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Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds 21 - Kendal 2nds 44
Kendal completely dominated their Raging Bull Cumbria 2 encounter at Kirkby Lonsdale with the exception of the final ten minutes of the game by which time they had literally run themselves off their legs in the process of scoring their 8 tries.
Kendal opened the scoring in the sixth minute, the forwards - with Dan Boardley & Rob Wightman to the fore - quickly recycled ruck ball which was swiftly moved along the back line to right wing Mark Cottam who made a wonderful catch off his boot laces to cruise in at the corner for an unconverted try.
Nine minutes later with the Kendal pack already holding a dominate hand a scrum on halfway proved the perfect platform for stand-off Leo Mercer, who had a great game in the 10 shirt, to ghost his way through the defensive line on an arching run to the tryline to give Kendal a ten nil lead. Credit must be given to the front row of Calvert Gilpin, Matthew Jackson, Dan ,& impact sub Ben Grunnill, who provided a very solid platform all afternoon for young scrumhalf Matty Kaye to distribute quick ball to the Kendal back line. This caused Kirkby so many problems.
Kendal's third try came on twenty one minutes & from a very slick move off a free kick just outside the Kirkby twenty-two. Quick hands saw the ball passed to returning centre, Mike Childs, who drifted passed the defence to touch the ball down for a try, converted by winger Jordan Johnson.
Four minutes later and a piece of brilliance from Johnson to field a ball inches from touch & almost immediately pirouette away from the clutches of the on rushing tackler. He then flipped the ball inside to the supporting Mercer & for him to then race in for Kendal's fourth try - was amazing to watch.
The halftime score was Kirkby Lonsdale 0 - Kendal 22
Kendal started the second half where they had left off the first - scoring a try in the second minute. Again the ball was quickly won at the breakdown and whipped along the backline with centre Tony Bingham providing the final pass for Johnson to race in for his second.
After Kirkby Lonsdale had scored a good converted try to put their first points on the board in the forty-seventh minute, Johnson completed his hat-trick in the fifty-forth minute, when the sterling efforts of the Kendal backrow of Ash Hill at No.8 & Josh Chaplow on the flank, combined to put Johnson in the clear to score his third.
Kendal's seventh midway through the half was scored with sheer determined & no little skill from Kendal's other flanker ,Liam Nicholson, whose terrier like instincts secured turnover ball all afternoon for the visitors. He then turned into a human pinball wizard to ricochet his way through the Kirkby defence & then race 45 metres to touchdown beneath the posts. Johnson converted to extend the lead to 7 -39. Nicholson was replaced, after his lung busting efforts, by Kendal's other impact sub James Cox.
Mark Cottam scored his second when fullback Peter Baynes linked well to create the opportunity, & excellent close quarter hands put Cottam clear up his wing & he won the foot race to the try line. The conversion was missed but Kendal were ahead by 7-44.
To Kirkby Lonsdale's credit they never gave up battling & created enough territory & possession in the final ten minutes to score two converted tries to make the final score line 21 -44.
Kendal now look forward to the top of the table clash against the tough Moresby side at Mint Bridge next Saturday. |
