pts
1	Blackburn	7	0	7	0	35
2	Rossendale	6	0	6	1	31
3	Macclesfield	6	0	7	0	31
4	Manchester	4	1	5	1	24
5	Wirral	4	0	5	0	21
6	Kendal	3	1	5	1	20
7	Leek	3	1	0	1	15
8	Stockport	3	0	3	0	15
9	Northwich	2	0	3	0	11
10	Anselmians	1	1	1	2	9
11	Penrith	1	0	1	1	6
12	Sandbach	0	0	1	4	5