So Close !!!!

A run of poor results had seen Blackburn slip behind the other two in the top three, with a loss at Wirral, a draw at Anselmians, and only getting a narrow win at Manchester, but they were all away from home, and this still seemed a daunting prospect.

Luke Atkinson returned to the side for the first time since Christmas, so Ben Dixon moved to fullback. Up front Barney Coxon and Joe Anderson switched places, with Anderson starting on the bench. He was joined by Matt Houghton, and Alex Ryder who was also making a first appearance since December. In a change to the selected side, Aaron Stephens had tonsillitis, so Will Meaden who had been due to play for the Second XV, came in at outside half.

The Blackburn team was similar to the one which had won well at Mint Bridge earlier in the season, despite a spirited Kendal performance, which had earned a try scoring bonus point.

Kendal tried to run the kick-off back, but Dan Shorrock was forced in to touch, and having won the lineout, Blackburn recycled at speed through multiple phases, and despite some excellent defence from Kendal, finally a try was scored and it looked as if it could be a long afternoon for Kendal. The conversion into the wind hit the post. 5v0

Kendal however came back and spent time in the Blackburn twenty-two, and took the lead after ten minutes.

A kick out of defence was magnificently gathered on the run by Dan Shorrock, who made ground. There was some good build up play, with Glen Chesher making a lot of ground, then the ball was moved to the wing and a pass put Naki Saumaki through for the try. Luke Atkinson took the kick and put it over from near the touchline. 5v7.

Kendal continued to play well, but Blackburn players were frequently breaking tackles, but could find no way through.

At defensive set pieces, Kendal were moving Luke Atkinson to the outside half position, Ben Dixon to the centre, with Will Meaden at fullback.

The breakthrough came after twenty minutes, from a Blackburn break down the left wing. Will Meaden got across to make the tackle, but a player was in support for the try. The simple conversion was added by wing Leon Fifield 12v7.

Two minutes later Blackburn extended their lead with a third try, following a break down the right wing, and again despite some Kendal tackling, fast offloads saw the score, which was taken under the posts for an easy conversion. 19v7.

After the score Kendal were forced into two changes in quick succession, Charlie Lowther and Steven Nelson were both forced off with Matt Houghton and Alex Ryder coming on.

Any thoughts that Kendal would cave in were quickly dispelled, and they had another spell on the attack. Several times Will Meaden looked for gaps to break through, but was quickly stopped.

In added time, play was stopped for an injury to Barney Coxon, who became the third player forced off, fortunately an all forward bench meant Joe Anderson was there to replace him. It was later reported Coxon had a bad cut to his head which would need stitching.

Blackburn were giving a string of penalties away when defending desperately near the line and finally Matt Houghton (?) went over, and Luke Atkinson added the conversion with the last action of the half, to see Kendal only trailing by 19v14 at half time, but Blackburn would have the help of the wind in the second half.

Steven Nelson returned for Alex Ryder at half time, but Ryder was soon back on the field when Dane Blenkharn was forced off, which appeared to be due to a problem with a contact lense.

Kendal started the half the better, and there were two opportunities from kicks down the left wing, but Blackburn held out. However following good build up work, Kendal drew level when the forwards drove over, and for a try later credited to Ben Leacock. 19v19.

As the half progressed Blackburn started to take control, but could find no way through the Kendal defence, and some increasingly desperate passing, saw a number of handling errors and suggested a risk of a interception and Kendal break but it never came.

With five minutes to play when the danger seemingly averted with play moved to halfway, a few missed tackles saw an opening for Blackburn, and a player went through to score. The conversion failed, so a converted try would still win it for Kendal. 24v19.

Kendal went looking for the score, rather than protecting their bonus point, and there were a few half chances, but the Blackburn defence was equal to them

It looked as if Ben Dixon had managed to steal Blackburn ball near their twenty two, but the referee decided illegally, and former Kendal player Lewis Kincart (rumoured to be on the way to Wharfdale next season), was happy to put the ball to touch to confirm a narrow victory for his team.

So another good performance away, at one of the top teams, where like Rossendale, one slip from the home team could have seen a famous Kendal victory. Unlike Rossendale, where the home team were lackluster, Blackburn threw everything they had at Kendal, but the team were equal to it and whilst not getting the try scoring bonus try, to get three was a sign of what can come from this team, especially with some players clearly not 100% fit, due to injuries picked up in the game.

Next weekend (weather permitting) the final visit of the season to one of to three, and with Macclesfield getting a draw at Rossendale, there is still everything to play for in the title race. The concern will be the injuries and possibility that some players may be away, as it should have been a free weekend .

MAN OF THE MATCH

Luke Atkinson

TEAMS

OTHER RESULTS/b]

[b]TABLE

Tight at the top and foot of the table