| So near yet so far for the Black and Ambers |
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| Written by Frank Jameson |
| Sunday, 11 March 2012 09:00 |
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Kendal 32 (6) v 36 (8) Leicester Lions
Saturday 10th March 2012
Kendal returned to Mint Bridge for the first time in seven weeks, during which time their opponents in the relegation battle had opened up a large gap at the foot of the table. So the visit of the second bottom club, Leicester Lions, was yet another “must win” game, to try to preserve National League status.
Leicester Lions, bright and breezy opening reflected the excellent conditions for an open game, and their outside half Jamie Stokes opened the scoring with a penalty awarded for a deliberate knock, on which had ended a Lions attack.
0v3
Despite having plenty of possession Kendal were again struggling to find any way through a solid defence, and the Lions had a chance to extend their lead with a long range penalty, which drifted wide.
After twenty five minutes, possession from a lineout, finally saw some invention in the Kendal attack, with Mark Ireland chipping the Lions defence, to be rewarded with the opportunity of a penalty to tie the scores 3v3.
As the half ended, Kendal were camped in the Lions twenty two and the Lions desperate defence turned to illegal means which saw a number of penalties being awarded, and finally a yellow card being issued to second row Matt Soloman, but three minutes into added time all Kendal could come away with was a Mark Ireland penalty 6v3.
There was still time for the Lions to snatch a half time lead. LivewireLions fullback Gareth Collins took the ball in his own twenty two and made a long run through the Kendal defence. Good support took the ball to the Kendal line, and whilst the ball was held up, from the resulting scrum right wing Joe Marston, appeared at pace to break the Kendal defence for a unconverted try 6v8 at half time.
Kendal could not have had a better start to the second half. The Lions failed to deal with the kick off and from the resulting lineout the Kendal forwards controlled the ball for a long drive to the line, for a try by Danny Redhead, which Mark Ireland converted from close to the touchline. 13v8
All the good work was almost immediately undone, as Kendal failed to deal with the re-start, and were trapped in their twenty two, to concede a try by No.8 Jack Gibbons which tied the scores again, whilst Stokes conversion gave the Lions back the lead. 13v15
Worse was to follow as despite the Kendal defence several times appearing to have ended a Lions attack, first hooker Richard Harris, then wing Joe Marston, kept the ball alive for Marston to score 13v22.
The game appeared lost, when with Kendal on the attack on halfway, IanVoortman failed to gather a pass in midfield, and Stokes was on hand to steal the ball, for a uncontested run to the line and easy conversion 13v29.
Kendal however were not finished and again only desperate Lions defence, which again resulted in a string of penalties, kept them out, and finally Joe Ellis was driven over for the try, but the conversion failed 18v29.
As the Lions appeared to relax, Kendal started to find more gaps in the defence and a trademark jinking run Simon Mulholland was only ended by a knock on.
A mistake in the twenty two, after a long kick through, gave the Lions an opportunity to re-establish their lead with Martson scoring his third try 18v36.
Kendal were still not finished, Mattie Houghton made a good run after being support of another long Mulholland break, and was eventually rewarded with the try at the end of normal time. 25v36
The best was yet to come, and a magnificent mazy run down the right touchline saw Leo Mercer score and with another excellent Mark Ireland conversion, the gap was less than a single score, 32v36. With time running out, an unlikely victory still looked possible.
Kendal threw everything at the Lions defence, looking to find the gap to give them the vital score, but it was not to be.
Despite the sixty eight points, not a vintage game for the neutral supporter, as both teams managed to demonstrate both why they are at the bottom of the table, and also question why.
Kendal
15 Simon Mulholland
14 Leo Mercer
13 Ian Voortman
12 Dave Barton [rep : Steffan Thomas]
11 Kris Bratton
10 Mark Ireland
9 Simon Davidson
1 Richard Harryman
2 Duncan Green
3 Glen Chesher [rep: Craig Rumney]
4 Danny Redhead [rep :Liam Hayton]
5 Reece Tomlinson
6 Garry Holmes [rep : Mattie Houghton]
7 Ben Craghill
8 Joe Ellis
Leicester Lions
15 Gareth Collins
14 Joe Marston
13 Sam Dimmick
12 Steve Cross
11 Lee Dyment
10 Jamie Stokes [rep : John Hale]
9 Nick Dangerfield
1 Thomas Williams
2 Richard Harris [rep : John Williamson]
3 Shaun Murray [rep : James Tyers]
4 Tom Cheney [rep : Matthew Tuckey]
5 Matt Solomon
6 Michell Todd [rep : Mark Howgate]
7 Drew Rudkin
8 Jack Gibbons
Mark Hodgkiss
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| Last Updated on Sunday, 11 March 2012 09:18 |
- Fixtures
- Results
| 13th Oct 2012 | West Hartlepool Vs Kendal | A |
| 20th Oct 2012 | Kendal Vs Lymm | H |
| 27th Oct 2012 | Birkenhead Park Vs Kendal | A |
| 3rd Nov 2012 | Kendal Vs Chester | H |
| View full fixture list |
| 1 Sept | Kendal Vs Burnage | H | 5 - 7 | L |
| 8 Sept |
Kendal Vs Waterloo | H | 18-16 | W |
| 15 Sept | Harrogate Vs Kendal | A | 53 - 31 | L |
| 22 Sept |
Kendal Vs Bradford & Bingley | H | 39 - 32 | W |
| 29 Sept |
Penrith Vs Kendal | A | 17 - 12 | L |
| View full fixture list |
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