Much closer than the final scoreline suggests

A first of three trips away to the runaway top three (with a home game against Leek in between the last two). With co-leaders Macclesfield having a far inferior points difference, and having to visit both Rossendale and Blackburn, Rossendale started the day favourites for promotion.

Kendal travelled looked to get something from the game, but Rossendale had only dropped points in their loss to Blackburn, and at home had score at least 40 points in every game, so a tough challenge.

No Dan Shorrock or Greg Wrathall so Will Meaden got a first start at fullback with Ben Dixon returning to the centre, and Naki Saumaki moving to the wing. Dane Blenkharn joined the back row and Glen Chesher the front row, with Joe Anderson moving to the bench, where he was joined by Tadhg Butler and Olly Bibby.

No Brendan McGuigan for Rossendale (reportedly in South Africa with Sale) but a strong line-up, similar to the one who had visited Mint Bridge earlier in the season.

After a number of poor starts (including in the game at Mint Bridge) this time it was Kendal who started the better, forcing a number of errors and penalties. After four minutes Aaron Stephens opened the scoring with a penalty 0v3

Rosendale then had the better of play, but could find no way through, and Kendal were playing well when they had the ball.

The opening Rossendale try came just before the quarter of an hour mark, and came from short range with a player burrowing over on the line, 7v3 with the conversion.

Any thoughts this would signal the opening of the flood gates were soon quashed with Kendal having the better of play and forcing a string of penalties (although often unclear what for).

Whilst those of us on the touchline would have preferred the team to look for try scoring opportunities for a bonus point, when the chance came from a penalty for handing on the ground, for an easy kick at goal, Aaron Stephens narrow the gap with a penalty. 7v6.

Rossendale were clearly taking the game seriously, kicking for touch instead of trying to run from deep, and when a chance came from a similar offence they also took the kick 10v6.

Quick thinking got a second try for Rossendale. A penalty led to a scrum, and when Kendal were penalised again, the second penalty was taken quickly and a gap exploited for a 17v6 lead with the conversion.

Kendal were still playing well and just before the half hour mark, narrowed the gap with a try.

Aaron Stephens put a clever kick through for Ben Dixon to chase. Nothing appeared on when he got to the ball, but he hacked the ball through to chase, and then gathered the low bouncing ball closed to the line to score. Aaron Stephens kick from near the touchline, looked on target, but dropped just short. 17v11

Kendal continued to force penalties and finally the referee’s patience ran out and Rossendale scum half Callum Whelan got an extended half time break.

Again it was clear the Kendal team were looking for a win, as rather than look for a second try, Aaron Stephens took the points 17v14.

There was no more scoring in the half, so the game was far closer than anyone could have predicted at half time.

Kendal started the second half well and had a chance with a penalty lineout in the Rossendale twenty-two, but the ball was stolen.

After ten minutes Joe Anderson came on for Barney Coxon.

Rossendale put some pressure on the Kendal line and after a penalty, Ben Dixon was yellow carded, which seemed harsh considering the string of penalties that Rossendale had conceded in the first half.

Shortly afterwards it look as if a second yellow card was coming when Kendal were again penalised on the line, but this time it was just a warning.

The Kendal defence was finally breached again after quarter of an hour with a third try, after the ball was got away despite a Kendal tackle 24v14 with the conversion.

Before Ben Dixon returned Kendal had another chance in the Rossendale twenty two, but again the lineout was list and chance went.

Just as Dixon was about to return Kendal had a second yellow card, which again seemed harsh. It appeared a Rossendale player who broke out of a first tackle accidentally ran into Steven Nelson, but the referee felt it was a no arms tackle and yellow carded Nelson, so Kendal stayed at fourteen.

Kendal made a further change with Tadhg Butler, making a season debut in place of Dane Blenkharn, but Blenkharn was back before he had got off the field as at the same time Matt Houghton was forced off after receiving treatment.

It was starting to look as if, whilst Rossendale would get the win, they may for only a second time this season fail to get a try scoring bonus point, but with four minutes of normal time to play, they finally got the fourth try, again coming from very short range. 31v14 with the conversion.

Olly Bibby came on for Will Meaden, who had had few opportunities to show his pace.

At the end of normal time the Rossendale added another try 38v14

The referee decided there was still time to play, and in it Rossendale added a further try 45v14.

Amazingly the referee still had more time to play, but Kendal kept Rossendale in their own half, until they decided they had scored enough and put the ball to touch.

Despite the scoreline, and coming away with no League points, it was the best performance for some time.

Maybe Rossendale were missing the absent McGuigan, but the game probably showed the difference between those at the top and the rest. Bottom placed Sandbach had look a far better team last weekend, but failed to convert chances, whilst the Rossendale team took the few they had, whilst they showed speed of thought that Kendal lacked, to take those opportunities when they arose.

An odd display from the visiting referee (from Warwick). In the first half his decisions definitely seemed to favour the visitors, whilst after halftime, it was the home side getting the decisions and both yellow cards appeared harsh.

A week of watching weather forecasts as the predictions suggest sub zero temperatures and a second postponement next weekend is possible, although maybe the thaw will start just in time.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Aaron Stephens

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OTHER GAMES

Big wins for Leek and Penrith but the result of the afternoon was at Wirral, which must put Blackburn out of the promotion race (and does not help our chances of a top five finish).

TABLE

Penrith climb to seventh, eleven points of the relegation zone, and could the unthinkable (at the start of the season) happen and Sandbach be one of the two to go ?