Not at their best

After a picking up eight points from their first three games, hosts Anselmians had only picked up a single point in their last four, but like Kendal that had included games against the formidable Rossendale and Blackburn.

Glenn Chesher was out with the injury that forced him off in the game against Blackburn, so Joe Anderson came in, Greg Wrathall replaced Alistair Thompson, whilst behind the pack Adrian Karelse replaced Dino Noyo. Ben Leacock came in on the bench.

Another bad start as Anselmians returned the Kendal kick off with a long kick, and an attempted clearance kick was charged down, then the ball was then knocked on in the scramble, but fortunately Anselmians also knocked on. This did lead to a positive for Kendal of a dominant scrum, which lasted for much of the first half.

The Kendal defence held out, but the team were having difficulty holding onto the ball, including two interceptions after indecision in the backline.

Anselmians had a clear tactic of kicking long and looking for Kendal mistakes, which frequently came, but whilst under the weather in attack, the team were solid in defence, despite Anselmians recycling the ball well and having some powerful forwards in the loose.

It took twenty-five minutes for the deadlock to be broken, and the try went to Anselmians. Following a lineout the ball was moved into the centre where Captain Will Gabe broke some half hearted tackling to storm through. Outside half Alex White added the conversion 7v0.

Kendal came more into the game, but handling errors and players being isolated and either seeing the ball stolen or penalties given against them, saw the team unable to get any momentum.

Just before half time Joe Anderson, who had been receiving treatment, was replaced by Ben Leacock, with Alex Ryder going to prop.

With the last move of the half Anselmians extended their lead with a second try, with a strong run from a player in a 19 shirt, converted by Alex White 14v0.

No changes at half time and within four minutes Kendal were back in the game. Ben Leacock made a powerful run, when the ball was recycled he was involved again and whilst stopped managed to get a pass away to Dan Shorrock, who squeezed over in the corner. 14v5.

After quarter of an hour Anselmians restored their lead. Following a penalty lineout, the ball was returned quickly towards the touchline from the catcher and caught Kendal out, with a player darting over for a try from short range 19v5.

This saw Kendal making two more changes with Luke Atkinson coming on for Olly Bibby, with Leo Mercer moving onto the wing, whilst Dane Blenkharn came on for Seth Haddad, with Matt Houghton moving to hooker.

The lead was down to a single score after twenty minutes. A move down the left, saw Adrian Karelse kick ahead then just gather his own kick to touchdown. Aaron Stephens then put over a difficult conversion from close to the touchline. 19v14.

The final twenty minutes saw few chances for either team

Late on Joe Anderson returned in place of Reece Tomlinson, with Alex Ryder reverting to his normal position

It was clear from their celebrations on the final whistle how much the victory meant for Anselmians, who move above Northwich in the table.

For Kendal a lacklustre performance against a clearly streetwise team, with many of the problems of the past with handling errors, lost lineouts and players being isolated, returning and a losing bonus point was poor reward on an afternoon on which a repeat of any other performance this season would have seen them win.

Hopefully a return to the form which had seen the team do so well so far, next weekend for the visit to Mint Bridge of Wirral, who sit four points and two places higher in the table.

MAN OF THE MATCH VOTE

Ben Leacock

TEAMS

OTHER RESULTS

The stand out one being Sandbach's first win of the season which lifts them off the foot of the table. against a Manchester team which seemed to have sorted out its difficulties away from home this season

TABLE

Despite the set back the team stays in sixth, and the losing bonus point mean the gap to Manchester in fifth is narrowed and gap from Leek in seventh widens, but Wirral pull away, so we need to cut that gap next weekend .

PHOTO The title of the piece could sum up my photography this weekend

I only took three and the other two have come out (more) blurred.

So it had to be this one !

The GOOD NEWS is we are back at Mint Bridge for the next two weekends so hopefully more of Paul's super photography

If you are wondering who the No 4 shirt is, Dane Blenkharn, who came off the bench in a No.4 shirt,.Alex Ryder was wearing 20