A repeat of last week’s game in the League, but this time in the Cumbria Cup Final.

A meeting of the two top ranked teams in the County, with Penrith having held the cup since 2018, when they defeated Kendal in the final, who had won it the previous season.

Kendal had been forced into making a number of changes, with Joe Anderson, Alex Ryder, Dane Blenkharn and Steven Nelson coming in, with Nathan Wolstenholme and Tadhg Butler in the two extra spots on the bench. Penrith had two returning after being unavailable last weekend.

After the excellent 3G pitch at Penrith, the game was played on Wigton’s pitch which slopes both from side to side and end to end – but it was the same for both teams.

There was an even start, but Kendal got the first score following a Penrith mistake. Penrith put a good clearing kick was put down field, but the referee had spotted that the ball had been passed back into the twenty-two, and brought play back for a Kendal throw in the twenty-two.

Alistair Thompson took the throw and the pack set up a drive to the line. Ollie Rose joined the drive and took the ball to get the touchdown. Aaron Stephens then added the conversion from a wide angle. 0v7.

It quickly got even better. The restart came to Aaron Stephens who put a long kick into the Penrith twenty-two, resulting in a try for Dafydd Philp, with Aaron Stephens again adding the difficult conversion. 0v14.

The second restart was taken by Penrith to put them on the attack, resulting in prop Adrian Howe going over, but the conversion was missed. 5v14.

Penrith came back and Kendal started to concede a number of penalties, leading to a warning from the referee. There was then a warning to both captains about the number of high tackles, both teams were conceding.

At the end of the first quarter Penrith, narrowed the gap to two points, when a long pass put returning centre Matty Boustead in, and this time fullback Rob Coward added the conversion. 12v14.

Kendal came back and when Tommy Calvert was stopped with a high tackle, Aaron Stephens put the kick over. 12v17.

Kendal quickly extended the lead again. From a lineout Ben Dixon broke through and when stopped Ollie Rose was in support for the pass. He still had a lot to do, but rolled out of a few tackles, to get the touchdown, with Aaron Stephens continuing his 100% record. 12v24

With five minutes of the half to play, Kendal got a fourth try. Tom Keast was stopped close to the line, Matt Houghton was then stopped, and when the ball came back Ollie Rose went to pass but instead darted through a gap for his third try and Aaron Stephens had no difficulty adding the easy conversion. 12v31.

Kendal came back again with a break down the left. When it was stopped illegally, after earlier warnings to Kendal, it was a Penrith player first to see yellow, with try scorer Matty Boustead having an early and extended half time.

Kendal had more chances but could not add to their score, and Penrith would have the wind and slope in the second half.

Luke Middleton replaced Alex Ryder at half time.

Penrith quickly narrowed the gap, with a try after four minutes. A long pass found second row Luke Coulson, who had played in the back row last weekend, for the opening score of the half. Fullback Rob Coward added the conversion. 19v31.

Nathan Wolstenholme came on for Joe Anderson.

Kendal were forced into a long period of defending close to their line as the Penrith pack kept the ball tight.

Finally after quarter of an hour Penrith got the breakthrough with an uncoverted try, and Kendal were down to fourteen with Matt Houghton yellow carded. 24v31

The in-balance lasted just four minutes when there was a major fracas between the two packs (and possibly a few backs). On the advice of his assistant, the referee yellow carded for Alistair Thompson for Kendal, but two Penrith replacements props were also given a ten minute break.

Tadhg Butler came on Tom Keast.

Both teams were running the ball, and Kendal had chances but the Penrith defence was quick to stop any momentum.

When Matt Houghton returned Johnny Swallow also came on for Dane Blenkharn. Swallow’s appearance was probably delayed to allow Blenkharn to cover for Houghton’s absence at hooker.

With time running out, despite Kendal not being able to add to their narrow lead, it started to look as if it may be enough.

Anthony Gage came on for Daffydd Philp.

Finally the Kendal defence cracked and with four minutes to play a try came in the far corner. The difficult conversion would have tied the scores, but it failed to find the target, leaving Kendal still with a narrow lead. 29v31.

Joe Anderson returned for Nathan Wolstenholme.

Penrith came back and at the end of normal time got a try to give them a lead and this time fullback Rob Coward added the extra points, which as the referee decided there was still time for a restart meant a penalty or drop goal would not have been enough for Kendal to snatch victory back. 31v36

Dan Shorrock got to Aaron Stephens restart kick but the Penrith forwards gathered the ball and held it tight until time was up, and still clearly feared the risk of the kick being charged down, but it found its target to give Penrith a slender win to retain the cup in a game they only led for the final two minutes.

As last week, another excellent performance from the Penrith pack who rarely made a handling error, whilst Kendal looked stronger behind the pack, but in the second half could not get the ball, and when they did the Penrith defence quickly stopped them down. Possibly something to consider for two of the Kendal pack, who missed the game due to moments of ill discipline last weekend.

For Kendal the end probably summed up much of this season, with ones that just got away. Hopefully the young squad will all be back next season, and with the extra experience turn those narrow misses into wins.

Whilst neither team would have agreed with all of their decisions, a top quality performance from the referee and his two assistants – not always the case in the Cumbria Cup.

KENDAL MAN OF THE MATCH

Ollie Rose

Assuming this was the last game of the season, the "Man of the Season" vote will start next Saturday 28th April

Remember to vote early as due to a limits on the number of free votes on the site, only the first 100 votes count.

So time to think about your 1 -2 -3, from this seasons MoM winners (plus possibly a new name this weekend)

See full list below

ACTION

TEAMS

Men of Match (So Far)