A Dour Encounter

A local Derby between the two most North Westerly teams in the League, both of whom had had important wins last weekend.

After promotion last season. Penrith have had some injury problems which has seen the team at the foot of the table, but a win against Anselmians last weekend had seen them replaced at the foot of the table by Sandbach, and move to within two points of their visitors and safety.

The Kendal squad was unchanged after their dramatic fight back and late win against Wirral last weekend, but Seth Haddad and Joe Anderson started on the bench joining Olly Bibby, whilst Alex Ryder and Dane Blenkharn started, with Matt Houghton going to hooker and Ryder joining the front row.

After three poor starts for Kendal at home, this time it was the visitors who made the mistake with Aaron Stephen's kick-off mis-fielded into touch for an early attacking lineout for Kendal. After the forwards could not find a way over, when a penalty came Aaron Stephens was given the chance to open the scoring. 3v0 after just two minutes.

Kendal probably had the better of the opening quarter, with Penrith often trapped near their line, with a strong crossfield wind. When on the attack Penrith looked well organised, but offered little to stretch the Kendal defence.

After several failed attempts by the forwards to force their way over, it looked as if Kendal had an opening try after twenty minutes. The ball came to the backs, and fullback Leo Mercer joined the line to seemingly put Naki Sumaki over for a try, but the referee had spotted a forward pass, and instead brought play back for a penalty to Kendal.

Kendal choose to go for a scrum, and that resulted in Greg Wrathall going over for a try 8v0.

A second try came just under ten minutes later. Play was on the right of the field, but when the ball was moved left. Steve Nelson and Greg Wrathall made ground, and when the ball came back, Aaron Stephens put a long pass to Dini Noyo who went over wide out. A difficult conversion from wide out into the wind, but it looked as if Aaron Stephens had judged it well, only for the wind to take the kick wide. 13v0.

Penrith came back into the game, winning a number of penalties at scrums, where Kendal who had earlier seemed solid, started to struggle.

There was however no further scoring and the weather deteriorated with the wind strengthening and rain.

Kendal made a change at half time with Alex Ryder given an extended break and Joe Anderson coming on.

Whilst conditions improved, the two teams cancelled each other out, and there were few chances.

Kendal made another change after ten minutes, with Olly Bibby coming on for Naki Sumaki. This saw a reorganisation of the back division with Dini Noyo going fullback and Leo Mercer returning to his normal centre position.

A further change was made shortly afterwards when Dane Blenkharn appeared to lose a contact lense and was replaced by Seth Haddad who went hooker, with Matt Houghton moving into the back row.

Kendal almost scored again, when Penrith lost the ball and Dan Shorrock kicked ahead twice, but the second kick just beat him, roilling over the deadball line, before he could get to it.

With twenty minutes to play Alex Ryder returned in place of Reece Tomlinson.

It appeared Penrith had scored wide out, to set up a tight finish but Dan Shorrock (?) got across to prevent what had appeared a certain try.

In a final change Dane Blenkharn returned in place of Greg Wrathall.

The game slowly came to an end, with neither team looking like scoring again.

So as someone said at the end “at least it’s a win”, but a contest spoilt by the weather and low entertainment value, with the two teams cancelling each other out. Both teams will be disappointed not to have picked up a bonus point, especially Penrith, who had a solid defence, and strong pack, but except former Kendal and Kirkby player Mike Fearon, seemed to offer little threat behind the pack.

No First XV game next weekend (and they are away at Macclesfield the following week) but as it is approaching Panto season, there is a rumour that the Social team will be having a run out at Mint Bridge against Vale of Lune – don’t all shout at once “oh no it isn’t”, or for most their First class rugby is“behind you”.

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MAN OF THE MATCH

Greg Wrathall

TEAM :

OTHER RESULTS

I think I predicted them all this week - not difficult as the top six played the bottom six

TABLE

So a bonus point takes Manchester above us, whilst Wirral pull a further point ahead, but we move further from the chasing pack, looking over their shoulders at the bottom two.