The rearranged game at Winters Park was the last in the League. Penrith would finish seventh regardless of the result, but a Kendal win would see them moves above both Blackburn and Leek to finish one place behind Penrith.

Both teams had had good wins last weekend, but the unexpected game saw players missing from both teams, with Penrith seeming to be missing more, with just two backs and four forwards, from their starting line-up for the draw at Mint Bridge before Christmas, with one of those coming in being a season debut for Olly Bibby, who had played eight games for Kendal last season, before returning to Penrith.

Despite poor form away from home, with no win since early September, Penrith’s only losses on the 3G at Winters Park, had come against three of the top four, plus a draw against Champions Rossendale.

Kendal changes saw Barney Coxon move from second to front row, with Tom Keast and Luke Middleton (for his First XV debut into the second row) coming in, with Greg Wrathall at No.8. The only change behind the pack saw Tommy Calvert, who had been away for the Wirral game, return. On the bench Mark Carruthers and Anthony Gage came in, plus for his League debut Johnny Swallow.

On a bright sunny afternoon, Kendal started well and had the better of the opening exchange, but it was clear the Penrith pack was on top in the scrum, whilst their kicker was getting some long kicks away.

Penrith came back and their pack set up a string of attacks on the Kendal line, but could not get across.

Kendal were not helped by giving away a string of penalties for various offences and the partisan Penrith crowd were looking (probably correctly) for a card, but it did not come.

It appeared Kendal may get an opening score totally against the run of play, when Tommy Calvert intercepted on the Penrith line and was away, but was called back for a penalty for offside (assume against him as no previous penalty had been signalled).

Finally the opening try came from short range for Penrith after a quarter of an hour. 5v0

Eight minutes a second was added again from short range after good build up work by the Penrith forwards. There was a moment of controversy when the conversion seemed to go well wide, only for the Penrith touch judge to raise his flag. The referee (correctly) backed Kendal touch judge Ian Voortman. 10v0

Twice Penrith appeared to be about to add to their lead. Second row Ant Davies made an excellent run to the line, but Kendal players managed to stop him grounding the ball to get a goal-line drop out. Then fullback Rob Coward seemed to be over but Ben O’Halloran held him up.

The relief was short lived as the re-start went straight to touch to give Penrith a scrum under the posts, leading to the third try. 15v0

At this point with Penrith well in control, it looked as it if could be another big score for them and a long afternoon for Kendal.

The team however had other ideas and the referee appeared to spot some of the penalties against Kendal were coming as Penrith players where controlling the ball on the ground after they were tackled, and penalties started to go the other way.

One went into the twenty-two. Alistair Thompson won the line-out and the pack drove well to the line with Greg Wrathall appearing to be last up for the score, and Kendal were on the board. 15v5.

Kendal made a change with Johnny Swallow coming on for Patrick Wolstenholme.

As the half came to an end, Aaron Stephens put another penalty to touch in the twenty-two on the right. There was a good run by Tom Keast, but he was stopped on the line. The forwards looked to burrow over, but Matty Houghton spotted an opening took to the air to dive over under the post for the second try which Aaron Stephens converted, to leave a halftime score of 15v12.

The Kendal coaches would have been far happier than their opposite numbers, for whom a three point lead was poor reward for their team’s dominance for much of the half.

With their coaches words ringing in their ears, Penrith came out fired up at start of the second half.

There was a long period of penalty advantage, that Penrith were unable to take advantage of. Finally the referee came back for the original penalty, which scrum half George Graham took quickly to go over, with fullback Rob Coward adding the conversion. 22v12

Kendal were quickly back in the game. Loose Penrith ball was stolen by Kendal, Tom Keast made ground and Aaron Stephens powered through a gap and made ground before releasing Tommy Calvert with a long pass. There was only going to be one outcome, although Calvert touched down wide out, rather than made the kick easier, but no problem with Stephens adding the extra points. 22v19

The gap quickly widened again with a Penrith lineout drive following a penalty 27v19

It looked as if Kendal had another score when Tommy Calvert went over, but this time Penrith managed to hold him up. Their kicker repeated the earlier Kendal mistake and put the restart straight to touch for a Kendal scrum under the posts, but his pack saved his blushes, driving Kendal off the ball to win a penalty.

Kendal however were not finished. Again a Penrith handling error gave Kendal the ball. The ball was moved to Dafydd Philp who made a lot of ground and when stopped Penrith gave away a penalty. Ollie Rose, repeated his opposite numbers earlier actions, taking it quickly to go over for the try. 27v24.

With just over ten minutes to go Kendal had the lead for the first time. There was another drive from a lineout and Matt Houghton broke away but was stopped. When the ball came back, Ben Dixon found a gap having made ground passed to Dan Shorrock, again playing in the centre, who went over for a try, converted by Aaron Stephens. 27v31

Penrith came back again, and a penalty was put to the twenty-two. The lineout was won and a player tried to go down the touchline, but this backfired with Glenn Chesher tackling him into touch.

Having struggled all afternoon with long throws (often adjudged not straight, rather than lost), it looked as if Kendal were playing safe with Alistair Thompson lifted at the front of the line, but the throw missed its target and went to a Penrith player who had the easy task of touching down. 32v31

Mark Carruthers came on for Daffyd Philp

Only one point in it. Could there be another twist ? The Penrith forwards made sure not, keeping the ball tight. There was even a worry when awarded a late penalty that they may take the Kendal losing bonus point, but the referee had clearly decided to add no extra time, and Penrith put the ball dead to confirm a narrow hard fought victory.

Someone asked me before the game for a prediction, and I went for another draw, so was a point out (would not have predicted that after half an hour’s play).

Next weekend the two teams do it all again, in the Cumbria Cup Final at Wigton, so this time on grass. How many of the missing for both sides will back ?

The Penrith pack played very well, and their half backs were excellent, but the rest of the backline had a shaky afternoon (possible not being used to playing together), and errors could have costs them the game. If it happens again next weekend, hopefully Kendal will make sure it will, and reverse the result, after two very close finished between the teams this season

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The double bonus point sees us overtake Leek into nineth, and finish equal on points with Blackburn, but below them on wins, despite having a much better points difference; more try scoring bonus points and more losing bonus points,