In the last few seasons a trip to Blackburn has been a daunting prospect, but after normal service being resumed with wins in their next five games, after a shock opening day heavy defeat to Anselmians, their last six games had seen five defeats, and even the win was by a single point. Whilst most were away against the stronger teams, last weekend had seen them lose heavily at Stoke.

Two good performances in the last two games at Mint Bridge, had seen Kendal fail to get the results they deserved, due to not being able to turn pressure into points.

Blackburn started well, as if keen to erase the recent poor results, and kept the ball through long periods with Kendal rarely touching the ball.

The strong wind, on he hosts backs in the first half, was also disrupting the lineouts, with the first three not being won by the team with the put in, Kendal coming away with the ball twice, to ease the constant pressure.

Finally the Blackburn pressure paid off after six minutes when quick passing opening a gap in the centre for a try, which was converted. 7v0.

Worse was to follow for Kendal, as Blackburn ran the kick off back, moving the ball from right to left and good support play and good offloading saw a second try added within a minute which was again converted, but this time a far more difficult kick. 14v0

Blackburn continued to play well, but after a quarter of an hour Kendal finally started to get some ball, and turned this into some pressure of their own and after good build up play, Greg Wrathall went over for a try. The conversion into the wind was not successful, 14v5.

The Blackburn re-start kick was caught by the wind and rolled dead to give Kendal a scrum on halfway.

There was a blow for Kendal just before the half hour, with Greg Wrathall who had been playing well forced off. Charlie Lowther came on with Matt Houghton moving to the back row.

Having failed to cross the Kendal line again, when offered a penalty Blackburn took the points 17v5.

Following the score Kendal made a second change with Nathan Wolstenholme replacing Joe Anderson.

With the final action of the first half, when awarded a penalty just inside the Kendal half, Blackburn again went for the posts and increased their half time lead to 20v5, but Kendal would have the wind behind them in the second half.

The gap was reduced seven minutes into the second half. Blackburn ball was turned over, Matt Houghton made ground before the ball was moved to Tommy Calvert who broke through for the score. Aaron Stephens added the conversion. 20v12.

After quarter of an hour, there was another blow for Kendal as Tom Keast, who had been playing well, was forced off. His replacement was coach Reece Tomlinson, who had replaced Anthony Gage on the bench,

After twenty minutes the gap was further narrowed with an Aaron Stephens penalty. 20v15

The cause was made more difficult when Tommy Calvert was yellow carded when stopping a Blackburn attack. Blackburn then kept the ball for a long period without any stoppages but could find no way through the Kendal defence.

When Kendal finally turned the ball over there was an excellent kick from deep in the Kendal half into the Blackburn twenty-two to give Kendal the throw.

The throw was taken and the forwards set up a drive, only to be penalised by the referee when Blackburn appeared to have collapsed the drive.

Charlie Lowther became the third Kendal player to have to be replaced due to injury and Joe Anderson returned.

The Blackburn pack kept the ball tight in their own twenty two, despite the coaches wanted then to get the ball off the field. It appeared a dangerous tactic but was effective in keeping Kendal at bay and winning a number if penalties.

A Blackburn attempt to kick the ball to touch was charged down by Ben Dixon but the ball fell favourable for Blackburn into one of their player’s hands and with ball secured , the referee spotted a knock on to end the game.

Blackburn were probably the better team on the day, and unlike the last two games there were few missed opportunities for Kendal. To get so close to victory, despite losing key players to injury, whilst others where reportedly only playing due to lack of fit alternatives, was a great effort. Blackburn’s recent problems were demonstrated, as despite having control of the ball for long periods, and at one point playing against fourteen men, one of which was a semi-retired coach with little game time this season, they still could not add to their early tries and could have been caught at the end.

No game next weekend due to the Christmas / New Year break, but the team return to Mint Bridge in a fortnight to face second in the table Anselmians. Despite the lowly position in the table on recent performances, anything is possible. Hopefully the break will give some of the battered bodies time to recover.

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ACTION

TEAMS

OTHER RESULS

TABLE

Things starting to get too close at the bottom with Leek picking up a double bonus point and all the rest of the bottom five picking up bonus points except Stoke

SECONDS
Were due to be away at Sandbach but the gamer was called off

WASPS
No game until 5th January when they make the long journey to second place Driffield, who just squeezed past the Wasps in their opening game.

Could be an interesting one. The Wasps have played more games than any other team, but their position is artificial due to the points deduction against Blaydon. Whilst that would have been a tough one, if just a few more of the first team regulars had been available at Southport, they would surely have picked up the points ?

JUNIOR COLTS
On holiday until 19th January